Următorii invitați: Cristina Cismas-Florea Morgan Slain
Cristina Cișmaș and Morgan Slain are distinguished leaders in education and venture development.
Cristina Cișmaș brings over 20 years of experience in education, having taught mathematics and business, and founded the international BEAM Program, which has helped thousands of high-school students build real startup projects in partnership with global companies. She currently teaches Design Thinking at Santa Clara University and consults for Santa Clara Ventures.
Morgan Slain is a General Partner at Santa Clara Ventures and founder of the Bronco Venture Accelerator, with more than 25 years of leadership in corporate management and early-stage technology. His work spans venture investment, startup acceleration, and executive roles in companies tied to Google, Disney, and other major innovators.
Steve Walker 16.10. 2025-17.10.2025
Steve Walker is the founder of Cobaltix, a technology consulting company headquartered in San Francisco, with a presence on three continents. The firm provides expertise in IT, cybersecurity, risk and compliance, artificial intelligence, business intelligence, process analysis, and data analytics. Cobaltix works with clients in the financial sector—private equity, funds, LPs, and venture capital—as well as with non-tech startups in diverse fields such as kidney transplantation, electric vehicles, and the coffee industry.
With a degree in International Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, Steve combines his academic background with over two decades of leadership in business and technology. In addition to his role at Cobaltix, he mentors business leaders and has been speaking at international conferences for nearly 20 years. Outside the professional sphere, Steve is an extreme endurance athlete with notable achievements.
AI Between Hype and Reality: How to Build Meaningful Business Models
This workshop explores how artificial intelligence is changing the rules of the game in business and society. From high school essays generated by AI to customer service automation and online content, we will discuss both the benefits and risks of this technology. We will examine why Generative AI and large language models (LLMs) are considered revolutionary, who stands to gain from this transformation, and what new business models may emerge. Participants will discover that the true value of AI does not lie in isolation, but in its combination with other fields—such as cybersecurity, medicine, or visual media—and how the speed and quality of implementation can make the difference between a good idea and a successful business model.
16.10.2025, Room 120, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Share Your Idea! and Reflect & Look Ahead
There are two main ways to start a business: bootstrapping and raising investment. Bootstrapping (the act of getting by on your own without external support) means generating enough money at each stage of the business to cover expenses (including a modest salary for the founders). By definition, it is a lean approach, and the founder usually ends up owning the entire company. With patience, good decisions, a bit of luck, and perseverance, this approach can lead to remarkable results. Bootstrapping can work in any economic climate or country. Its secret is that it forces you to discover what customers truly want (not what founders or investors think they will want in the future) and to deliver exactly that. In doing so, you build a solid business that provides real value to customers while operating efficiently. This requires good structure, a healthy culture, and finding customers to whom you can deliver real value.
17.10.2025, Room 120, 9:40 AM – 11:10 AM
To reserve your seat for the courses, please fill in the the form.
* All students who attend the courses will receive a certificate of participation; also, the professor will award three certificates for outstanding achievements.
John Coughlan 20.10. 2025-25.10.2025
John Coughlan is Director of the MS Entrepreneurship & Innovation Program at the University of San Francisco. He serves as faculty advisor to the USF Startup Club. Prior to USF, he held executive leadership positions in Asia, Europe, and North America in finance, tech, government, nonprofit, education, and real estate. Most of John's career has been internationally focused, including stints as vice president for international growth for a Chinese state-owned real estate developer of office park campuses for tech firms (Cisco, 3M, Tencent), advisor for several Pacific Rim start-ups, and deputy director of the leading European business lobby in Brussels. Upon returning to the United States in 2017, John was recruited to serve as founding Corporate Work Study Program Director of Cristo Rey De La Salle, an innovative workforce development program serving underserved youth in Oakland's Fruitvale district. At Cristo Rey, John was responsible for generating $1m + in annual recurring revenue, as well as designing and implementing a "mini-MBA" training program for students .
Since creating BAHSUH Consulting in 2020, John has worked with executives at Barclays Investment Bank, the University of Pennsylvania, Mt. Sinai Health System, Keller Williams, and QHL.John began his postgraduate career in public policy as a research analyst at the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC. He had a brief stint with asset manager BlackRock in San Francisco. He's also completed internships at HP in Cupertino and the European Commission in Brussels. John also serves as an adjunct professor at the School of Advertising at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Freelance writing credits include work published by CNNgo, Christophorous (Porsche magazine), The Brookings Institution, CBRE, and various Publicis Groupe publications.
