Our recent TIA Incubator weekend showcased the strength of mentorship, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit at ԱƵ, with an inspiring keynote from Mandy DiMarzo ’02 and interactive activities focused on go-to-market strategy and preparing for the rapidly approaching TIA Entrepreneur Showcase.
On Friday evening, mentors had the unique opportunity to engage with the Clifford Family Innovator-in-Residence program. Francesca Zambello ’78, artistic director of the Washington National Opera, visited ԱƵ from February 24–28 as the inaugural innovator in residence. Zambello and her team workshopped Kiss the Sky, an innovative opera-ballet exploring the intertwined lives of American Modernism icons Georgia O’Keeffe and Mabel Dodge Luhan. Showcased in The Vault, the new experimental performance space in Bernstein Hall, the performance fused opera and ballet to highlight O’Keeffe and Luhan’s lives as they shaped 20th-century American culture and art. After the performance, mentors joined faculty, staff, and students for a reception with the artists.
Saturday was a busy day, starting with a mentor meeting that featured a conversation with Christian DuComb, associate professor of theater and current associate dean of the faculty for faculty recruitment and development. He is also responsible for overseeing the Middle Campus Initiative for Arts, Creativity, and Innovation, working closely with provost, president, and all of the offices and departments that are part of the Middle Campus. DuComb spoke about developments in the initiative, including the opening of Bernstein Hall, the establishment of the Clifford Family Innovator in Residence, the evolution of Arts, Creativity, and Innovation Weekend, and future opportunities for interdisciplinary programming connected to arts, creativity, and innovation.
The plenary session began with a keynote address and fireside chat with Mandy DiMarzo ’02, founder of BURN by Mandy — a cutting-edge wellness program that has helped thousands of people achieve their health goals. DiMarzo spoke about her entrepreneurial journey and shared key lessons, emphasizing themes of authenticity, community service, and the importance of taking action and gathering feedback.
“Mandy’s talk was a powerful reminder that while talent is valuable, it’s the grit, passion, and adaptability that truly drives success. Her story of building Burn by Mandy emphasized that a hard work and a willingness to embrace change are what turn vision into reality,” said Avery Johnson ’25.
Entrepreneur in residence Reece Wilson then led a demo and exercise on using AI to develop go-to-market (GTM) strategies, showing how to craft effective prompts to generate innovative ideas for GTM planning. Following the demonstration, students had the opportunity to try it for themselves, applying AI to their own strategies. The session also featured pitches, including Vitalize, founded by Talia Broder ’28, who presented to a panel of “sharks” consisting of Mandy DiMarzo ’02, Lauren Groff ’97, Sarah Stein, and Jason Zuker. Additionally, Jack Suter ’27, founder of Braqish, delivered an impromptu 60-second elevator pitch.
“Being able to pitch in front of a new and sizable audience in the February TIA session helped me feel more comfortable with public speaking. The ‘sharks’ also gave me valuable advice that I have now incorporated into my pitch for the showcase in April. I feel much more prepared heading into my upcoming pitch
competitions because of this experience,” said Broder.
With the showcase just five weeks away, Wilson and Carolyn Strobel-Larsen, director of entrepreneurship and innovation, led a session focused on preparing for networking and the investment game. They shared examples of attention-grabbing tables from previous years to inspire participants. The session also included an interactive tabling demonstration by Monica Cody, founder of Farmstead 1868. Monica set up an example table featuring her products and collateral, then fielded questions from three mentors — Brian Horey ’82, Madeline Bayliss ’76, and Paul Wigdor P’24 — to provide valuable insights into effective presentation and engagement strategies.
“For students who haven’t been to the Showcase before, it can be hard to visualize the event and think about how to make the most of it. This year, we thought that sharing stories of some past standout booths, coupled with an in-person tabling demo, would help the event come to life for participants and inspire their creativity,” said Strobel-Larsen.
The weekend wrapped up with mentoring breakouts in the afternoon, centered on preparing for the highly-anticipated venture showcase.
Mentors and entrepreneurs will gather again March 28–29, just one week before the TIA Entrepreneur Showcase, to complete final preparations for the big event, reflect on the year, and celebrate successes.