From the Do School blog http://thedoschool.org/blog/do-school-news/an-actual-big-thing/
A once in a lifetime opportunity, a first of its kind program: Innovate NYC saw students from 10 different New York universities enhance the health of the city’s entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Shared Resource Challenge given by the New York City Economic Development Corporation – the City’s primary vehicle for promoting economic growth.
On Wednesday, July 26, sixty eager listeners came to NYU’s eLab to find out what this diverse bunch had come up with to enable entrepreneur-supporting institutions to sustain and expand access to entrepreneurial opportunities across New York City. Over wine generously donated by Indaba sustainable wines, participants from the New York City government, leaders of various NYC-based incubators, university faculty and administrators mingled with the students, expert practitioners and DO School facilitators for an evening celebrating the possibilities of partnership and collaboration.
In her introductory remarks, Martha Kanter, former U.S. Undersecretary of Education stressed the importance of experiential learning and highlighted ways in which players from various fields can come together to achieve something great. This learning-by-doing, cross-sectoral approach in many ways is the future of education across the country. As the students’ subsequent presentation proved, she was exactly right: their “KIN” solution was met with great enthusiasm from the NYC entrepreneurial support organizations in attendance.
Then Kathleen D. Warner, Executive Vice President of NYCEDC, took to the microphone. Accepting the solution on behalf of the city, she thanked the students for their amazing work and the program idea for KIN – which attendees got to experience first hand during after the formal remarks concluded. The room was abuzz with tremendous energy as the students, fronted by facilitator Aude Broos, got everyone together for the “Startup Networking Game” they’d designed as part of their solution.
And thus it was as early as this initial presentation that the students’ solution made a real impact, leaving startup and incubator reps especially impressed. In the words of one incubator director: “This is an actual big thing–and it’ll make a real difference to New York’s startup ecosystem!” With such great feedback from both the Challenger and the startups and incubators who stand to benefit from the solution, we look forward to this talented bunch taking their amazing innovation skills to go and achieve greater things for their communities.
https://youtu.be/0YWe3W5QU7Q
This is a follow-up from an earlier post:
Fordham Joins New Collaborative Effort to Spur Social Innovation