By Nadine Kavanaugh, Associate Director, Wharton Entrepreneurship
The spring is an action-packed time for Wharton Entrepreneurship. The Venture Finals capped another exciting year of our Business Plan Competition, the Wharton Venture Award was given out, and a new class of Venture Initiation Program members was admitted.
By Clare Leinweber, Senior Associate Director, Wharton Entrepreneurship
Dan Fine (Wharton Undergrad 2015), Founder of Glass-U, was selected last week as the first winner of a $7,500 Emil K. Woods Seed Fund Award. Glass-U was launched to the public in the summer of 2012 and produces custom folding sunglasses for fans and students.
The Woods Award selection committee, comprised of Wharton Entrepreneurship Advisory Board members, felt Glass-U had a clear value proposition, had made “stunning progress” in a short period of time (product, team, licensing agreements, supply chain, sales and revenues), was already a fully operational business, and demonstrated a potential return for investors.
The Woods Award recognizes and provides financial support to student entrepreneurs in the Venture Initiation Program (VIP) who demonstrate the most substantial progress and significant growth with their ventures. To qualify, students must have previously received a Snider Seed Award winners in the current academic year. Winners from both the Philadelphia and San Francisco Venture Initiation Program were invited to apply for the Woods Award.
The selection committee members commented that all Woods Award applications “exceeded expectations” and that they were impressed with the caliber and creativity of the ventures being incubated in the Wharton Venture Initiation Program.
Congratulations Dan!
