November 4, 2024

ECE’s inaugural Startup Forum draws 7 startups and hundreds of students

Purdue University's Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering hosted its inaugural ECE Startup Forum on Oct. 23, bringing together seven emerging startups and approximately 400 Purdue ECE students.
ECE students had the opportunity to hear from and interact with representatives of companies in the Corporate Partners Program

Purdue University's Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering hosted its inaugural ECE Startup Forum on Oct. 23, bringing together seven emerging startups and approximately 400 Purdue ECE students. The event, held on campus from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., exclusively spotlighted U.S.-based startups with fewer than 200 employees, providing them a platform to engage with ECE students and introduce themselves to the Purdue community.

The event’s primary aim was to offer Purdue ECE students opportunities for full-time, co-op, and internship positions while fostering meaningful connections between students and innovative startups. The forum opened with a series of brief presentation pitches by each startup, giving students and faculty a chance to learn about each company’s focus and career opportunities.
 
Saurabh Bagchi, Professor of ECE and Director of ECE Corporate Partnerships, welcomed attendees with a short address, emphasizing the unique career pathways and growth potential startups offer compared to larger corporations. Bagchi also highlighted ECE’s recent initiatives to connect with startups, aligning with broader goals set by Milind Kulkarni, the Michael and Katherine Birck Head and Professor of ECE, to instill an entrepreneurial spirit among students.
 
Throughout the day, a steady stream of students visited the startups’ booths. With a limited number of participating companies, students experienced shorter wait times and more in-depth discussions compared to typical recruiting events. A video monitor played company presentations on a loop, adding a dynamic visual element to the forum.
A group of men gathered in front of a projector screen, posing for a photo.
Saurabh Bagchi (center) with representatives from the companies that participated in the Startup Forum

The event concluded with a debriefing session led by the ECE Corporate Partnerships Office, where startup representatives shared insights on their experiences. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with company personnel expressing satisfaction with the quality and engagement level of the students they met. They suggested earlier notice of the event and increased publicity for future editions to maximize outreach.

“The Startup Forum creates powerful connections that will fuel innovation for years to come,” said Rouz Jazayeri, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Catapult Ventures and a member of ECE’s External Advisory Board. “Startup companies now have a direct path to tap into Purdue’s tremendous talent pool while ECE students get exposed to an even broader set of career opportunities.”

With the success of its inaugural event, the ECE Startup Forum is expected to become a staple in Purdue ECE’s entrepreneurship programming. The event was organized by Matthew Potrawski, Senior Manager, and Loretta McKinniss, Operations Manager, of ECE Corporate Partnerships, whose efforts were instrumental in bringing the forum to life.