More than 300 people gathered on the Cornell campus for two days of activities celebrating entrepreneurship. The highlight of the event was the honoring of Tim Barry ’93 as the 2024 Cornell Entrepreneur of the Year. Barry, the founder and CEO of VillageMD, shared his entrepreneurial journey, emphasizing the importance of delivering quality care to patients and addressing health equity in the healthcare system.
The event also featured speakers and discussions on a wide range of topics, from artificial intelligence to tech startup investing to building a more inclusive entrepreneurial community. Richlove Nkansah ’26 presented her business pitch for CultureCare, a company she co-founded with Harmony Prado ’24, during eLab Demo Day, where 17 teams from the student business accelerator showcased their progress.
Attendees had the opportunity to learn from successful entrepreneurs like Barry and engage with innovative student-led businesses. Will Hasapis, a master’s student, found Barry’s speech inspiring and resonated with VillageMD’s mission of making positive changes in the healthcare system.
The event also included panels focused on startups that have emerged from university-led research, showcasing the innovative ideas and products being developed at Cornell. Marilyn Laverty ’76, a member of the Advisory Council for Entrepreneurship at Cornell, highlighted the university’s support for entrepreneurs and the importance of encouraging students to pursue their entrepreneurial ambitions.
Aunt Flo’s Kitchen, founded by Armita Jamshidi ’25, was named the 2024 Student Business of the Year, and Esger, led by Advait Raykar MEng ’23, won the BenDaniel Venture Challenge. The conference concluded with the “Inspiring Futures” reception, where participants were encouraged to think about creating a more inclusive entrepreneurial community and support minoritized groups in entrepreneurship.
The event aimed to raise awareness about the opportunities available to Cornell founders and foster a more diverse and inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem. LeeAnn Roberts, director for diversity, equity, and inclusion at the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science, emphasized the importance of diversity in entrepreneurship and the need for diverse ideas and products to serve diverse communities.
As Cornell strives to become a top destination for entrepreneurially-minded students, supporting diverse groups of founders will lead to greater innovation and impact. The event highlighted the university’s commitment to fostering a culture of entrepreneurship and providing resources for students to pursue their entrepreneurial goals.
