How did VentureWell contribute to your leadership development and your professional trajectory?
“Catalytic” is the word I think of when I think of VentureWell. VentureWell was catalytic in forming my entrepreneur mindset as an engineering student; it was catalytic in my financing journey, and ultimately allowed me to see that there are different pathways on the founder’s journey—including coming full circle to join the Ventures team [at VentureWell] and be a catalyst in our innovators’ journeys.
What’s the biggest change or milestone your institution or venture has experienced since participating in VentureWell programming?
There are many! After participating in an E-Team Program hosted at Penn State in 2009, I kept in touch with the VentureWell program team, who mentored and advised me. They supported me in taking the leap to incorporate DayOne Response in 2010 following an OPEN conference, helped me develop my 12-18 month roadmap, and advised me on my first pre-seed investment, including participating in the financing round.
Looking back, what advice would you give yourself at the start of your journey?
It’s hard to choose—I keep coming back to this article I worked on [with The Lemelson Foundation] that highlights my entrepreneurship journey.
Learn more about Tricia’s innovation journey.