The New York Times– After Lelaneia Dubay developed an intolerance for the gluten and chemical additives in many alcoholic beverages, she went looking for a way to salvage her cocktail hour. Already skilled at making cranberry liqueur, which she bottled and gave as gifts at Christmas, she came up with a formula for a lavender liqueur, using sprigs from her garden. When she shared it with friends at a holiday party, their response was emphatic: Get this to market.
Experiential Learning Accelerators
Exploring All Avenues at UConn Finance Conference

Experts Encourage UConn Finance Students To Seek Jobs in Most Prestigious, Demanding Sectors
Careers in investments, asset management, banking and prestigious Wall Street opportunities were the focus of the inaugural Finance Conference at the School of Business.
“The conference continues the School of Business efforts to make a greater push to place students in more prestigious and demanding areas of the financial sector,” said Professor Larry Gramling, associate dean for undergraduate programs. Continue Reading
Workshop Aims to Help Veterans Start, Expand Businesses in Connecticut
Stars and Stripes– While they only make up about 5 percent of the businesses in Connecticut, veteran-owned businesses produce about 9 percent of the total state gross domestic product.
A workshop put on Wednesday by the state Department of Veterans Affairs and the Connecticut office of the U.S. Small Business Administration, in conjunction with National Veteran Small Business Week, aimed to aid veterans in starting or expanding a business in the state.
EBV Graduates 22 Veteran Entrepreneurs

‘I Can’t Believe How Lucky I Am!’ Veterans’ Plans Include Cookie Business, Animal Shelter, Counseling Center
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Damone “D” Garner has a secret weapon for his post-military career.
Hailing from a family that boasts three generations of talented bakers, Garner has a collection of secret, family-cookie recipes that will make other bakers quake in their aprons. Continue Reading
Venture Capital More Impactful Than Angel Investments for Tech Startups
A First-Place Tie

Revamped Wolff New Venture Competition Surprises Audience with Two Medical-Device Champs
The late Thomas John Wolff ’56 was an entrepreneur, and UConn School of Business alumnus, who ran five businesses simultaneously. He exemplified values like enthusiasm, mentorship and appreciation. Continue Reading
‘You are an Entrepreneur!’

UConn’s New Xcite Conference Draws 200+ Women; Strives to Increase Connecticut’s Women Business Leaders
It was a simple assignment that YouTube executive Kathryn Friedrich gave to the audience of 200 business women: take a minute and think of an entrepreneur.
“If you’re not thinking of yourself, think again, because you are an entrepreneur,” she said. “Entrepreneurship is a mindset. You don’t have to start your own company to be an entrepreneur. You can start working on it right away!” Continue Reading
Colleges Boost Entrepreneurship Classes, Seminars
Hartford Business Journal– Michelle Cote, managing director of the Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CCEI) at the UConn School of Business, said it’s a great time to be an aspiring entrepreneur at UConn and statewide based on the resources available to help them.
‘The World Is …Brimming with Opportunities’

Graduate Students Find Fulfillment in Assisting Startups; Business Owners Grateful for Helping Hand
Sumit Kumar, a second-year MBA student, couldn’t believe his good fortune.
This summer he was able to devise a market strategy for a growing beverage company and conduct market analysis and funding research for a biomedical-device manufacturer, both in Connecticut.Continue Reading
New Device Improves Measurement of Water Pollution
UConn Today – UConn researchers have developed a device that makes it easier to measure contaminant levels in water. With help from UConn’s National Science Foundation Innovation Corps program, Accelerate UConn, marine geochemist Penny Vlahos and graduate student Joe Warren are now well on their way to commercializing their technology.