From a marathon game development competition to starting a home-based business to running a biotechnology startup, Thinc. Week, held March 28 to April 1, will offer the University of Georgia community an opportunity to learn what it takes to move an idea from inspiration to business.

Sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Research, this year’s Thinc. Week brings together an array of innovators from UGA and beyond to engage, inspire and build—through workshops, panel discussions, competitions and events across the UGA campus—the confidence to take the plunge into entrepreneurship.

“Thinc. Week seeks to showcase all the creativity happening on campus, adding to the momentum of innovation and entrepreneurship that is happening,” Thinc. Director Jared Bybee said. “Students from any major should feel like they are in a great place to tackle a problem or start a business. There are great resources and a fantastic community of students for anyone who wants to be involved.”

UGA’s Thinc. Week coincides with entrepreneurship events in the Athens community including Startup Week, sponsored by startup incubator FourAthens; Athens Slingshot Festival, featuring visual artists, musicians and leading innovators on a range of technologies; and Athens Success Summit, picking up where Slingshot leaves off with major keynote talks, breakout sessions, sponsored events, live music and more.

Thinc. Week highlights

March 28:
Innovation Gateway Open House—From Idea to Marketplace: More than 575 products and 130 startup companies have originated from UGA research. Hear these success stories and meet the inventors from 4-5:30 p.m. at the Center for Applied Genetic Technologies, 111 Riverbend Road. Refreshments will be available. 

March 29:
FACS Bulldog 100 Winners: Alumni entrepreneurs from the College of Family and Consumer Sciences will discuss topics in entrepreneurship from 12:30-1:45 p.m. and 2-3:30 p.m. in Room 102 of the Miller Learning Center.

FACS Innovator/Entrepreneur Panel: A panel discussion with successful alumni entrepreneurs will be held from 3:30-5 p.m. in Room 120 of the Robert C. Wilson Pharmacy Building.

Thinc. Open House/Club Fair: Meet like-minded students at 7 p.m. in Studio 1, 225 W. Broad St., and get involved with entrepreneurship at UGA. Refreshments will be available.

March 30:
Student Marketplace: This is an opportunity for student entrepreneurs to sell, demonstrate and recruit for their businesses on campus. It will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Tate Student Center Plaza.

From Homeless to Hypergrowth: Kit Hughes, UGA alumnus and founder of the digital agency Look-Listen, will describe his journey to success—from his days as a punk art student to building one of America’s fastest growing companies—from 3-4 p.m. in Room 101 of the Miller Learning Center.

Terry College Next Top Entrepreneur Competition: Eight teams will compete for prizes as they pitch their companies. Networking will be held from 5-6 p.m. with the competition from 6-9 p.m. at Hotel Indigo, 500 College Ave.

March 31:
Terry College Startup Panel: The discussion will be held at 5:30 p.m. in Room 218 of Correll Hall.

April 1:
Starting Your Home-Based Business: Sponsored by the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, this workshop will teach attendees the basics of starting a business, marketing strategies, pricing and customer satisfaction from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Room 142 of the Tate Student Center. Lunch will be provided, and registration is required by emailing [email protected].

GameJam: Competitors will create a game in 48 hours, with the theme to be announced at the start of the GameJam. Food will be provided, and prizes will be awarded. The event is sponsored by Thinc., UGA Hacks and Georgia Game Developers Association and begins at 6 p.m. at 225 W. Broad St. Register online at http://athensgamejam.com.

April 4:
Cloning Technologies to Regenerative Medicine—Science Fiction to Reality: Georgia Bio and UGA Innovation Gateway will hold a panel discussion with UGA entrepreneurs and commercialization advisers from 4-7 p.m. at Hotel Indigo, 500 College Ave.