2023 Global Entrepreneurship Week

This year’s Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) will take place November 13-17, 2023.
Register to Compete in River Pitch Here
Sign-up to be a River Pitch Judge Here
Scroll down to learn more.
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1. River Pitch Competition
The River Pitch Competition was created to help innovators and entrepreneurs with new ideas and early-stage businesses obtain feedback on their work and potentially win one of 10 different $1,000 prizes. There is no entry fee, and the event is open to students, faculty, staff and community members. The slate of competitors will be divided into separate booths with several individuals competing at one of ten different booths. If a team is entering, only one person can present. That individual will have up to 3 minutes to pitch the idea, and the judges have up to 5 minutes to ask questions of the presenter. After all teams have pitched, the judges will deliberate and prize winners from each booth will be announced.
- November 14th, 2023
- 5:00 – 9:00 P.M.
- In-person at the Tuscaloosa River Market
2. Demo Day at The EDGE
Network with local startups and learn about companies that are based here in Tuscaloosa. Entrepreneurs will be showcasing their businesses and workshops will be held all day.
11:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M. Welcome + Round 1 – Product Presentations
(5 minutes to present + a 5 minute Q&A session)
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- Gavin Baum-Blake: City Detect 2023 Crimson Accelerator Company
- Micah Howell: Hometown Heros 2023 Crimson Entrepreneurship Academy (CEA)
- Tommy Orchanian: Pyne Hammock 2023 CEA
- Kaitlyn Shelver: Sanoe 2023 CEA
- Tiffany Amirkhanian: Druid City Makerspace
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12:00 P.M. – 1:00 P.M. Lunch & Networking
1:00 P.M. – 2:00 P.M. Round 2 – Product Presentations
(5 minutes to present + a 5 minute Q&A session)
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- Brian Henderson: ecobrew 2023 Crimson Accelerator Company
- Lars Griffin or Julian Woods: TappedIn 2023 CEA
- Jet Thevenot: JetStream Social 2023 CEA
- Andrew Jones: Microtype Technologies 2023 CEA
- Jameson Jonseof: Crimson Charge
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2:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Entrepreneur Showcase, Networking, Snacks, & Drinks
4:00 P.M. Happy Hour + Heavy Hor d’oeuvres
5:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M. Keynote Presentation: Start and GROW your business with Bobby Napiltonia, serial entrepreneur who has helped build and grow some of today’s top technology companies including BEA Systems, Twilo and Salesforce, to name just a few.
6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. More Networking + Entrepreneur Showcase
6:30 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. Bama IP Commercialization Academy Final Presentations
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- Training Room at The EDGE
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- November 16th, 2023
- 11:00 A.M. – 7:30 P.M.
- In-person at The EDGE
Bobby Napiltonia
Bobby Napiltonia is a start up junkie/industry veteran who has built and grown some of today’s technology leaders that have solved the most complex problems across many industries around the globe. These companies include BEA Systems, Twilio and Salesforce.com where he was the creator of AppExchange. Beyond these household platform companies’ successful exits include: Okera to Databricks, Enlighted and eMeter to Siemens, both global leaders in the Enterprise IoT infrastructure and smart grid operations. JSON was born out of his first failed start-up State Software……some things do work out!
Bobby enjoys being a father and helping others realize their dreams. Oh, and the GRIND of a start up!