By Reece Wilson, Entrepreneur-in-Residence
Why it Matters
This fall, Colgate’s Thought Into Action (TIA) program has empowered student entrepreneurs to refine their ideas, build ventures, and connect with mentors. This year, the program has expanded learning opportunities and strengthened the entrepreneurial community on campus. Over the course of the semester, TIA has been supported by a team of 26 alumni mentors through engaging Incubator Weekends to help student entrepreneurs push their ideas forward.
Who’s Behind It
I joined Colgate in September as the new EIR, bringing my experience as a founder and leader in student entrepreneurship. Originally from rural Scotland, I co-founded UTime, an automated scheduling app, raised $60K in startup capital, and supported fellow entrepreneurs as an intern at the Centennial Center at Hobart and William Smith Colleges.
Inspiring Young Entrepreneurs
Inspiring Connections
TIA Incubator Kickoff: Chedy Hampson, founder of TCGPlayer.com (acquired by eBay for $295M), shared his entrepreneurial journey and commitment to underrepresented communities.
Workshops and Panels: Students honed customer discovery skills with Marvin Vilma ’14 and explored team-building strategies with mentors Ken Carter ’92, Allison Edgerton ’03, and Sarah Stein.
Weekly Growth Tank
New workshops provided actionable tools on topics such as goal setting, financial planning, and competitive analysis. Peer advisors – Porter Comstock ’26, Vivian Jiang ’26, Bill Luo ’26, Harshitha Talasila ’26, and Geordie Waldman ’27 – and long-term mentors guided students to turn ideas into actionable plans.
Supporting Early-Stage Ideas
Idea Squad: This new initiative supports students in the ideation phase. Four participants transitioned into full TIA ventures, demonstrating the program’s impact.
Peer Advisors: This new team of achieved young entrepreneurs with prior experience in the TIA program has been pivotal in our efforts to better support student ventures. This semester, our Peer Advisors have held daily office hours and spearheaded community building initiatives, connecting with student entrepreneurs outside of our Incubator Weekends to provide additional support.
Grant Funding: Students can access up to $5,000 in grant funding to support their venture development. This semester, the program saw 6 ventures apply for funding.
Celebrating Success
At the December 6 Mid-Year Celebration, we celebrated the incredible progress made by our student entrepreneurs at the mid-year celebration. This festive event included a gingerbread house building contest, where creativity and teamwork were on full display. Students were also recognized with awards for their achievements and received exclusive E&I swag as a token of appreciation for their hard work. Adding a special touch to the celebration, bubble tea from Cha’Gate, a TIA venture founded by Vivian Jiang ’26 and Bill Luo ’26, was served, showcasing the innovative spirit of our student entrepreneurs.
Expanding Our Impact Beyond TIA and Engaging The Wider Student Body
Campus Engagement: From co-hosting events with entrepreneurs like Arlo Washington to visiting classrooms across disciplines, E&I integrated entrepreneurship into academic and co-curricular life.
Community Partnerships: Workshops, roundtables, and Creative Endeavors series engaged students and local community members in innovation.
Social Media: E&I amplified its reach through engaging content, including the “13 Days of E&I” series on Instagram.
What’s Ahead in Spring
TIA Entrepreneur Showcase on April 5
Teams will compete for a $10,000 top prize (double last year’s award) during the Arts, Creativity, and Innovation (ACI) Weekend. Events will feature Global Leaders speakers series, panels, and workshops.
New for 2025 – PHED Credit Courses
Two six-week workshop series will reward students with academic credit:
- Advanced Ventures: Focused on refining business models and preparing pitches for competitions.
- Entrepreneurship Basics: Designed to guide students from idea to Incubator readiness.
TIA Summer Accelerator
Applications open in January for this full-time summer program. Selected ventures will receive $10,000 grants and personalized mentorship.
Incubator Sessions
Upcoming workshops will tackle networking, marketing, and go-to-market strategies while preparing teams for the Showcase.
Creative Endeavors
E&I hosted its second Creative Endeavors workshop series bringing together students and community members to showcase their creative passions.
Tuck Bridge Program
E&I is supporting the Tuck Business Bridge Program in partnership with the Dartmouth Tuck School for Business. This winter break, over 20 students will enroll in this program to make their ideas a reality and gain invaluable experience and connections from Tuck faculty, students, and mentors.
The Bottom Line
This fall, Colgate E&I built momentum with innovative programming and personalized support. The spring promises even more opportunities for students to innovate, connect, and grow. Whether refining ideas or launching new ventures, the future of entrepreneurship at Colgate is brighter than ever.