Silicon Valley’s “Secret” Ingredient: The Power of….Failure?!
The workshop explores how failure is perceived as an essential element for innovation and development in entrepreneurial ecosystems such as Silicon Valley. Participants will learn how mistakes can be leveraged and transformed into learning experiences. The session will begin with a short presentation on how unsuccessful attempts can lead to extraordinary successes, followed by a hands-on team activity. Marshmallow Challenge - which highlights the importance of collaboration, the role of prototyping, and the value of rapid adaptation. Afterwards, participants will reflect on their own experiences by preparing short presentations about a personal “epic fail,” focusing on the lessons learned and how those moments contributed to their personal growth.
The workshop aims to encourage a growth mindset, normalize failure as part of the creative process, and build confidence in taking risks. If students have previously participated in Marshmallow Challenge, an alternative activity will be offered.
20.10.2025, Room 120, 13.00-15.00
“Iron Chef” Entrepreneur Game
The workshop focuses on highlighting the importance of speed to market versus the advantage of being the second mover (Second Mover Advantage). The session begins with a short presentation on the importance of speed in startup development and on when it is wiser to learn from the mistakes of predecessors.
In the second part, participants will work in teams to create a compelling pitch deck for a startup idea, using predefined resources (founder, funding, sector). The goal is to develop a clear, realistic, and innovative proposal. At the end, teams will present their idea in front of a jury— Iron Chef-style - trying to impress with the potential impact and scalability of their idea.
21.10.2025, Room 120, 13.00-15.00
Artificial Intelligence for Solopreneurs
This workshop explores how artificial intelligence tools can support the development of business plans, marketing strategies, and entrepreneurial decision-making—especially in the emerging context of solopreneurs: entrepreneurs who launch and run businesses on their own, empowered by technology. Participants will discover how to use AI to automate tasks, analyze markets, generate content, and innovate quickly with minimal resources. The session includes a short presentation on the potential of AI in business and the opportunities brought by this “new wave” of entrepreneurship. In the second part, participants will work individually or in teams to develop a business idea based on their own skills and current market trends. They will apply concepts from Google Launchpad and Lean Startup to shape a clear, scalable, and tech-enabled proposal. This workshop is designed for those who want to turn ideas into concrete actions in an agile and intelligent way, with the support of emerging technologies.
22.10.2025, Room 120, 13.00-15.00
Share Your Idea! and Reflect & Look Ahead
On Thursday, October 23, 2025, the “Share Your Idea!” session will take place, where each team or participant will have 2 minutes to present their business idea or the project they are working on. This interactive activity aims to develop clear and persuasive communication skills in a format similar to an entrepreneurial pitch, helping participants become familiar with short but effective presentations.
23.10.2025, Room 120, 15.45-17.45
** Prezentare CEBSS Prezentare de Cercetare –John Coughlan CEBSS Presentation – Research Presentation John Coughlan will present a summary of his recent research in the field of entrepreneurship to the faculty members at UBB. The presentation aims to encourage collaboration and generate new research ideas.
23.10.2025, Room 118, 14.00-15.30
Friday is dedicated to the "Reflect & Look Ahead" session. A round table discussion will take place, offering participants the opportunity to reflect on the progress made, identify the challenges encountered, and outline clear directions for further developing their business concepts. This session supports collaborative learning through the exchange of experiences and constructive feedback, contributing to a clearer understanding of the next steps in their entrepreneurial journey.
24.10.2025, Room 120, 9.40-11.10
Ilya Avdeev | 18.11.2025 and 20.11. 2025 – online
Dr. Ilya Avdeev is the Director of Innovation at the Lubar Entrepreneurship Center at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (UWM), where he leads campus-wide initiatives aimed at integrating innovation and entrepreneurship into student learning experiences. With a strong commitment to experiential education, Dr. Avdeev serves as Co-Director and Principal Investigator for the NSF I-Corps Site of Southeastern Wisconsin and the NSF Research Experience for Teachers program. Driven by a deep passion for applied innovation, Dr. Avdeev is the Co-Founder of the Student Startup Challenge and the Founding Director of the Advanced Manufacturing Design Laboratory. He also serves as faculty advisor for the UWM Prototyping Club and the University Innovation Fellows program. His teaching and research focus on human-centered design and engineering innovation, and he holds an affiliated faculty position at the Kern Institute for the Transformation of Medical Education at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Additionally, he teaches at Stanford University’s Teaching & Learning Studio as an adjunct instructor.
