Georgetown Entrepreneurship Initiative Announces Spring 2017 Leonsis Prize Winners
Several of Georgetown University’s most promising entrepreneurs can now further their business ventures, thanks to the support from the Leonsis Family Entrepreneurship Prize, which provides funding for students and recent alumni who have launched or are preparing to launch new businesses.
“This prize is a way to create momentum around fostering entrepreneurship across campus,” said Ted Leonsis, who also serves as chair of the Georgetown Entrepreneurship Initiative’s advisory group. Leonsis, a longtime entrepreneur, investor, and founder and CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, created the prize with his wife, Lynn, his son, Zach (MBA’15), and his daughter, Elle (C’14).
This semester’s top recipients are the students behind a mobile app for high school students applying to college and a SaaS-based data security platform.
Connect.ed, founded by Monica Perez (MSFS-MALAS‘16), received $15,000. Connect.ed is a chat-based mobile app that provides virtual mentors for high school students by connecting them in real-time to current college students at any campus across the United States.
“As someone who has only made it this far because of the wonderful mentors in my life, I am grateful that the Leonsis prize is enabling me to jump into the edtech space and expand the world of peer-to-peer college advising,” said Perez.
Adlumin, Inc., founded by Robert Johnston (MBA‘19), received $15,000. Adlumin is revolutionizing the way corporations secure sensitive data and intellectual property while achieving compliance objectives.
“The Leonsis prize is a gust of hope for young companies. It’s an incredible inspiration to an entrepreneur that Georgetown, its faculty, and supporting establishment are willing to take such an active role in the creation of new enterprise,” said Johnston.
In addition, Coyotea, LLC founded by Nicholas William De Gregorio (B-SFS’18), Matthew Harb (B’17), and Christian Hyland (B’17) received $8,000; Edgies Poster Hangers by dSBrands, founded by Armando Soto (SFS’18), received $8,000; and Elephant Honey, LLC, founded by Anna Lauchnor (COL’17), Alexandra Lonner (COL’18), Nina Livermore (COL’17), and Daniel Fields (COL’18) received $1,000.
“The Leonsis Prize builds awareness around the innovation and accomplishments of Georgetown University’s student entrepreneurs,” said Jeff Reid, founding director of the Georgetown Entrepreneurship Initiative and professor of the practice at the McDonough School of Business. “It strengthens our reputation as a place for the most ambitious young people who seek to create and develop new companies.”
Current Georgetown undergraduate and graduate students, as well as Georgetown alumni within six months of graduation, are eligible to win the prize and may be nominated as individuals or as teams. Georgetown’s Entrepreneurs-in-Residence provide valuable mentorship to the Leonsis prize finalists as they develop and pursue their ventures. Recipients of the prize are selected through a rigorous nomination, application, and review process in both the fall and the spring semesters. To learn more about the prize, visit eship.georgetown.edu.