Speaker Series
START-UP SPEAKER SERIES
REAL STORIES FROM ENTREPRENEURS
The ECenter's Start-Up Speaker Series connects you with proven entrepreneurs who share real stories about their challenges and victories on the path to success.
Top Reasons to Participate:
ECenter Start-Up Speaker Series
- Hear from diverse innovators who show what's possible
- Speakers are often UNH alums and know what you can achieve
- Rotating speakers means there's always a new story to inspire you
- Get fired up about what you can do with your own idea or start-up
fALL 2023 Events
Founder's Forum
October 18th, 2023
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Meet local entrepreneur's and learn to fuel your passion. Join us for an exciting panel discussion on how to be passionate about your ideas and see what inspires you to move forwward.
Moderator
Joshua Cyr '96, Interm Director of Peter T. Paul Entrepreneurship Center
Over the last few decades, Joshua has devoted himself to the intersection of entrepreneurship, mentorship, startups, and emerging tech. A considerable amount time in the last many years has been focused on early stage startups, crypto, and more recently web3.
Previously Joshua created and ran a startup accelerator for a non-profit (NH Tech Alliance / Alpha Loft) in New Hampshire, helping hundreds of startup founders over the past decade. Joshua created and ran all of the educational programming, helped founders dig into their business fundamentals, polish their fundraising pitches and provide introductions. Millions of dollars has been invested in startups throughout through engagments between startup founders and Joshua's programs and mentorship. Joshua also facilitated hundreds of events alongside the talented teams he worked with. Before that Joshua has been a CTO & software developer, co-founding a company that created commercial content management software used by Fortune 500 companies, universities, banks, municipalities, and small businesses.
Beyond day jobs Joshua have been a former City Councilor for the City of Portsmouth, President of his kids' local elementary Parent Teacher Organization, a previous member of the Portsmouth Economic Development Commission, Recreation Board, Joint Budget Committee, and has been a board member for a number of area non-profits.
Meet Our Panelists
Mary Johanna Brown '89, Founder & President of Brown & Company Design
Mary Johanna Brown is Founder and President of Brown & Company Design, a strategic design firm established in 1992, and Big Brown Books, a publishing company established in 1997. After graduating from the University of New Hampshire in 1989 with a BFA in etching. Mary Jo was named to New Hampshire Magazine’s “Remarkable Women” list in 2009, Business New Hampshire’s “Influence Index” in 2014, New Hampshire Magazine’s 2018 “It List” and as an “Outstanding Woman in Business” in 2018 by New Hampshire Business Review.
Krystal Hicks '07, Career Strategist and Founder of JOBTALK, LLC.
Krystal Hicks (UNH ’07) is a Career Strategist and the Founder of JOBTALK, LLC, a career counseling practice that provides inclusive and accessible one-on-one support to professionals in transition, as well as employer branding and recruitment consulting to companies looking to improve how (and who) they hire. Prior to launching JOBTALK in 2019, Krystal spent 11 years in staffing, career services, and corporate recruitment, most recently overseeing all U.S. hiring for Lindt & Sprüngli in Stratham where she helped fill 220+ corporate roles without agency assistance.
Sponsored by Lake Street Advisors
Spring 2023 event videos
Alumni Panel" A Taste of Entrepreneurship"
Spring 2023 Start-up Speaker Series with Eric Shultz
Total CHIPOTLE consumption by hungry Speaker Series participants SINCE Spring 2020!
"Listening to these entrepreneurs felt like being engaged in a conversation and they encouraged others to reach for their passions. It was so valuable to learn about their journeys starting from the beginning [...] almost like you're reading a book.“
Participant, Fall 2022 Speaker Series
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