Encouraging Entrepreneurs

Columbia College encourages and empowers student entrepreneurs through programs such as the Columbia Venture Competition Undergraduate Challenge and a new Startup Internship Fund, which supports students in unpaid or low-paid internships. The College also worked closely with the students who run the Columbia Organization of Rising Entrepreneurs on the Startup Internship Program and other opportunities.

Shriya Samavai ’15, an art history major with a concentration in business management, and Lauren Field BC’16, an English major and art history minor, won first place in the Columbia Venture Competition’s Undergraduate Challenge sponsored by Columbia College for their clothing line, Academy Of. The award included $25,000.

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$50,000 awarded through the Columbia Venture Competition’s Undergraduate Challenge sponsored by Columbia College

Fighting Ebola from Morningside Heights

“Ultimately, inventing Highlight and starting Kinnos with Jason and Katherine has been one of the most defining parts of my time at Columbia thus far.” — Kevin Tyan ’16

Katherine Jin ’16, Kevin Tyan ’16 and Jason Kang SEAS’16 won the USAID Fighting Ebola Grand Challenge for their work on Highlight, a powdered additive for bleach that improves the effectiveness of bleach mist decontamination and ensures the safety of healthcare workers. The group is one of just 15 teams selected from more than 1,500 applicants who will receive USAID support and whose product will undergo intensive testing to ensure readiness for production and field deployment.

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Student Group Invests in Experience

“I think we have the right people to make it [last]. And I think the passion is contagious.” — Sonia Parekh ’17

Up to $5,000 available to each student through the new Startup Internship Fund