What better way to explain the ‘whys’ of entrepreneurship than through the lens of UVA President, Jim Ryan’s book, Wait, What? The quick read shares five important life questions that inspire thoughtful conversations. This year’s ventures will be featured around the theme of Ryan’s book as I attempt to draw out the meaning and motivations behind the founders’ work.
This summer at the VentureLab looks different (as do most things these days): meetings and workshops commencing virtually via Zoom and ventures finding new workspaces to test and prototype their products. However, COVID-19 has not slowed us down and the incubator is still in high gear. From A to W – an e-commerce fashion brand, Arbitrage, to a worm-run waste management service, Worm Works – this year’s 16 ventures bring a unique cohort of 33 founders with a diverse range of passions, backgrounds, and interests.
My name is Abriana Weissman, and I’m a rising fourth year in the McIntire School of Commerce. My concentrations are Marketing and Management with a Business Analytics Track and a minor in Psychology. I understand business through the lens of its people, which is why I hope to showcase the ventures this summer in a deeper way than simply expressing what they do. I’m excited to bring the start-ups to life by sharing ‘the why’ behind the founders’ commitments to their ventures.
Join me on this journey to learn about our ventures through these features. Please leave any questions or comments on the articles. I can also be reached at arw3dj@virginia.edu.