Dr. Avdeev earned his Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh. Outside of his academic and research activities, he enjoys spending time outdoors by Lake Michigan, where he sails, paddleboards, and swims with his wife and their three children.
AI in Entrepreneurship: Recent Trends, Future Casting, and Related AI Topics
This interactive Zoom workshop introduces students to the rapidly evolving intersection of artificial intelligence and entrepreneurship. Participants will explore current trends in AI-driven startups, emerging tools reshaping product development, and how founders can leverage AI to create value at every stage of the venture. The session will also include future-casting exercises to anticipate how AI may disrupt industries, as well as discussions on ethics, automation, and the evolving role of the entrepreneur in an AI-powered world.
18.11.2025, Zoom, 17.00-18.30
Prototyping: How to Optimize Your Startup for Learning and Invite Your Customers into Your Idea
In this fast-paced, hands-on Zoom workshop, students will explore how to use prototyping not just to test products, but to accelerate learning and deepen customer engagement. Topics include building low-fidelity prototypes to validate assumptions quickly, designing experiments to gather meaningful feedback, and creating early-stage customer touchpoints that shape product development. Participants will learn how to treat every version of their idea as a learning tool—and how to turn customers into co-creators along the way.
20.11.2025, Zoom 17.00-18.30
Yossi Matias 24.11. 2025
Yossi Matias is Vice President at Google and Director of Google Research. Under his leadership, global, world-class research teams develop projects focused on machine learning, fundamental algorithms, and applied models in the fields of health, education, and the environment, as well as generative artificial intelligence, data science, and quantum computing.
In the past, he was part of the leadership team of Google Search for over a decade, responsible for developing strategic features and innovative technologies—from Autocomplete and Google Trends to pioneering conversational AI applications. He was also the founding leader of Google’s center in Israel, which he expanded to 2,500 employees, and he supported the growth of teams in Bangalore and Africa. Throughout his nearly two-decade career at Google, Yossi led impactful research and innovation, oversaw product development, and initiated programs such as AI for Social Good, Crisis Response, Google for Startups Accelerator, and Google Arts & Culture.
In parallel with his work at Google, Matias is a professor at Tel Aviv University, a former researcher at Bell Labs, and a visiting professor at Stanford University. With over 200 scientific papers and 75 patents, he is recognized for his contributions to data analysis, algorithms for massive data sets, and online privacy protection. A recipient of the Gödel Prize and the Paris Kanellakis Award, as well as a Fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), Yossi Matias is regarded as a pioneer of the data era and a visionary leader who integrates scientific research, technological innovation, and social impact.
Innovative Research & Academic Entrepreneurship Education
Yossi Matias (VP Google, Head of Google Research) va susține o prezentare despre cercetarea inovativă și educația antreprenorială în mediul academic. Prezentarea va fi urmată de o sesiune de întrebări și răspunsuri, oferind participanților ocazia de a interacționa direct cu speakerul. Evenimentul va avea loc în Aula FSEGA.
24.11.2025, UBB Main Campus, FSEGA Aula, 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m
Round Tables
The sessions will provide an opportunity to bring together stakeholders from Romania’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, creating a dialogue platform that fosters the exchange of ideas, the shaping of new perspectives, and the definition of concrete courses of action for advancing innovation in education and research through the use of new technologies.
Session 2.1 – Start-ups and the Business Ecosystem
Essential skills and opportunities created by artificial intelligence for improving the educational system.
24.11.2025, Room 118, 12:00 -13:00
Session 2.2 – University and Policy-Makers
How can universities contribute to the development of national innovation strategies?
24.11.2025, Council Room, 14:00 -15:00
Session 2.3 – Academic Research
Echilibrarea obiectivelor pe termen scurt și pe termen lung în cercetarea privind inteligența artificială.
24.11.2025, Room 118, 15:15 -16:15
Session 2.4. UBB Student i-Lab
- AI-based strategies for reducing student gaps and improving program outcomes.
- Start-ups developed by UBB i-Lab students.
24.11.2025, Bosch Room, 16:30 -17:30
To reserve your seat for the courses, please fill in the form.
All UBB Student i-Lab participants who attend the courses will receive a certificate of participation.
