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Build Startups

Vanderbilt Venture Framework

You are the hero; we are your guide

Built by Vanderbilt founders with the collective wisdom of our alumni and faculty, the Center for Entrepreneurship is here to guide you as you build, buy, or join startups. The roadmap for this journey is the Vanderbilt Venture Framework—a proprietary tool developed by studying the successes and failures of businesses over the lifespan of a startup. It outlines a step-by-step process for creating companies of consequence, with every curricular recommendation and co-curricular offering from the Center tied back to it.

Our alumni have a history of building consequential companies - we want you to be next.  The Center for Entrepreneurship provides programming and resources to help you generate revenue, form talent, and manage capital.

Revenue Generation
Accelerator Workshop

Accelerator Workshops

Get hands on guidance as you kickstart and power your growth engine.  Workshops are open to students and alumni, and can be joined in person or remotely.  They combine educational lectures with exercises that map your path to revenue.
BuyDore

Buy Dore

Think Product Hunt but exclusively for Vanderbilt founded products and services.  Powered by 'Dore to Dore' sales, this marketplace generates value for suppliers and buyers within the Vanderbilt network.

Mentor Network

Mentor Network

Startup founders from the Vanderbilt network can access a network of alumni and parents with deep expertise in startup go-to-market 

Talent Formation
Startup Career Fair-2

Startup Career Fair

Held each spring in Management Hall, the Startup Career Fair attracts Vanderbilt students who are seeking full-time and summer internship  opportunities at startups.  Open to alumni-led and Nashville-based startups. 
Startup Job Board

Startup Job Board

Open to alumni and students alike, the Startup Job Board provides a listing of co-founding, full time, and internship opportunities available within Vanderbilt-led startups.

Cofounder Speed Dating

Co-founder Speed Dating

Held once in the fall and once in the spring, the Startup Career Fair matches students and alumni with a series of Commodores using evidence-based methodologies for building better jockeys.
Capital Management
Anchor Angels

Anchor Angels

Most startups are not appropriate for Venture Capital.  Anchor Angels is Vanderbilt's network of accredited investors who fill the gap when promising startups need capital but are not venture capital approproate.

Venture Scout Logo

Vanderbilt Venture Scouts

The Vanderbilt Venture Scout program exists to facilitate introductions for private market placements within the Vanderbilt network.  Vanderbilt student interview founders and customers (if applicable), perform market research, and conduct due diligence to write investment memos, which are distributed to alumni VCs and PEs.
The Dry Dock

The Dry Dock

Coming in the 2026-2027 Academic Year, Vanderbilt will launch the Dry Dock.  The accelerators are organized by industry and will provide seed funding, traction workshops, alumni mentorship and adoption, and pitch days for follow-on capital.

Other Resources
Convoy Square Logo

Convoy Conference

Most startups are not appropriate for Venture Capital.  Anchor Angels is Vanderbilt's network of accredited investors who fill the gap when promising startups need capital but are not venture capital approproate.
VFC logo

Founder's Confidential

A meet up of Vanderbilt founders providing shared learning, networking, and community.
Other Resources

The Center for Entrepreneurship organizes several marquee events throughout the year to facilitate entrepreneurial inspiration, revenue generation, talent formation, and capital management.  These events provide opportunities for founders, operators, investors and other supports from the student, alumni, parent, and community populations to cross pollinate.  

Convoy
In maritime terminology, a convoy is a group of ships moving together for mutual support and protection.  A nod to our maritime mascot, Convoy Conference brings together Commodores in entrepreneurship, venture capital, private equity, and leading-edge business to foster the growth of the Vanderbilt Startup Ecosystem.
Vanderbilt Founders Confidential
Vanderbilt Founder's Confidential (known as VFC for short) is a quarterly gathering of Vanderbilt's founders.  With agenda items for shared learning, whiteboarding, and pitch practice, VFC enables our founders to tap the collective wisdom and network of alumni founders.
Startup Career Fair

The Startup Career Fair is an annual event in late February where Nashville startups and those started by Vanderbilt founders come to recruit for internship and full-time positions.