Thought Into Action

Thought Into Action (TIA) programs 
are hands-on experiences where students create businesses, nonprofits, social enterprises, and campus initiatives while developing entrepreneurial skills, guided by alumni mentors and Colgate’s entrepreneur in residence.

TIA programs include:

  • Pre-Orientation: Join a cohort of creators and explore the Colgate entrepreneurial ecosystem
  • TIA Incubator: Build your business, nonprofit, or campus initiative
  • Idea Squad: Join a team or come up with your own idea
  • Workshops and PE courses: Learn entrepreneurial concepts and build skills
  • TIA Summer Accelerator: Grow and scale your venture during the summer
  • TIA Internship Program: Complement your entrepreneurial experience

 

700+
Entrepreneurs over the past 15 years
250+
Mentors and advisors
40,000+
Mentoring hours donated by alumni, family, and friends

Our success stories include:

The word chicory in purple lettering
Chicory

Co-Founded by Yuni Baker-Saito ’13, Joey Petracca ’13

The words Fair Harbor with two wavy lines underneath to symbolize water
Fair Harbor

Co-Founded by Jake Danehy ’16, Caroline Danehy ’19
 

Two shafts of wheat surrounding the words Flour and Salt Bakery and Cafe with a rolling pin in the middle
Flour & Salt Bakery & Café

Founded by Britty O’Connor ’12, MA’13

The words Heart of Tabitha Foundation with two interlocking hearts underneath
Heart of Tabitha Foundation

Founded by Jazmyn McKoy ’17

The words Imaginaire Media
Imaginaire Media LLC

Founded by Chase Hirt ’22

The word shot in black lettering, the word quality in orange lettering, and an artistic letter s in orange color
ShotQuality

Founded by Simon Gerszberg ’22

Hami-Down would not be the business it is today without the support of E&I. I have gained so many skills about being a leader and running a business that I know will undoubtably serve me well in the future.

Ella Conover ’26
Ella Conover ’26

Take Action on Your Business, Nonprofit, or Campus Idea

No matter what you’re interested in creating, TIA programs can help you launch your idea and move it forward. Students in TIA are creating apps, sustainable clothing brands, mission-focused nonprofits, on-campus businesses,  food ventures, and more.

Featured Ventures

The words Hami Down with the recycling symbol consisting of three arrows
Hami-Down

Led by Ella Conover ’26, Perin Romano ’26, and Valeria Reyes ’26

Online and in-person resale for the Colgate community

The word plant with two overlapping green leaves replacing the letter A.
PLNT

Founded by Porter Comstock ’26

Precision plant counting and analytics for nurseries

The words Wags and Wings with an illustration of a dog riding on top of an airplane
Wags and Wings Dog Rescue

Founded by Alana Conolly ’27

Rescuing homeless street dogs from Mexico

Receive Mentorship from Experienced Entrepreneurs

Ventures in TIA programs are supported by volunteer mentors who have deep domain expertise. Our mentors are Colgate alumni, parents, and friends who have successfully built and grown early-stage ventures across a wide range of industries. These seasoned entrepreneurs donate their time, knowledge, resources, and connections to support our teams, sharing their wisdom, expertise, and lessons learned. Our mentors create an environment of encouragement for entrepreneurs who are creating novel solutions in unchartered territory, while holding teams to real-world standards.

Meet some of our mentors

Headshot of alum Kimberley Schafer
Kimberley Schafer ’92

Former Owner and Principal, Right at Home

Headshot of alum Marvin Vilma
Marvin Vilma ’14

Teacher, Entrepreneur, Social Impact Strategist

Headshot of Paul Wigdor, parent of an alum
Paul Wigdor P’23

Financial Services Executive, Entrepreneur, Start-Up Adviser

Meet all our mentors Become a mentor

Access Grant Funding and Co-working Space

Students in the TIA Incubator are eligible for up to $5,000 in seed grant funding as their venture develops: from ideation and validation, to building and launching, to growing and scaling. Teams in the TIA Summer Accelerator receive a $7,500 grant to support their progress. In addition, all entrepreneurs have 24/7 access to The Hub for working, holding team meetings, attending conference calls, and hosting events.

Develop Into an Entrepreneurial Leader

Participation in TIA programs builds entrepreneurial skills: adaptability, resiliency, resourcefulness, strong communication, teamwork, and much more. As an entrepreneur, you'll think about your personal brand, your passions and values, and how you work with teammates and manage others. Join us to see who you become in the process of creating something amazing.

Meet some of our current entrepreneurs

Headshot of student Talia Broder
Talia Broder ’28

Founder, Vitalize

Headshot of student Nathan Walsh
Nathan Walsh ’28

Co-founder, Students Helping Students

A photo of Oscar Brown holding a finger in the air like a eureka moment and speaking into a microphone.
Oscar Brown ’26

Founder, Colgate LGBTQ+ Digital Collective Archive

Learn More about TIA

jjmartin
Jennifer (Jen) Martin
Weiner Family Entrepreneur in Residence
317 Bernstein Hall