Spring Entrepreneurs Forum to Shine Spotlight on Students
May 1 event will award $27,500 in startup funds and honor two student entrepreneurs.
The Dartmouth Entrepreneurs Forum, hosted by the Magnuson Center for Entrepreneurship, returns to Hanover on May 1 with a heightened focus on venture-minded students.
As in previous years, one of the forum’s highlights will be the startup competition, which this year will be limited to undergraduate and graduate students. Ten teams will pitch in the competition’s first round, to be held on April 30, the day before the forum. Three finalists will then vie for the $20,000 first prize in the next day’s final round, with the second- and third-place teams receiving $5,000 and $2,500, respectively. The winning team will be announced during the Thursday evening dinner.
“We’ve made students a key part of the Spring Dartmouth Entrepreneurs Forum because they bring fresh energy, bold ideas, and a fearless approach to solving problems. They’re not bound by how things have always been done—and that’s exactly the mindset entrepreneurship needs” says Jamie Coughlin, executive director of the Magnuson Center. “And the power of the Magnuson platform is that we work with students across Dartmouth, in all the schools and all disciplines. This conference isn’t just about showcasing success; it’s about building community, and students are at the heart of that future.”
The Magnuson Center will inaugurate a new award at the forum to recognize the perseverance and achievements of current students who have already launched entrepreneurial ventures. Two individuals—one undergraduate and one graduate student—who are operating a successful business or nonprofit venture while earning their Dartmouth degree will be honored with the Magnuson Student Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
“We started the first Student Entrepreneur Award at Dartmouth because we’ve seen firsthand how much passion, creativity, and hustle they bring to the table unlock innovations throughout campus,” Coughlin says. “This award is about recognizing that spark—celebrating the students who don’t just dream big but actually build it. They’re not waiting for permission, and we think that deserves to be seen, supported, and celebrated.”
The forum’s keynote speakers are Noah Dentzel ’10, founder and CEO of Nomad Goods, a consumer electronics and lifestyle products company, and Jung Son ’97, chief legal officer at Sequoia Capital, a venture capital firm.
Panel discussion topics will include innovation and mental health and wellness; artificial intelligence trends; and startup and venture capital careers.
Founded in 2013, the Magnuson Center for Entrepreneurship supports students, alumni, faculty, and staff at every stage in the entrepreneurial process. The Dartmouth Entrepreneurs Forum, held each spring and fall, is the center’s flagship event, typically attracting more than 500 members of the Dartmouth community. The fall forum, usually held in or near San Francisco, puts a greater focus on supporting alumni.
The Semi-Finalists
The 10 semi-finalists teams set to compete on Wednesday, April 30, were selected from 41 applicants. The teams and their student leaders are:
Acesso, Martin Palencia-Gomez ’28
Enlight, Abdul-Kudus Alhassan ’26
Kino, Jackson Gerard ’25
Mary Global Health, Felix Davis ’26
Nautilus, Amayr Babar MEM’26
Nerd Apply, Cooper Weissman ’27
NovaGyn, Rebecca Thomson, PhD candidate
Silver Bullet Biochar, Daniel Webb ’25
uDrive, Yanqiao Li, Thayer PhD candidate
Vaskular AI, Victoria King ’27
The May 1 Entrepreneurs Forum will be held 9:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Hanover Inn. Registration is encouraged as space is limited. The forum is open to all Dartmouth students, faculty, staff, parents, and alumni.