The Hurt Hub at Davidson

06/03/2026

Big news from the The University of Chicago Booth School of Business: our very own Odysseas Koufos '25 and Christos Koumpotis '23 are heading to the finals of the 30th annual New Venture Challenge (NVC) at the Polsky Center at the University of Chicago.

Odysseas '25, a Davidson College alumnus and 2025 Nisbet Venture Fund winner, is competing with his startup Unloket, formerly known as Bizcards, an AI concierge platform designed to help independent hotels and short-term rental operators centralize guest communication, handle requests, and deliver a more personalized experience.

And this is a true Davidson double: Christos '23 is also a Davidson alumnus who competed in the 2025 Nisbet Venture Fund with a different venture. These two know what it takes to pitch under pressure, and now they're taking that experience to one of the most competitive startup competitions in the country.

Out of hundreds of applicants, only 10 teams made it to the NVC Finals, where they'll pitch for a share of more than $1 million in investment on June 4. For context on what's at stake: last year, the NVC awarded $2.67 million to its finalists.

We are so proud of how far both of these Davidson founders have come, and we'll be cheering them on every step of the way!

Check out all the details of the competition: https://polsky.uchicago.edu/2026/05/21/10-startups-to-compete-for-over-1-million-at-30th-annual-edward-l-kaplan-71-new-venture-challenge-finals/

The Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation is excited to announce the ten teams advancing to the finals of the 30th annual Edward L. Kaplan, ’71, New Venture Challenge (NVC), the University of Chicago’s signature startup accelerator for MBA students at the Booth School of Business.

05/15/2026

🎓 To our incredible seniors: watching you show up, grow and lead has been one of our greatest honors.

This video is just a glimpse of the amazing group of students who have walked through our doors and made the Hurt Hub what it is the last four years.

Whether you found community, discovered something new about yourself or simply had a place to land, know that you've left a mark on us that we won't forget.

We are so proud of each and every one of you. Go show the world what you've got.❤️

(Tag a senior who deserves a shoutout below! 👇)

05/14/2026

Do you have a startup, invention, or creative work that needs IP protection? Here is your chance to get expert guidance.
The Hurt Hub is hosting Intellectual Property Office Hours with Dr. Nicole Snyder on May 28 from 7-8 PM. Sign up for a free, 15-minute one-on-one consultation covering:

Patents, copyrights, trademarks, and more.

This is the personalized follow-up you have been waiting for after our workshop series. Spots are first-come, first-served. Reserve yours today using the link below.

Register now: https://hubs.li/Q04gzkvn0

05/13/2026

🍕 Meet Left No Crumbs! — the Davidson College student startup turning campus food waste into shared meals.
Five students noticed a simple problem: catered events leave behind tons of food, but most students never know it's there. Their solution? A platform that sends push notifications alerting students to free food on campus before it goes to waste.

After winning the Fall 2025 IdeaSprint, the team is now working to integrate their app into Davidson One and WildcatSync, and it's only the beginning.

Less waste. More meals. Real impact. 🌱

Read their full story: https://hubs.li/Q04gpbp_0

05/12/2026

Attending Seed The South? Don't miss Founder Day — the tactical half-day for founders before the Summit begins.

Monday, May 18 · 11:30 AM – 4:30 PM Northeastern University Charlotte

Built for early-stage operators, Founder Day covers the decisions that matter most right now: product, fundraising, sales, positioning, and AI workflows. Less theory, more hands-on.

Our Executive Director, Elizabeth Brigham, will be presenting The New Rules of Product Marketing — a session on how AI has reshaped timelines, roles, and the bar for how fast teams need to learn, position, and ship.

👉 Register for Founder Day: https://hubs.li/Q04fYWbJ0

05/11/2026

💼 Calling all entrepreneurs and small business owners!

Are your business and personal finances still tangled together? It's time to change that.

Join us at The Hurt Hub on May 20 from 9–10am for It's Not Personal, It's Business — part of the Bank on Your Success™ program presented by Truist.

In this free interactive session, Matthew Winston will walk you through:
✅ Why separating your finances matters
✅ How to set (and reset) business goals
✅ How to pay yourself the right way
✅ Business structure & organization basics
✅ The right financial accounts and tools for your business

You'll leave with actionable takeaways to set yourself AND your business up for long-term success.

📅 May 20 | 9:00–10:00am
📍 The Hurt Hub

Spots are limited — register today! https://hubs.li/Q04fYVTK0

05/08/2026

Communication is a skill you can actually train, and it turns out, the most fun way to do it involves a mystery slide deck and a room full of strangers cheering you on.

Join us at the Hurt Hub on May 20 from 5 to 6:30 PM for Battledecks: An Improv Experience. Speaker and improv comedian Amy Quilala will open the evening with 4 practical lessons rooted in improv that will help you think faster and show up more confidently in any room. Next the entire group will warm up with a game and then we play.

Perfect for individuals, teams, and anyone who wants to level up how they think and communicate. Beer and wine available for guests 21+.

Reserve your ticket here: https://hubs.li/Q04fJ8lX0

We can't wait to see you there. 🎤

05/07/2026

Davidson College students just won a global case competition, beating out 247 teams from 133 universities. 🏆

Cross Continental Consulting (Cillian Hallinan '28, Daulet Berdikulov '28, Matias Mourao Pacheco '28, and Sharon Song '28) took first place in the Management Consulted Undergraduate Case Competition World Cup: The Waymo Challenge. They credit their liberal arts education for making it possible.

Three of the four team members are student consultants with the Davidson College Consulting Group, gaining experience working with real companies through the Hurt Hub. Their ability to communicate clearly, build a compelling narrative, and structure complex problems into concise solutions is exactly what set them apart from the competition.

"A lot of the reason we were successful was the competition valued skills that a liberal arts education builds." – Cillian Hallinan '28

The win is already opening doors: internships in venture capital and consulting, a connection with Marc Cosentino (author of Case in Point), and a workshop for Davidson's Pre-Consulting Society.

Read the full story here: https://hubs.li/Q04fHbc20

We couldn't be more proud of this team! Congratulations! 🎉

05/05/2026

💼 Ready to take your business finances to the next level?

Join us at the Hurt Hub for Business Finance Basics — part of the Bank on Your Success program presented by Truist! 🏦

📅 May 13 | 9:00–10:00 AM

In this FREE interactive session, Matthew Winston will walk you through:
✅ Managing & improving your cash flow
✅ Strategies to build & expand your business
✅ How to protect your business with the right insurance

Plus, you'll walk away with valuable resources to keep growing. Don't miss it!

👉 [https://hubs.li/Q04f8lRt0]