IrishAngels Membership Tops 200

The IrishAngels network, now more than 200 members strong, supports aspiring entrepreneurs at Mendoza, serving as mentors, guest lecturers and business competition judges. “We help bring marketplace reality to the strong academic theory discussed in class,” says IrishAngel Dave Brenner (’73).

Venture Capital Immersion Program Funded by Nasdaq

In March 2007, MBA students Thomas Triscari and Chad Lyne spent an intense week job shadowing venture capitalists in Seattle and Boston respectively, thanks to an endowment by the Nasdaq Educational Foundation. Lyne shadowed Tom Crotty (’80), general partner of Battery Ventures, during the firm’s annual portfolio review. “I learned an incredible amount in these sessions,” Lyne said. “Tom and the other partners would challenge and push the assumptions of the individual deal teams, yet the inverse was also true.” Nasdaq also funded training seminars for participants in the Notre Dame business plan competitions.

Microventuring Certificate Program Launched

Microventuring aims to reduce world poverty by helping people build sustainable businesses in economically disadvantaged communities. Spearheaded by Frank Belatti (’69), founder and chairman of AFC Enterprises, the Gigot Center launched a new microventuring certificate program in 2006, which attracted 55 students from throughout the University in its inaugural year. Belatti, Management Professor James Davis and Social Entrepreneurship Programs Manager Melissa Paulsen (MNA ’05) serve as co-instructors for the two-semester course. The curriculum includes team mentoring projects with local microenterprises, as well as global summer internship opportunities.