Cristina Cismas-Florea andi Morgan Slain | 03.12.2025-15.12. 2025
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Cristina Cișmaș has over 20 years of experience in the field of education. She has taught mathematics and business at the high school level and has implemented innovative programs in various schools. In 2014, Cristina founded the BEAM Program—an international educational initiative for high schools where students learn to build their own startups through a curriculum developed in partnership with renowned companies such as PricewaterhouseCoopers and Ernst & Young. Students also gain access to business internships through the BEAM network. BEAM has thousands of alumni worldwide and has been featured in numerous media outlets, including the Nuffic Report in the Netherlands, where it was recognized as one of the best practices in education. Cristina has been named a Distinguished Alumna by Santa Clara University for her work with the BEAM Program. Before joining Santa Clara University, Cristina served as Chief Program Officer at the Boys and Girls Clubs, was a lecturer at Stanford University, and a speaker at Wharton School of Business seminars. She is currently an adjunct faculty member at Santa Clara University, where she teaches Design Thinking, and a consultant for Santa Clara Ventures, a venture capital fund investing in Bronco-led startups. LinkedIn_ Cristina Cismas
Morgan Slain is a General Partner at Santa Clara Ventures, a venture capital fund that invests in companies founded by alumni, faculty, staff, and students of Santa Clara University. He is also the founder and director of the Bronco Venture Accelerator, a program designed to support Santa Clara University entrepreneurs by providing resources, community, and accountability mechanisms to help grow their businesses. In addition, Morgan is a General Partner at Santa Cruz Ventures, a venture capital fund affiliated with the Santa Cruz Works accelerator, focused on supporting sustainability- and planet-health-oriented startups in the Santa Cruz region and along the Central Coast. With over 25 years of experience in corporate management, business operations, strategic planning, and mergers & acquisitions, Morgan has a proven track record of leading and exiting emerging tech companies, with over $200 million in exits. He was a partner at UP2398, Pierre Omidyar’s early-stage investment fund, and has held executive roles in subsidiaries or companies acquired by Google, Disney, Palm, and Frost & Sullivan. His areas of expertise include blockchain, data analytics, machine learning, biotechnology, and consumer goods. Morgan holds both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in International Studies from Stanford University, graduating with honors. Linkedin Morgan Slain
Validation with a VC from Silicon Valley
Join a Silicon Valley venture capitalist for an interactive workshop on how investors validate startups, what signals matter most at early stages, and how founders can position themselves for investment opportunities.
You will gain practical insights into:
- How VCs think: What drives investment decisions in Silicon Valley.
- Startup validation: Frameworks to test your idea, traction, and market potential from an investor perspective.
- Strategii de strângere de fonduri: How to navigate pitching, investor relationships, and term sheets.
This is a rare opportunity to hear directly from an experienced VC about what it takes to build credibility, attract capital, and scale. Whether you’re refining your idea, preparing for your first investment round, or already scaling, this workshop will help you align your vision with investor expectations.
03.12.2025, Room 120, 17.00-18.30
Do you have a startup idea and want to make it heard?.
Great ideas do not speak for themselves - founders do. In this workshop, led by a professor from Santa Clara University and a Silicon Valley venture capitalist, you will learn how to turn your startup vision into a story that inspires investors, customers, and partners. Drawing on proven frameworks, you will discover how to:
You will develop skills in how to...
- Define problems in a way that connects emotionally with your audience.
- Craft clear, memorable solutions that stand out from the competition.
- Use storytelling techniques (common ground, contrast, and emotion) to win attention.
- Deliver pitches that are dynamic, confident, and investor-ready.
Whether you are preparing your first pitch or refining your story, this session will help you transform your startup narrative into one that gets remembered and funded.
04.12.2025, Room 120, 15.50-17.20
** CEBSS Presentation Research Talk – Morgan Slain and Cristina Cismas-Florea Morgan Slain and Cristina Cismas-Florea from Santa Clara University, both experienced entrepreneurs and venture capital investors with successful exits in Silicon Valley, will present contemporary approaches to teaching entrepreneurship and venture capital in a university setting, as well as their experience in developing and leading the university’s startup accelerator and its related entrepreneurship programs. Drawing on their dual roles as educators and investors, they will discuss best practices in teaching entrepreneurship and venture capital within a university ecosystem deeply connected to Silicon Valley’s innovation network.
The talk will highlight how Santa Clara University integrates entrepreneurial education across disciplines, embedding startup thinking, innovation processes, and venture finance concepts into engineering, business, law, and social impact programs. Attendees will gain insights into how cross-departmental collaboration, experiential learning, and real-world venture engagement prepare students to launch and scale startups, attract investment, and contribute to global innovation.
