With the Americas Venture Capital Conference at Florida International University’s (FIU) College of Business Administration less than three weeks away, I’ve been thinking about the fifteen innovative companies selected to present at the conference, and the genesis of some of the innovations they’ll be presenting. I am fascinated by the similarities and differences between these […]
Author: Irma Becerra-Fernandez
iVentures: Welcome to fall
It may still feel like summer outside, but on the Florida International University (FIU) campus, it’s fall again—time to welcome new faces and old friends and to look toward the future. Over the past year, our team at the College of Business Administration’s Pino Global Entrepreneurship Center has worked on developing the Americas Venture Capital […]
iVentures: New graduates and new ventures
June marks graduation season, a time to celebrate achievement and new beginnings. It’s also a great time to try something new, whether you’re a graduate in search of the next step, or an employer in search of new perspectives to boost your business. Many Florida International University (FIU) graduates are starting new jobs, and others […]
iVentures: A New Road for New Ventures
Can anything match the excitement of watching a chance encounter evolve into something real? What a thrill it was to stand in a conference room at the College of Business Administration and welcome leaders of the MIT Venture Mentor Service (VMS) to Florida International University (FIU). A group of 15 South Florida business leaders and […]
iVentures: Power of a chance encounter
Have you ever had a chance encounter that turned into a pivotal move for your business? Maybe it was a quick chat at a party that didn’t seem to mean anything at the time—but months later, held out amazing possibilities. How did you decide to let it drop or follow it up? In the spring […]
iVentures: Growing a “gut feeling” at the iEntrepreneurship Lab
How do angel investors and venture capitalists make the decision about investing in a new venture? How do they determine if the company they are betting on is worth $7 million, $25 million or $100 million? The “art” of due-diligence fascinates me. I call it an art, because as much as we apply sound financial […]
iVentures: TEDx—A “Tipping Point”
Whenever you throw a party, there’s always a tipping point—the moment you know you have enough of a crowd for your guests to begin great conversations. The same principle can be applied to any dynamic community, including South Florida’s high tech and venture capital sectors. The ability to conduct a productive exchange, generate ideas and […]
iVentures: Creative Time
Hello and welcome to my blog. I joined the Pino Center as its director last June. Since that time, my life has been a whirlwind of meetings and endless travel. In my “downtime” (like when I drive to work), I have often wondered: How can I share my thoughts on entrepreneurship, and the exciting work […]