March 30, 2023

Are you ready to relive the excitement of Future Fest 2023? Future Fest is an event designed to benefit Drexel entrepreneurs and celebrate entrepreneurship at Drexel University.

On February 21st, The Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship, sponsored by Univest, Graphite GTC, and Kanu, hosted an epic event that left attendees buzzing with excitement. Future Fest 2023 was a day packed with activities, including pitch competitions, networking opportunities, and a keynote speech that left everyone inspired.

The event kicked off with a new event, the ISU Fast Pitch competition. Followed by the Fast Pitch and Incubator competitions. Drexel students showed off their creative prowess, presenting innovative ideas to a panel of judges. The pitches were so impressive that the judges had a hard time selecting the winners. But after careful consideration, Arjun Sharma has crowned the ISU Fast Pitch winner, while Pratik Chapagain took home the Fast Pitch win title. Janis Niv and her company, SoothePop, walked away with the top cash prize in the Incubator Competition.

ISU Fast Pitch Winner: Arjun Sharma

Fast Pitch Winner: Pratik Chapagain

Incubator Competition Winners:

• 1st Place: Janis Niv, SoothePop
• 2nd Place: Andrew Galitzer, AndiDrew
• 3rd Place: Andrew Struminger, Lockdown Solutions

While the pitches were taking place, attendees had the opportunity to visit the Proving Ground Expo in the Pearlstein lobby. There, students and alumni showcased their products, art, startup ideas and more. The expo was a melting pot of creativity and innovation, and participants had a great time networking and promoting their products.

As the expo came to a close, it was time for the keynote speech from Brian Bowens, also known as BBsketch. Brian is a successful artist who has worked with numerous well-known individuals (like Defensive End Brandon Graham) and brands (Clients including Twitter, Addidas, and the NBA). He shared insights from his successful career and provided valuable advice to Drexel students on how to pursue their passions and achieve success. Brian's speech left attendees motivated and inspired to take on the world with their own entrepreneurial ideas.

Following the keynote speech, students, faculty, and alumni mingled at the networking reception. An important opportunity for entrepreneurs to connect with other professionals and establish relationships that are crucial for building a successful career. Attendees enjoyed drinks and appetizers while exchanging business cards and business ideas.

Future Fest 2023 was a huge success. It brought together the best and brightest minds in the Drexel community, showcasing their entrepreneurial spirit and unique ideas. From the pitch competitions to the keynote speech and the networking reception, attendees had an unforgettable experience at this yearly Close School event. Thank you to everyone who attended Future Fest 2023, and we can't wait to see you at the next one!