This session aims to share our research findings with Babes-Bolyai University faculty, staff, and students on teaching entrepreneurship, fostering student success, applying appropriate metrics, and achieving meaningful outcomes. Prezentarea va avea ca scop încurajarea colaborării și generarea de noi idei de cercetare.
04.12.2025, Room 118, 14.00–15.30
Business Plan Validation and Pitching
Join a Silicon Valley venture capitalist for an interactive workshop on how investors validate startups, what signals matter most at early stages, and how founders can position themselves for investment opportunities.
In addition to the pitching session, each team will have the opportunity to record an elevator pitch video facilitated by the UBB i-Lab Team. These videos will be published on the TikTok account @ubbiLab to increase visibility and promote the projects within the community. This creative component offers students a real-world communication context, where they learn to adapt their message into a captivating and relevant format for modern digital platforms.
05.12.2025, Room 120, 9.40-14.00
Mentoring for Demo Day
The teams selected to enter the competition UBB iLab Demo Day, will benefit from one-on-one mentoring sessions with experienced mentors, including Cristina and Morgan. These meetings will provide personalized support to address final questions and clarify any remaining aspects of the teams’ business concepts. The main goal is to help teams refine and perfect their projects, taking into account the feedback received during previous mentoring and validation stages.
During these in-depth discussions, mentors will help clarify aspects related to strategy, operational planning, and financial components. With their support, teams will identify their strengths and find effective solutions to the challenges they’ve encountered, ensuring they are as well-prepared as possible for the final presentation at Demo Day.
08.12.2025, Room 120, 13.00-15.00
To reserve your seat for the courses, please fill in the form.
* All students who attend the courses will receive a certificate of participation; also, the professor will award three certificates for outstanding achievements.
Russ Browder 02.03 2026-08.03. 2026
Russ Browder supports leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators in standing out through his teaching and applied research. In academic settings or within companies, Russ teaches entrepreneurial leadership, global entrepreneurship, communication, and executive presence. His academic research has been published in top journals such as Journal of Business Venturing, Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice, Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, Journal of Product Innovation Management and others. His studies explore the connections between technology, learning, creativity, and organizational resilience, in contexts such as emerging digital technologies, makerspaces, and crisis response.
Russ has received multiple awards for teaching innovation as a university lecturer in entrepreneurship at the Price College of Business, University of Oklahoma. He holds a PhD in Entrepreneurship and a Master of Divinity (MDiv) from Baylor University. He earned an International MBA from IE Business School in Madrid, Spain, as a Fulbright Scholar. His professional experience spans several decades as a global leader in medical technology marketing, work in the non-profit sector, and roles as founder or co-founder of two businesses.
Identifying relevant issues for entrepreneurial initiatives
În această sesiune, studenții vor fi ghidați în procesul de identificare și definire a unor probleme autentice și semnificative, care au potențialul de a genera inițiative antreprenoriale sustenabile. Prin aplicarea principiilor metodologiei Design Thinking, participanții vor învăța cum să identifice probleme și să argumenteze modul în care vor aborda categoriile de persoane cel mai profund afectate de respectivele provocări și să analizeze contextul social, economic și tehnologic în care aceste probleme se manifestă. Sesiunea va include activități introductive de customer discovery, prin care echipele vor colecta primele date calitative direct de la potențiali utilizatori, contribuind astfel la fundamentarea unor soluții relevante și orientate spre impact.
Monday, 2.03.2026, 1.00-4.30 pm, Room 120
Designing value-added solutions
Pornind de la problemele identificate, studenții vor lucra în echipe pentru a dezvolta idei de soluții inovatoare care să răspundă într-un mod eficient și sustenabil nevoilor identificate. Utilizând metode specifice Design Thinking și Lean Startup, participanții vor explora posibile căi de soluționare, vor formula ipoteze de valoare și vor începe să construiască o primă variantă a ideii lor de afacere. De asemenea, stabili componentele esențiale ale unui model de business, precum: segmentele de clienți țintă, propunerea unică de valoare, canalele de distribuție, structura costurilor și sursele de venit. Activitatea va fi orientată spre validarea timpurie a ipotezelor și dezvoltarea unei înțelegeri sistemice a modului în care conceptele de business pot funcționa în realitatea pieței.
