Thought Into Action

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Thought Into Action (TIA) programs are immersive co-curricular experiences that enable students to experience entrepreneurship first hand. There are currently three programs to support current and aspiring entrepreneurs at different stages of their journeys. Participants are guided by seasoned entrepreneurs and supported by robust on-campus resources.

Ideatorium

Hands-on experience developing and refining ideas for products and services.

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Incubator

Experiential, mentorship-based program where participants take an idea to reality.

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Summer Accelerator

Full-time summer program for promising ventures led by students and recent alumni.

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TIA success stories include:

Flour & Salt Bakery and Cafe

Britty (Buonocore) O’Connor ’12, MA’13, founder
Lakota Children's Enrichment

Maggie Dunne ’13, founder
Fair Harbor Clothing

Jake Danehy ’16 and Caroline Danehy, ’19, co-founders
600+
Entrepreneurs over the past 13 years
190+
Mentors and advisors
32,000+
Mentoring hours donated by alumni, family, and friends

Thought Into Action has contributed in instrumental ways to my personal and professional development. It has not only helped to propel my business forward, but it has prepared me to be successful beyond Colgate in any endeavor I pursue.

Miranda Scott ’18

Mentoring by dedicated, seasoned 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:

Jazmyn McKoy ’17

Founder, Heart of Tabitha Foundation

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Yuni Sameshima ’13

Co-Founder and CEO, Chicory

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Sarah Stein ’91

Business Builder and P&L Leader, Digital Transformation

View LinkedIn profile
Meet all our mentors Become a mentor

Access to funding and co-working space

TIA Incubator participants can apply for seed grants. This startup capital is a validation of the demand by real customers and stakeholders for their products and services. Teams in the Entrepreneurs’ Fund Summer Accelerator receive a cash grant of $10,000 to support their progress. In addition, all entrepreneurs have 24/7 access to The Hub at 20 Utica St. for working, holding team meetings, attending conference calls, and hosting events.

Embracing a wide range of ventures

No matter what you're interested in creating, TIA programs can help you launch your idea and move it forward. Our ventures include businesses, nonprofits, and social enterprises across an array of industries, including agriculture, beauty, education, food and beverage, manufacturing, retail, technology, wearables, and more. Whether you're looking to create a smartphone app, campus-focused service, community organization, manufacturing company, or something else, you will find a home in TIA.

Featured Ventures:

Hami-Down

Leigh Frankel ’23, Cameron Stokes ’23, Sarah Stenovec ’24, Rae Frankel ’25, Chloe Tanous ’24, Laine Katz-Vanzo ’25, Avery Johnson ’25

Hami-Down is an online platform for the Colgate community to efficiently buy and sell goods in a sustainable manner.

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Raider Rides

Jordan Klein ’23, Thomas Johnson ’23, Eli Yadidi ’23, Ryan Cekay ’23, McKenna Dalton ’25, Nate Rindfuss ’25, Porter Comstock ’26

Raider Rides delivers guaranteed, affordable, and convenient rides to and from the Syracuse Airport to Colgate for students, by students.

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Far Owl Studios

Kai Davis ’23

Far Owl Studios develops games that allows players to lose themselves through marrying narrative and gameplay, and by being challenging yet accessible.

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See all our current ventures

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:

Macdonald Chirara ’25

Founder, Everlasting Technology

Connect with Macdonald
Heather Holm ’25

Co-founder, Freshman Thirteen

Connect with Heather
Chris Cherniakov ’24

IT & Management, Geeckon

Connect with Chris
Meet all our current entrepreneurs