Entrepreneurship & Innovation News and Updates

At Colgate’s 2026 Arts, Creativity, and Innovation Weekend, actress Tracee Ellis Ross shared her entrepreneurial journey and life lessons with students. Ross discussed creating Pattern Beauty to celebrate Black beauty, the necessity of rigorous rehearsal, and the importance of prioritizing well-being through authenticity and perseverance.

At the 2026 TIA Entrepreneur Showcase, successful innovators shared diverse journeys to remind students that entrepreneurship requires significant pivots. While AI and data are useful tools, the panel emphasized that long-term achievement relies on personal passion, the humility to adapt, and the grit to constantly refine one's vision.

The final TIA Incubator session of the 2025–26 academic year highlighted a year of venture progress and growth. Seniors Ellrose Hanlon ’26 and Fletcher Goodell ’26 pitched their ventures, while Soapply founder Mera McGrew shared how her company grew from a single “lightbulb moment” into a mission-centered business with global impact. The session reflected the TIA program’s focus on helping students turn bold ideas into meaningful work.

The 2026 TIA Entrepreneur Showcase featured four student-led ventures addressing challenges in digital finance, mental wellness, water access, and agricultural technology.

To connect with attendees during the 2026 TIA Entrepreneur Showcase, ventures filled their tables with promotional materials, display products, and even some prototypes, all to convince their audience to invest “Iggies” in their venture and earning them a share of $10,000 in grant funding.

Porter Comstock ’26 has become a familiar presence in Colgate’s TIA Incubator, both as a peer advisor and as the founder of PLNT. Comstock has found major success with PLNT, winning first place at the 2026 TIA Entrepreneur Showcase and advancing to the state finals of the New York Business Plan Competition.

Agnes Ndanu ’28, founder of MajiSafi Solutions, will represent Colgate at the Fowler Global Social Innovation Challenge, becoming just the second TIA student ever accepted into the competition.

On Saturday, April 11, the Hall of Presidents will be home to an exciting range of student ventures, accomplished alumni, and a community eager to see new ideas in action. With everything from AI and digital wallets to bubble tea and dog rescue represented, this year’s showcase reflects both the range of student entrepreneurship and the momentum behind it.

As the 2026 TIA Entrepreneur Showcase approaches, last year’s competition participants offers a look at what makes a strong pitch: solving a real problem, knowing the customer, and telling a clear, compelling story..

NPR Tiny Desk Concerts’ host and producer Bobby Carter spent a week at Colgate sharing his journey from working at a mall record store to leading one of the world’s most celebrated concert series.