Charger Startup Weekend for Students Wins First Place at Inaugural CT Entrepreneur Awards Ceremony
Students from six Connecticut universities, representing 32 academic majors and programs, participated in the event.
May 02, 2017
The University of New Haven’s Charger Startup Weekend, a program for students held
last fall, has been awarded first place in the community-favorite education category
at the first Connecticut Entrepreneur Awards ceremony.
Charger Startup Weekend was the first event organized by the university’s multi-disciplinary
program in entrepreneurship and innovation that was created last fall.
"Charger Startup Weekend was an extraordinary event that had a far-reaching impact
on the students who participated," said College of BusinessDean Brian Kench. "It fostered entrepreneurial spirit and an innovative mindset."
Charger Startup Weekend 2016 Video
Held over a 46-hour period Sept. 16 to 18, Charger Startup Weekend provided undergraduate
and graduate students a collaborative, competitive environment that involved brainstorming
ideas for products and services, testing marketing ideas with potential customers,
networking, and professional mentoring, all of which culminated in a pitch competition
similar to the hit TV show "Shark Tank."
Joint leadership provided by both the engineering and business colleges resulted in
a larger and more significant event than in the previous year, and is a testament
of the power that can be unleashed by joining forces.
– Tagliatela College of Engineering Dean Ronald Harichandran
Students from six Connecticut universities, representing 32 academic majors and programs,
participated in the event. The teams were generally a mix of undergraduate and graduate
students, and they were mentored by 22 entrepreneurs from the region and faculty members.