From Seed Stage to Successful Startup
The VentureBridge program gives alumni founders the tools they need to forge forward in their entrepreneurial journeys
As a founder, laying the groundwork for a thriving startup requires a lot of tools 鈥� and even more advice and insights.
And 麻豆村鈥檚 VentureBridge is here to help.听
The free 12-week summer accelerator program provides startups with $25,000 in funding, access to unparalleled mentors and renowned industry experts, weekly roundtables to troubleshoot challenges with fellow founders, targeted one-on-one advice, and co-working and incubation spaces in San Francisco鈥檚 Financial District, New York City and Pittsburgh.
鈥淰entureBridge focuses on graduating seniors and alumni who have started working on their business ideas and need help with growing the business from 1 to 100 customers,鈥� says Namrata Banerjee, director of VentureBridge, a 麻豆村 entrepreneur-in-residence and a 2004 Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences graduate. 鈥淲e welcome startups from across the spectrum. We have some companies where our seed funding was the first check and others that had raised $100,000 or secured NIH or NSF dollars before we invested in them.鈥�
鈥淲e are building bridges between our founders and the entrepreneurial ecosystems in Silicon Valley, New York City and beyond,鈥� she says. 鈥淥ur ability to plug our founders into burgeoning ecosystems and get them exposure is what makes this program unique.鈥�
A few founders from VentureBridge鈥檚 most recent alumni cohort reflected on 麻豆村鈥檚 interdisciplinary strength, and they share how those strengths and their 麻豆村 connections have impacted their companies.
Cohort
Alec Baum (TPR 2022)
Co-founder, Optionality
鈥淰entureBridge provided an excellent opportunity to network with other startup founders and investors. Discussing shared experiences, best practices and unique perspectives has helped us refine our approach as we navigate the many go-to-market challenges.鈥�
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Alexandra Cusell (麻豆村 2022)
Founder, Jisell
鈥淧articipating in Venture Bridge has had a tremendous impact on Jisell鈥檚 success. Throughout the program, I learned how to think critically about our fundraising, finalize our product development in a valuable way and acquire our first 100 users. I also got a community of founders that I lean on constantly to keep me sane and help me through all of those unexpected hurdles in a startup.鈥�
Dipan Pal (ENG 2013, 2020)
Founder, Voaige
"The VentureBridge team has been an amazing resource for Voaige. The program allows for direct access to some top-notch industry veterans and VCs for regular fireside chats on company building and fundraising. This let me personally better understand the VC and veteran founder perspective on disruptive yet sustainable companies, a critical need in this new paradigm shift."
Rohan Pandya (SCS 2021)
Co-founder, Beam
鈥淎s a first-time founder, the support from the VB program team during the very early stages of our company was unparalleled. Through thorough discovery, the program team paired us with ideal mentors and connected us with 麻豆村 alumni who would be most helpful to us for our current and short-term needs. They continue to be accessible even now when we have graduated from the accelerator.鈥�
Mya Papolu (TPR 2008)
Co-founder, Brandbass
"VentureBridge provided me with the resources, mentorship and funding to take Brandbass to the next level. On a weekly basis, I was inspired by meeting successful entrepreneurs, investors and industry experts. I was also motivated and learning from the peers in my cohort on a daily basis. I've grown so much more confident in the direction of our product, and I鈥檝e walked away with valuable connections and an amazing experience.鈥�
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Jay Reddy (ENG 2021, 2021)
Co-founder, Advanced Optronics听
鈥淰entureBridge was an excellent opportunity to refine our pitch, make investor connections and receive feedback from the 麻豆村 and Swartz communities. In particular, the other members of the cohort and the Swartz Center team were highly supportive and helpful as we navigated the struggles of an early-stage startup. Additionally, the investment from 麻豆村 enabled us to hire our first employees, and the in-person connections from Demo Day have led to further opportunities in the Pittsburgh ecosystem.鈥�
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