JMU Gilliam Center for Entrepreneurship

10/27/2026

Join Us for Open Coffee with Brett McLaren ('04)! ☕

Save your spot for our upcoming Open Coffee on November 6! Connect with fellow Dukes, enjoy coffee and conversation, and hear from Brett McLaren ('04), former Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of MetaPhase. Brett helped grow MetaPhase over 13 years into a company with more than 250 employees and $50 million in revenue. Join us to hear about his entrepreneurial journey, lessons from building a successful business, and what’s next with Breakaway!

EVENT DETAILS
• When? Friday, November 6 | 10-11 a.m. 📅
• Where? Hartman Hall | Room 1040 📍
• Enjoy free Krispy Kreme coffee & donuts ☕
• Shop handmade goods from Student-Made JMU 🛍️
• Chat, network & connect with student creators and entrepreneurs 🤝

RSVP at https://tinyurl.com/OpenCoffee40

Coffee. Conversations. Connections. Who's Next?

10/26/2026

Dive into Arizona :) ‘s story in this episode of Making It Creative PodcastMaking It Creative Podcast

10/26/2026

Why Your Network Is Your Net Worth 📰

Catch up on our recent Fireside Chat with Darrel Branch ('91)! Read the article for highlights from the conversation on leadership, marketing, entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship, and building meaningful connections.

Read the article below! 🔗

Darrel Branch (’91) talks networking, AI, intrapreneurship and marketing in a Fireside Chat.

10/25/2026

Bluestone Seed Fund Applications Close Tonight! ⏰

Don’t forget to apply for the Bluestone Seed Fund if you haven’t already. Applications close tonight, October 25, at 11:59 PM. Take the next step in your entrepreneurial journey! 🌱

Apply and learn more at https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/AYsw0c8qSb

10/23/2026

Entrepreneurship, Leadership, and the Value of Your Network 💼📈

The Gilliam Center for Entrepreneurship recently hosted a Fireside Chat with Darrel Branch ('91), a global executive, entrepreneur, and board member with more than 30 years of experience in marketing, branding, strategy, and business development. Moderated by his mentee, Brett Danielson ('18), Co-Founder and President of BarTrack, the conversation explored leadership, entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship, and professional growth. 💬

Darrel shared insights on continuous learning, developing valuable professional skills, and creating value through purposeful connections on LinkedIn. He emphasized the importance of approaching life with a focus on learning, stating, “Life is about learning, not winning and losing.” He also highlighted the value of building meaningful professional relationships, reminding attendees that “Your network is your net worth.” Intentional connections can open doors to new opportunities, collaboration, and continued growth throughout a career.

Thank you to Darrel Branch and Brett Danielson for being part of our JMU entrepreneurial community! 👏

10/22/2026

Business Runs on AI: Work Smarter With AI
Friday, October 23 | 1:45-3:15pm | Hartman 3043

Led by students, for students! Develop a pitch using AI to save a struggling business, sharpen your interview skills, and strengthen your resume with AI career prep.

Register on Handshake at https://jmu.joinhandshake.com/stu/events/2042866

10/21/2026

Madison Make-A-Thon: Think It. Build It. Bring It to Life. 🛠️

Get ready to think creatively, collaborate across disciplines, and bring new ideas to life at the Madison Make-A-Thon!

Hosted by JMU Computer Science in collaboration with the JMU Gilliam Center for Entrepreneurship, this interdisciplinary ideation and prototyping competition challenges students to form teams, tackle a mystery scenario, develop an innovative solution, and compete for prizes!

EVENT AGENDA:

The Kickoff 🤝
Nov 13 | 5-6PM | King Hall | Room 259
Form teams of 4–5 and discover the challenge.

The Building Period ⚙️
The next 24 hours...
Collaborate, create, and prototype your solution. No overnight stay required!

The Showcase 🎤
Nov 14 | 5-7PM | The Forum | Room 2021
Present your solution to a panel of judges and compete for prizes.

Seats are LIMITED!! Apply now at https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/LZqAF9mtFP

10/20/2026

Open Coffee with Brett McLaren ('04) ☕

Join us for a casual morning with Brett McLaren ('04), former Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of MetaPhase. After helping grow MetaPhase from a startup to 250+ employees and $50M+ in annual revenue, Brett stepped away from the company in 2026. Come hear Brett share insights from his entrepreneurial journey, connect with JMU student entrepreneurs, and learn what he’s planning next with Breakaway.

EVENT DETAILS
• When? Friday, November 6 | 10-11 a.m. 📅
• Where? Hartman Hall | Room 1040 📍
• Enjoy free Krispy Kreme coffee & donuts ☕
• Shop handmade goods from Student-Made at JMU 🛍️
• Chat, network & connect with student creators and entrepreneurs 🤝

RSVP at https://tinyurl.com/OpenCoffee40

Coffee. Conversations. Connections. Who's Next?

10/19/2026

Stay Connected With The Fallon Challenge! 📲👀

The Fallon Challenge is a Shark Tank-style pitch competition where JMU students compete to be named the Rodney J. Fallon Scholarship recipient. Applications are due November 1st by 11:59 p.m. ⏰

Learn more and apply at www.thefallonchallenge.com 💻

Follow on Instagram: 📸

Follow on LinkedIn: The Fallon Challenge 💼

10/15/2026

One Scan. All Things GCFE. 📲

Looking for our events, programs, applications, social media, and more? Can't keep track of all of our links? Our Lnk.Bio is your one-stop hub for all things Gilliam Center for Entrepreneurship! 🔗

Scan the QR code or visit the link below to find everything in one place. Be sure to bookmark it so you can easily find what you need and stay up to date with GCFE! 📌

Explore our Lnk.Bio: https://lnk.bio/JMUGilliamCenterforEntrepreneurship