Innovation in Action at the GSB Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship

Innovation Roundtable

February 18, 2008: 6:00 PM - 9:30 PM

Linda Darragh, Director of Entrepreneurship Programs at the GSB’s Polsky Center, will describe the Polsky Center’s activities in the area of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, including student programs like the New Venture Challenge (NVC). The session will include presentations by some past participants in the New Venture Challenge - David Peak of Liquid Talk, and Matt Maloney of Grubhub - who will speak about their experiences in developing and launching their new ventures. Linda will also describe some opportunities for IRT members to get involved as coaches for the NVC.

Where

University of Chicago, Gleacher Center
Room 600
450 North Cityfront Plaza Drive
Chicago, IL

Driving Directions: http://www.chicagogsb.edu/visit/gleacher/gleachermap.pdf

Cost

No Charge

Program

6:00 PM - 6:30 PM: Registration & Networking

6:30 PM - 8:00 PM: Presentation

8:00 PM - 8:15 PM: Q & A

8:15 PM - 9:00 PM: Networking at the Midway Club

Registration

Questions

Atul Setlur, Innovation Roundtable President
312-451-4807

Speaker Profiles

Linda Darragh (Speaker)
Director of Entrepreneurship Programs, University of Chicago

Ms. Darragh is Director of Entrepreneurship Programs and an Adjunct Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship at the Graduate School of Business at the University of Chicago. Prior to this position, Ms. Darragh taught entrepreneurship courses at the Kellogg School of Management from 1999 to 2005. Ms. Darragh was also Vice President of the Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC) up to 2003. At the WBDC, Ms. Darragh assisted high growth women business owners. She organized Springboard: Mid-West, a nationally recognized investor forum for women entrepreneurs, in both 2001 and 2003. The forums in combination raised over $85 million. Her work with women seeking equity investment led her to initiate the Ceres Venture Fund in which she is an investor and leads the education component of the Fund.

The Chicago Sun-Times recognized her as one of the top 100 people influencing technology in Chicago for 2001, 2002 and 2003. Ms Darragh received the US Small Business Administration's Women's Business Advocate of the Year Award for Illinois and the Midwest in 2002 and the US Small Business Administration's Financial Services Advocate of the Year Award for Illinois and the Midwest in 1998. She is also the recipient of the Illinois State Treasurer's Award for 'Business/Technology/Finance Trailblazer' in 2002.

Ms. Darragh is currently a Board member of Learning Point Associates, Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center, Illinois IT Association and Accion Chicago.