Tulane Innovation Institute Hosts Startup Sprint 2025, creating the next wave of entrepreneurs

February 5, 2025

From January 31 to February 2, Tulane University's Innovation Institute hosted its first-ever Startup Sprint, an intensive three-day crash course in entrepreneurship. The event welcomed Tulane University members and New Orleans residents, offering opportunities to network, collaborate, and refine business ideas while competing for cash prizes.

The event kicked off with an interactive networking session where attendees met one another and took part in a rapid-fire "pitch-o-rama," presenting new and innovative business ideas. Renowned serial entrepreneur Aaron Foss hosted the session. Afterward, participants voted on the most promising concepts and formed teams to bring those ideas to life.

The second day featured workshops focused on crafting value propositions and conducting customer discovery, led by Brent McCrossen of Revelry, and Tulane Innovation Institute team members, including Sharon Goldsmith and Jay England. Following the workshops, participants took to the streets of New Orleans to conduct target market interviews, gathering real-world insights to refine their concepts.

Throughout the weekend, teams had designated collaboration time to work alongside experienced mentors who helped them fine-tune their business models. Mentors included Aaron Gailmor, Chris Reade, Diego Pinzon, Joe McMenemon, Ben Cappiello, Clay Christian, Kirk Coco, and Sabrina Short. Their insights and guidance were instrumental in shaping the final presentations.