Tuesday 3.03.2026, 1.00-4.30 pm, Room 120
Turning ideas into entrepreneurial initiatives
Această sesiune are ca obiectiv consolidarea ideilor dezvoltate de studenți și integrarea acestora într-un model antreprenorial coerent, adaptat nevoilor pieței și capabil să genereze valoare economică și socială. Studenții vor învăța să articuleze în mod clar și structurat modul în care soluțiile propuse creează valoare, ajung la clienți și se susțin în timp printr-un mecanism economic viabil. De asemenea, participanții vor începe elaborarea unei prezentări de tip pitch, care să reflecte atât inovația, cât și fezabilitatea ideii, punând accent pe claritatea mesajului, coerența logică, utilizarea de suporturi vizuale relevante și tehnici eficiente de comunicare. Sesiunea include îndrumare privind livrarea unei prezentări convingătoare, adaptată publicului țintă.
Wednesday, 4.03.2026, 1.00-4.30 pm, Room 120
Pitching session that drives action
În cadrul sesiunii finale, echipele participante își vor susține pitch-ul în fața unui public format din colegi, cadre didactice și invitați din mediul profesional și antreprenorial. Această etapă oferă studenților oportunitatea de a-și valida ideile în fața unui public avizat și de a primi feedback menit să contribuie la perfecționarea inițiativelor. Accentul va fi pus pe dezvoltarea competențelor de prezentare și argumentare, esențiale în atragerea stakeholderilor. Echipele care demonstrează un potențial ridicat de implementare vor putea fi invitate să participe în cadrul programului de incubare. La finalul programului, toți participanții vor primi certificate de participare, recunoscând progresul, implicarea și realizările obținute pe parcursul celor patru zile de lucru intensiv.
Thursday, 5.03.2026, 1.00-4.30 pm, Room 120
Pentru a-ți rezerva un loc completează :
* All students who attend the courses will receive a certificate of participation; also, the professor will award three certificates for outstanding achievements.
Wendy Bloger 23.03 2026-29.03. 2026
Wendy Bloger has leveraged a strong career in social innovation, technology, and corporate intrapreneurship to establish and lead the Simon Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Loyola University Maryland since 2018. She is a graduate of the MBA program at the Darden Graduate School of Business, University of Virginia, where she received multiple awards for academic excellence and leadership in the field of social enterprise. Bolger has distinguished herself as an intrapreneur, frequently involved in launching new products and building innovative teams. She began her professional career at Intel as a product marketing engineer within the New Business Initiatives division. She later founded her own consulting firm, providing services in growth strategy and fundraising. At Loyola University, Bolger created and currently directs the Baltipreneurs Accelerator, a program that supports the development of startup founders by drawing on her advanced knowledge in innovation and her deep commitment to the theory of effectuation.
In 2020 she was named to Technical.ly’s inaugural RealLIST Connectors roundup of those building Baltimore’s tech, entrepreneurship, and innovation community. In 2021 she co- hosted the annual Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers Conference (GCEC), joining the GCEC Board of Advisors. Wendy was among the 2022 “Women to Watch” named by the Baltimore Business Journal. After the Center was gifted a $3 million endowment to ensure its perpetuity in 2022, in 2023 the Simon Center was recognized by UpSurge for as the “Baltimore Entrepreneur Support Organization of the Year.” Loyola University, MD was ranked #4 Most Innovative School in region in 2023 by US News & World Report, and in 2024 Wendy was named “Baltimore Educator of the Year” by Technical.ly readers. The GCEC awarded the Simon Center 1st place globally for Excellence in Entrepreneurship Teaching and Pedagogical Innovation in 2024.
Workshop Effectuation
Discover Effectuation Theory – the most well-documented method in entrepreneurship! Although we are not born entrepreneurs, we can learn to think and act like one. In this workshop, students will explore the five core principles of the method:
- Available Resources (Means)
- Acceptable Loss (Affordable Loss)
- Co-Creation
- Leveraging Contingencies
- Worldview
Through interactive discussions, games, and reflection, you will learn how to apply these principles to your life and your business idea. We will work together to develop an entrepreneurial mindset focused on opportunities and solutions, using the resources you already have at your disposal. You are invited to explore the myths of entrepreneurship and build your confidence in your ability to succeed and create your own path in the entrepreneurial world!
