Speaker Series
We host series of speaker events throughout the semester.
Each event begins with a distinguished speaker, to allow for real world exposure
and to create an entrepreneurial spirit. A reception with
refreshments is held at the end.
The goal of the speaker series is to create an atmopshere that
facilitates interaction between attendants, to provide for an
exchange of ideas, opinions, and the meeting of future partners.
EIR: Entrepreneur In Residence
Recognizing that many students at the University of Pennsylvania want to start their
own businesses, Wharton Entrepreneurial Programs
offers the Entrepreneur in Residence
Program (EIR) to complement the classroom learning experience at Penn.
EIR provides an opportunity for students to meet one on one with a successful entrepreneur
to discuss his or her aspirations as an entrepreneur.
A different highly accomplished entrepreneur comes to campus every Tuesday during the
academic year. The visiting entrepreneurs come from diverse fields and are chosen based
on their success starting and managing successful enterprises.
We encourage students to sign up early on the EIR website as most EIRs are filled
within a few days of opening up.
Last Year's Speakers
(*indicates Penn alumni)
Michael Cannon*, General Manager and VP, Siemens Medical Solutions
Ted Schlein*, General Partner, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers
Phil Yanni*, Chief Engineer, Anzus, Inc.
Past Guest Speakers
"Engineers as Entrepreneurs: An Insider's View" Professor Thomas Cassel*
My Mom Raised a Beggar or Life as a Biotech CEO
Tom Stagnaro, Agile Therapeutics, CEO
Wharton Business Plan Competition (the Engineer's Version)
Jeff Gruneich*, Past Winner / Infoceutics, Chief Business Officer
From Dorm Room to Board Room: How a Company Founded
at Penn Engineering Went from College to Corporate
Matt Grove*, Diginexus, President
Venture Capital Today in the Valley
Andy Rachleff*, Benchmark Capital, Managing Partner
Venture Capital - Silicon Valley 2001
Ted Schlein*, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Partner
Investing After the Internet Bubble
Pete Musser, Safeguard Scientifics, CEO
Michael Bolton, Pennsylvania Early Stage Partners, Managing Director & CEO
Technology Incubator Panel Event
Technology and the Future of Entrepreneurial Ventures
Geoffrey Gardner, bHive
Craig Markovitz, PenNetWorks
Dave Noteware, Port of Technologies
So You Want to be an Entrepreneur
Jerry Kaplan*, Egghead.com, Chairman