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Past I&E Speakers

Built in the Burbs: Supporting Suburban Entrepreneurs at KSU

Wednesday, December 3, 2025 at 1:00 - 2:00p 

Colin Ake, Director, Incubation & Commercialization, Kennesaw State University

Colin Ake discusses KSU’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, including HatchBridge Incubator, a set of programs and space that launched in July 2023 to support an entrepreneurial ecosystem in the communities surrounding Kennesaw State University. HatchBridge also leads commercialization processes at Kennesaw State, working to support faculty as they seek to ensure their research has impact.

Establishing an Entrepreneur in Residence Program

Thursday, February 5, 2026 at 1:00 - 2:00p

Dr. Avinandan (Avi) Mukherjee, Provost and Executive Vice President, Academic Affairs, Georgia Southern University

Entrepreneur's in Residence (EIRs) engage directly with universities as experienced industry professionals to help identify and advance startup ideas from conception to launch. Join Avi's talk as he shares the experience at Georgia Southern and the ways EIRs provide advice, help catalyze new startups, and the opportunities for alumni engagement in the innovation space. 

Doing More with What You Have: Scaling an Entrepreneurship Program without New Resources

Thursday, April 16, 2026 at 1:00 - 2:00p

Joy Harris, Director of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Institute, Georgia State University

What does it take to triple venture creation in a university accelerator without adding staff or money? In just two years, the Main Street Foundry scaled from launching 13 ventures to more than 100. This session shares the strategic decisions behind that growth, including why scaling became necessary to meet student demand and institutional priorities. Attendees will learn the operational shifts, program design changes, and ecosystem partnerships that enabled 3X capacity using existing resources. Practical frameworks will be shared for institutions seeking scalable, sustainable growth.