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

Spring 2023 Events

Innovation on Tap Speaker Series with Eric Shultz

March 28th,2023

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

FREE food and drinks provided!

MEET OUR SPEAKER

Eric B. Schultz is the author of Innovation on Tap: Stories of Entrepreneurship from the Cotton Gin to Broadway’s Hamilton. His other books include Food Foolish: The Hidden Connection Between Food Waste, Hunger, and Climate Change; Weathermakers to the World (a corporate history of Carrier Corporation); and King Philip’s War: The History and Legacy of America’s Forgotten Conflict.

Eric’s for-profit positions have included senior vice president of Midwest operations for American Cablesystems, cofounder and president of Atlantic Ventures, and COB/CEO of Sensitech, a venture-backed Inc. 500 company acquired by Carrier Corporation. He has served as a CEO-partner with Ascent Ventures, executive chairman of HubCast, an advisor to the Avedis Zildjian Company and to Windover Development, and a mentor for student start-up teams in the Brown University B-Lab.

He is the former Chair and now Director Emeritus of the Gettysburg Foundation, the New England Historic Genealogical Society/American Ancestors, and Brown Broadcasting Inc./WBRU-FM. Eric has a bachelor’s degree in history from Brown University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

ALUMNI SPEAKER SERIES

"A Taste of Entrepreneurship"

April 12th, 2023

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Entrepreneurship comes in all shapes and sizes. Being your own boss has several different looks.

Join us for a discussion about new ideas, innovation and entrepreneurship within hospitality industry. Our alumni panel of food and beverage industry entrepreneurs will serve as an amazing exchange of wisdom and perspective between alumni and current students.

Register now

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 Panel

Penny Brewster, Founder of Ceres Bakery

Penny Brewster is the owner of Ceres Bakery in Portsmouth, NH. Penny is an experienced entrepreneur who named her bakery after the Roman goddess "Ceres" who was seen during ancient times as the goddess of agriculture. Ceres Bakery has been a staple of downtown Portsmouth since 1980. The atmosphere is welcoming, the service is speedy and friendly, and the eclectic staff makes for it a cheerful place to eat.

Brett Wintersteen '05, Co-owner of DOS Mexican Eats

Brett Wintersteen is the co-owner and head chef of Dos Mexican Eats in Dover, NH, a fast-casual taqueria. Dos Mexican Eats opened its doors on March 13th, 2020, one week before the government shutdown and adapted marvelously. Over the past three years Brett has witnessed many changes within the industry and navigated the growth of a small business during the pandemic and beyond. Brett has a passion for the Seacoast community and its vibrant food scene, and Dos Mexican Eats has been involved with various non-profit organizations and initiatives, such as Take Out Hunger, the Seacoast Community Fridge, Red’s Good Vibes, and Strafford CAP.

Galen Hand '16, Co-founder of NOCA Beverages

Galen Hand is the Co-Founder of NOCA Beverages. He previously worked as an Investment Banking Analyst at Piper Jaffray, Fixed Income II Sector Leader at The Atkins Investment Group, and an Investment Research Summer Analyst at CIFC Asset Management. Galen attended UNH Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics in 2012.

Spring 2023 event videos

Alumni Panel" A Taste of Entrepreneurship"

Spring 2023 Start-up Speaker Series with Eric Shultz

Hosted by Pierce Atwood, LLP

125 lbs of burritos

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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