The Founder Mindset: The UVA Alumni Entrepreneurship Summit

Check-in at the registration desk, enjoy lunch and network with fellow Hoos.

Kick off the summit with a warm welcome from Lily West (Darden class of ’12), President & CEO of the UVA Alumni Association, as she sets the stage for a day of learning, collaboration, and connection. Lily will share how the UVA alumni community plays a vital role in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship while highlighting the power of the Founder Mindset to inspire bold ideas, meaningful relationships, and lasting impact.

What separates people who see opportunity from those who create it? It’s more than having a great idea—it’s a mindset.

In this opening keynote, our featured speaker, Susan Tynan (Col class of ’98), Founder and CEO of Framebridge, will explore the qualities that define successful founders: curiosity, resilience, adaptability, and the courage to take action amid uncertainty. Through personal stories and lessons learned from building, growing, and navigating ventures, attendees will gain insight into what it really takes to transform an idea into meaningful impact.

Whether you’re launching your first startup, acquiring an existing business, leading innovation within an established organization, investing in emerging companies, or simply looking to think more entrepreneurially in your career, this keynote will challenge you to embrace the mindset that drives innovation and lasting success.

Connect with fellow attendees, continue conversations from the sessions, exchange ideas, and build meaningful relationships with alumni, entrepreneurs, investors, and innovation leaders.

Hosted by UVA Alumni Association Student Engagement, the University Career Center, and The Foundry

Entrepreneurship isn’t just about launching a company—it’s a way of thinking that can open doors throughout your career. Join Brian Breslin (Col class of ’04), Director of Student Entrepreneurship and Christian Garcia, Associate Vice President, Career & Professional Development, for a conversation exploring how curiosity, resilience, innovation, and calculated risk-taking help people create opportunities whether they’re building startups, leading within organizations, or charting new career paths. Following the discussion, students will connect directly with alumni entrepreneurs, innovators, investors, and professionals through facilitated roundtable conversations. Participants can explore topics including career exploration, mentorship and networking, innovation within organizations, starting or acquiring a business and funding ventures. Whether you’re interested in entrepreneurship or simply looking to build a career with greater purpose and impact, you’ll leave with practical advice, new connections, and actionable next steps.

Hosted by The Foundry

Hosted in partnership with the UVA Innovates’ Foundry, this interactive showcase features student entrepreneurs and innovators presenting their ventures, products, research, and emerging ideas. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet student founders, explore innovative projects, ask questions, and learn more about the challenges and opportunities shaping their entrepreneurial journeys. Whether you’re an alum looking to mentor, invest, collaborate, or simply be inspired, the showcase offers a unique opportunity to engage directly with students who are turning ideas into action. Students will gain valuable exposure, feedback, and connections from alumni and industry professionals across the entrepreneurial ecosystem. As you network with fellow attendees, discover how innovation is thriving across Grounds and how the UVA community continues to support the builders, creators, and problem-solvers shaping the future.

Connect with fellow attendees, continue conversations from the sessions, exchange ideas, and build meaningful relationships with alumni, entrepreneurs, investors, and innovation leaders.

Hosted by the Galant Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

What does it really take to build a successful business—and is starting from scratch the only path? Hosted by the Galant Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, this panel brings together Abby Fifer Mandell (Col class of ’02), Director of the Galant Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Senior Lecturer of Commerce; Omar Garriott (Com class of ’02), Executive Director of the Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Technology; and Degelis Tufts Pilla (Com class of ’08) Co-Founder and CEO of TribeTokes, to explore the realities of venture creation and growth in today’s rapidly evolving landscape. From identifying founder-market fit and understanding customer needs to securing support, funding, and mentorship, panelists will share candid insights on the opportunities and challenges entrepreneurs face at every stage of the journey. The conversation will also examine alternative pathways to entrepreneurship, including Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA), succession planning, and opportunities to acquire and grow existing businesses. Panelists will discuss how founders can leverage the UVA ecosystem—including alumni networks, mentors, investors, and university resources—to accelerate growth, navigate uncertainty, and build ventures designed for long-term impact. Whether you’re considering launching a startup, acquiring a business, investing in innovation, or supporting entrepreneurial ventures, this session will provide practical perspectives on what it takes to turn ideas into sustainable success.

Hosted by CAV Angels

There is no single path to funding a successful venture. Today’s entrepreneurs are building more resilient businesses by strategically diversifying their sources of capital—from bootstrapping and grants to angel investors, family offices, venture capital, revenue-based financing, and strategic partnerships. Understanding when and how to leverage these different funding options can help founders reduce risk, maintain flexibility, and fuel sustainable growth.

In this interactive panel discussion hosted by CAV Angels’ Rich Diemer (Com class of ’80), founders Neal Piper, Founder & CEO, Luminoah; Andrew Schoka (Engr class of ’26), Co-Founder & CEO, Hardshell; and Naza Shelley, Founder & CEO, CarpeDM (Col class of ’08), will share candid stories about how they financed their ventures, the challenges they faced while navigating the critical “valley of death” between idea, product, revenue generation, and growth, and the lessons they learned along the way. Panelists will discuss the advantages, tradeoffs, and timing of different funding sources, offering practical insights into how entrepreneurs can combine multiple forms of capital throughout their journey rather than relying on a single source.

Whether you’re exploring your first business idea or preparing to scale an existing venture, you’ll leave with a clearer understanding of today’s evolving funding landscape, strategies for diversifying your capital stack, and practical advice for securing the resources needed to turn your vision into reality.

Hosted by UVA Innovates

As the Entrepreneurship Summit comes to a close, join Paul Cherukuri, Chief Innovation Officer at the University of Virginia and head of UVA Innovates, for a forward-looking conversation about what’s next for UVA’s entrepreneurial community. Building on the ideas, connections, and inspiration shared throughout the day, Paul will highlight how alumni can continue to fuel innovation through mentorship, collaboration, investment, venture creation, and engagement across the University’s innovation ecosystem. He’ll share how UVA is strengthening pathways from discovery to impact—and how every alumnus, regardless of career stage or entrepreneurial experience, can play a meaningful role. You’ll leave with fresh ideas, practical ways to stay involved, and a clear invitation to help shape the future of entrepreneurship at UVA. Because the conversations don’t end when the summit does—they’re just the beginning.

Close out the day by connecting with fellow alumni, entrepreneurs, investors, students, and innovation leaders. Celebrate new ideas, continue conversations from the summit, and build relationships that can inspire your next venture, collaboration, or career opportunity.