By McKenna Dalton ’25, E&I Lead Communications and Engagement Intern
This year’s TIA Incubator kicked off with a flair during Homecoming Weekend, September 20–21. Almost two dozen mentors came to Hamilton for the event, part of a larger weekend that included the Bernstein Hall Dedication Ceremony on Friday and athletics events on Saturday.
On Friday afternoon, alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and students explored Bernstein Hall during an open house for the new building. Our office welcomed guests on the third floor with displays of products created by students and alumni through TIA programs. Our peer advisors were on hand to answer questions and talk with visitors. Following the dedication ceremony, mentors gathered for a reception on the third floor, their first formal opportunity to gather in person as part of this year’s program. Afterwards, several mentors joined members of the senior class and Alumni Council for a happy hour at Donovan’s Pub.
The next morning, our mentors returned to Bernstein bright and early for their mentor meeting, featuring a presentation by Dorsey Spencer, dean of students and member of the E&I Advisory Board. He shared insights into current student demographics and updates from the ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ community, highlighting how campus life has evolved.
The plenary session with students and alumni began at 10 a.m. E&I director Carolyn Strobel-Larsen and new entrepreneur in Residence Reece Wilson opened up the program with remarks. The day began with an inspiring keynote speech from Chedy Hampson, founder of TCGplayer.com, which was acquired by eBay for $295 million in 2022. Chedy shared his entrepreneurial journey, from starting a card business to becoming a leading advocate for disadvantaged communities. His talk sparked great conversation, especially for students like Porter (CEO of PLNT), who is building an e-commerce marketplace, and Geordie (CEO of KU Sports Cards), who is passionate about the sports card industry.
After a short break, Kim Bowers-Schafer ’92 led a session on crafting compelling pitches, offering students hands-on experience. Each venture stood and delivered their pitch to the whole room. Following this, two students who participated in the TIA Summer Accelerator, Porter Comstock ’26 and Harshita Talasila ’26, presented their ventures’ three minute pitch to a panel of judges—Brian Horey ’82, Sarah Stein ’91, Ken Carter ’92, and Allison Edgerton ’03—who followed up with rapid-fire questions. This session also encouraged students to reflect on their ventures and think about next steps.
Lunch, catered by Ray Brother’s BBQ, gave students and mentors time for informal networking and provided the perfect segue into afternoon mentoring breakout sessions. Student ventures met in small groups with their mentors for personalized guidance. For students without ventures, Reece Wilson led an Idea Squad workshop, where students pitched business ideas and received open feedback. This session stood out as Idea Squad participants faced the back of the room while pitching, which encouraged dynamic, constructive critique. Our event wrapped up successfully at 3 p.m., though some groups were still deep in discussion in their breakout rooms!
Thank you to everyone who helped make our first weekend a success. We’re excited about the momentum and can’t wait for the next session!