Richard Dino


Do You Have What It Takes To Be An Entrepreneur?

Frank Amaefuna, pictured, wants to create a business to provide concussion protocol for high school students.
Frank Amaefuna, pictured, wants to create a business to provide concussion protocol for high school students. (Devin Basdekian/UConn School of Business)

More than 300 Sign-up for iQ Kickoff As Entrepreneurship Takes Root at UConn

When he was a high school lacrosse player, Frank Amaefuna took a slash from an opponent. Although he was wearing a helmet, his head smacked the ground hard. Continue Reading


Curating Startup Innovation at UConn Innovation Quest with Special Guest Rich Dino

CTStartup Podcast– The CTStartup Podcast is back for its third season with a new format, new host, and new interviews focusing on the startup ecosystem in Connecticut.

We start off Season 3 interviewing Rich Dino, an associate professor at UConn and the director of the Innovation Quest program aimed at helping young students and startups bring their business ideas to life.


‘UConn Students Can Chase Their Dreams’

Keith Fox '80, addressing attendees at the 2017 iQ Awards dinner this past spring.
Keith Fox ’80, addressing attendees at the 2017 iQ Awards dinner this past spring. (Nathan Oldham/UConn School of Business)

Students’ “Insatiable Appetite” to Invent Led Entrepreneur Keith Fox ’80 to Champion Innovation Quest

Before he became a senior executive at Apple, or helped Cisco grow to “The Worldwide Leader in Networking for the Internet,” Keith R. Fox ’80 was a newly minted UConn business graduate embarking on a journey to become an entrepreneur. Continue Reading


Unique, Creative Startups Win $30,000

2017 Innovation Quest Awards

Innovation Quest Tops Participation Record; Winners Present Vastly Different, Creative Startup Ideas

The winners of this year’s Innovation Quest (iQ) competition had a unique set of people to credit for inspiring their success, including:

  • A friend with a teddy bear tattoo, emblazoned with his ex-girlfriend’s name;
  • A waitress who was trying to handle a mad-house of customers during a blizzard, when the rest of the wait staff didn’t show up;
  • A little brother who leaves his EpiPen home because it is too bulky to carry;
  • Americans who have very polarized beliefs about political events, depending on which news source they follow.

Continue Reading


Over 200 Would-Be Entrepreneurs Seek Mentoring, Business Advice

Michael Mayo attended the 6th annual Innovation Quest kickoff with over 200 would-be entrepreneurs.
Freshman Michael Mayo has dreams of building a roller-skating business adjacent to his alma mater, New Britain High School. (Devin Basdekian/UConn School of Business)

“It’s Not a Passive World”

Freshman Michael Mayo has dreams of building a roller-skating business adjacent to his alma mater, New Britain High School. His goal would be to afford students some much-needed recreation while also offering them classes and hands-on knowledge about how to run a business. Continue Reading


‘Just Go For It!’

Portrait of Andrew Carroll.
When senior Andrew Carroll graduates in May, he will have completed a triple major, and his resume will include a semester of education abroad and additional world travel that gave him a new, bolder perspective. (Nathan Oldham/UConn School of Business)

Three Majors, World Travel, Research Highlight Senior Andrew Carroll’s UConn Years

No regrets.

When he enrolled at UConn four years ago, Andrew Carroll ’17 didn’t know exactly what the future would offer, but he was determined to get the most out of his college experience.

When he graduates in May, he will have completed a triple major—in economics, psychology and management—and his resume will include a semester of education abroad and additional world travel that gave him a new, bolder perspective. Continue Reading