John Hill, vice president of story at Whop, speaks during the January Incubator about quality over quantity for network connections. (Photo by Paxton Hilgendorff ’26)
The first TIA Incubator weekend of 2026 was full of energy, opportunity, and inspiration. The session kicked off with impactful pitches from two different ventures who are hitting the ground running in the world of entrepreneurship. The first students to pitch were Ella Conover ’26, Valeria Reyes ’26, and Perin Romano ’26 with their venture Hami-Down — a sustainable clothing resale platform for students at Colgate to buy and sell pre-loved items responsibly. The second pitch was given by Porter Comstock ’26 about his venture PLNT — a digital solution that modernizes the nursery plant industry. Following the pitches, John Hill had students listening, laughing, and engaging with a powerful keynote speech.
Hill is a highly successful innovator who currently serves as the vice president of story at Whop — a social commerce platform that supports creators and entrepreneurs in building online businesses — but his entrepreneurship journey hasn’t always looked this way. Hill was thrust into the business world the same way that many entrepreneurs are: by identifying a need in the industry. He received a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University (MSU) with which he pursued a career in sports journalism, aspiring to eventually work for ESPN. While he was working in sports journalism in 1998, his boss asked him to create a website, an extremely uncommon concept at the time. It was when he hired a programmer and began to craft the website that he realized this was an opportunity for business.
After leaving his first startup with nothing but a lesson learned in the “importance of legal representation,” Hill returned to MSU and his innovative calling. He was put in charge of different internship programs for MSU grads and eventually one of the first alumni engagement networks in the country. When the crash of the automotive industry in 2008 jeopardized the jobs of more than 200,000 alumni, Hill once again faced opportunity. He created Linking Lansing to connect alumni with high-profile jobs in the market, in turn establishing himself as an innovator in the higher education industry.
Throughout his career, Hill emphasized the power of collaboration. “When you surround yourself with creators, it opens up opportunities you wouldn’t otherwise expect,” he explained, encouraging students to seek out innovative peers and mentors.
The first partnership between LinkedIn and a university occurred after Hill met with the networking giant’s leaders. He went on to speak at countless universities across the world teaching students how to leverage social media platforms throughout their job search. “Quality matters more than quantity when it comes to building your network,” Hill advised. In an additional effort to guide aspiring entrepreneurs, Hill created The Hatch — a program similar to TIA in which students work to turn their ideas into profitable businesses. The guidance included mentorship, funding access, workshops, and networking opportunities. This program yielded incredible results, Hill recalled, including one mentee who founded Remind — educational software recognized by many TIA students in the audience.
All of Hill’s work to connect professionals and empower founders ultimately led him to Whop, where he now continues his mission of supporting entrepreneurs. “My goal has always been to make sure students don’t feel as lost as I once did,” Hill shared, reflecting on his motivation for working in higher education and technology.
Throughout the keynote, Hill offered students practical takeaways that extended beyond entrepreneurship. He encouraged attendees to focus on building meaningful relationships, seek guidance from mentors, and remain adaptable in the face of challenges. By sharing how strategic networking, persistence, and openness to learning shaped his own career, Hill provided students with tools they can apply regardless of their chosen paths.
As the weekend concluded, students left with renewed motivation and a clearer understanding of how ideas can become impactful ventures. Between the student pitches and Hill’s keynote, the session reinforced the importance of creativity, resilience, and community. Looking ahead, the lessons shared during the Incubator weekend will continue to guide students as they refine their ventures and pursue future opportunities.