March 23, 2026, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM, Room 120
Building Relationships & Identifying Customers
This workshop will give you the opportunity to explore how valuable relationships can be built and how to uncover the real needs of customers. It will introduce participants to the Customer Discovery methodology and the I-Corps program, used by entrepreneurs worldwide to validate business ideas. The workshop will also offer insights from Adam Grant’s research (author of Give & Take) to learn how to ask for help and build strong networks based on generosity and collaboration. You’ll practice how to engage partners, customers, and investors in an authentic and meaningful way. The session will also cover funding methods—from Friends & Family to Angel Investors and Venture Capital. You’ll receive practical advice on how to approach each type of investor and how to tailor your message to the context. This workshop helps you understand that relationships matter just as much as the idea itself. Join us to discover how to identify and develop the skills needed to gain real support for your business concept!
March 24, 2026, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM, Room 120
Artificial Intelligence for Efficiency and Innovation
This workshop offers a hands-on introduction to several AI platforms and applications currently used by entrepreneurs to create marketing materials, plan their businesses, and automate operational processes. Participants will explore the tools that startup founders rely on to optimize their time and resources, as well as to tailor their products to customer needs and investor expectations. We will analyze how selected AI solutions work, with a strong focus on their practical applicability. Attendees will learn how to integrate these technologies into their own projects and how to leverage AI to increase efficiency and the added value of their business ideas.
March 25, 2026, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM, Room 120
Pitching and Validation
The final workshop of the week is dedicated to preparing participants for presenting their business ideas. Attendees will explore Guy Kawasaki’s recommendations for crafting a compelling pitch deck and will apply these principles in an elevator pitch, regardless of the stage of their entrepreneurial initiative. Through multiple rounds of individual exercises and feedback sessions, each team will deliver a short pitch to showcase their progress. Participants will vote for their favorite ideas, and at the end, certificates will be awarded to acknowledge the skills gained throughout the program.
March 26, 2026, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM, Room 120
To reserve your sit in Ms. Wendy Bloger's courses, please fill out the form:
* All students who attend the courses will receive a certificate of participation; also, the professor will award three certificates for outstanding achievements.
Amnon Dekel |4.05.2026-8.05. 2026
Dr. Amnon Dekel is the Executive Director of ASPER-HUJI Innovate, the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Previously, Amnon was the Head of the Software Engineering Department at the Shenkar College of Engineering and Design in Israel. With over 20 years of experience in developing products for IT-based services and applications, as well as more than 15 years in applied research focused on User Experience and Mobile Computing, he has contributed to the launch of three companies in areas such as video sharing, personal networking, and indoor navigation. He has received numerous international awards, including a nomination for the Pulitzer Prize for his work with the New York Times. Amnon holds a PhD in Computer Science from Hebrew University. He is passionate about translating art into technology and dedicates his free time to this hobby.
LinkedIn_Amnon Dekel
Prototyping
This workshop offers the opportunity to explore the connection between innovation, prototyping, and protecting original ideas through intellectual property rights. Participants will learn to transform their ideas into concrete prototypes and validate them with potential customers while ensuring their creations are safeguarded against unauthorized use.
May 4, 2026, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM, Room 120
Using No Code AI tools to turn your paper prototype into a working prototype
The workshop will provide participants with the opportunity to explore the process of creating a prototype and learn how to validate it with potential customers. Additionally, there will be discussions about tools that can facilitate this process, such as NOCODE systems, to create an interactive prototype. The workshop is structured in two parts, taking place over two days. The first session will begin with a theoretical introduction to prototyping, followed by the presentation of participants' prototype ideas and development plans. They will receive personalized recommendations and solutions to improve the execution of their prototype creation.
In the second session, teams will engage in the validation process of their prototypes, interacting with testers or potential customers. Through giving and receiving feedback, the solutions will be refined, preparing them for further implementation.
May 5, 2026, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM, Room 120
Validation
Each team will present the prototype they have created, detailing the development process and its market validation. The main stages will be highlighted, from identifying customer needs to testing the solution, including methods for collecting feedback such as interviews, surveys, or demonstrations, and how this feedback influenced improvements. Additionally, the teams will describe their innovation protection strategy, emphasizing the unique elements of the prototype and protective measures such as patents or copyrights. They will also address the risks associated with unauthorized use and the solutions implemented to minimize these risks.
May 6, 2026, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM, Room 120
To reserve your sit in Mr. Amnon Dekel's courses, please fill out the form:
* All students who attend the courses will receive a certificate of participation; also, the professor will award three certificates for outstanding achievements.