ECenter_Annual_Report_FY23

ECENTER
I M P A C T
R E P O R T
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Table of Contents
About the ECenter
3
Makerspace
20
Financial Summary
5
Competition Coaching
21
Programming Spectrum
7
Grant Memorial Prize
21
i2 Passport Program
8
Spotlight on HydroPhos Solutions
22
Bootcamps and Speaker Series
9
Student Idea Seed Fund
23
Ideathon
11
BU Idea Conference
23
Maurice Prize
12
Alumni Entrepreneur Hall of Fame
24
Summer Seed Grant
13
ECenter Corporate Sponsors
25
Paid Student Internships at Startups
14
Advisory Task Force
27
Idea & Innovation Society
15
Campus Partners
28
Shaw Innovation Explorers
16
Thank you, Ian Grant
29
3 Day Start-Up
19
ECenter Team
30
Shaw Explorers take to the sea on a fishing cooperative excursion

Note from the ECenter Director
With another school year behind us, it is a
wonderful time for reflection. This year was
marked with many successes and a significant
transition. I want to thank past Executive Director
Ian Grant for all of his energy, hard work, vision,
and determination in building the Peter T. Paul
Entrepreneurship Center into the success that it
is today. Ian is now having an amazing impact
elsewhere, but I know he is continuing to follow
our students’ success and growth.
While I knew about the ECenter before I started
this interim role, it is an entirely new level of
understanding being a part of the team that
serves our students so well. The impact on
students is evident and invigorating and our
value to students across campus is seen and
heard throughout the year. Our students are our
biggest cheerleaders, pulling in their friends to
participate and speaking in classrooms across
campus about the benefits each will find in our
programs and space.
In addition to thanking Ian for everything he has
done here at the ECenter, I want to recognize our
brilliant team for the incredibly hard work that
they perform daily. Nichole Jones, DJ Beasley,
and our newest team member, Belle Vukovich
Kenoyer, are vital to our success and incredible
assets to the university. I am continuously
grateful for their can-do attitude and shared
love of the ECenter mission.
Additionally, thank you to the broader UNH
team at UNHInnovation, REEO, and all our
college partners who have been outstanding
collaborators and champions as I come up to
speed at the university. I also want to express
my gratitude to the ECenter Advisory Task Force
for bringing so much passion and keeping us on
target. Finally thank you to our many donors and
corporate sponsors. None of this could happen
without your support. Our students’ lives are
forever changed because of it.
Know that the ECenter is also a startup. We are
building, iterating, and learning as we grow. We
have our eyes on the future – reaching more
students’ lives and building upon the strong
legacy that is firmly established.
The ECenter is the heart of ideas, innovation and
entrepreneurship on campus and within these
pages you will read about some very impressive
programs and record-breaking milestones.
If what you’re about to read inspires you, please
contact us. We’ve had a great journey thus far,
but to continue building our mission of student
impact, WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT. This support
may include mentoring students, sharing stories
of your entrepreneurial journey, providing
financial support to our programs, and more.
Please contact me directly if you are interested
in doing more.
I am forever thankful for my opportunity here
at UNH and for the touching moments I have
experienced working with our students. It hasn’t
yet been a year for me on campus, but the impact
is real and deep. I love calling UNH my home.
With gratitude,
Joshua Cyr
Interim Director
joshua.cyr@unh.edu
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About the Entrepreneurship Center
The Peter T. Paul Entrepreneurship Center (ECenter)
at the University of New Hampshire is the co-curricular
heart of ideas, innovation, and entrepreneurship. The
ECenter is open to all students from any college or
major, intentionally independent of any one college.
Our goal at the ECenter is to foster the next generation
of leaders with an entrepreneurial mindset who can
see opportunities and identify creative solutions
that others have missed, one idea at a time. We do
this by delivering unique, hands-on, experiential
programming to both inspire and nurture while also
offering access to diverse mentors for any need. These
mentoring relationships support entrepreneurial
UNH students at every step of the process, from the
creation of their idea, to growing their start-up and
the fundamentals of company creation.
The ECenter operates as a start-up in an academic
environment, and all programs are donor-funded.
Since we opened our doors in 2015, we have built a
track record of success throughout the UNH student
community and beyond. Being co-curricular means
we are able to complement what all UNH students are
learning in every classroom on campus.
Read on for more about our signature programs and
organizations, including i2 Passport, Paid Student
Internship at Start-ups, Maurice Prize for Innovation,
student-run Entrepreneurship Club (EClub), the Idea
& Innovation Society (first-year program), Shaw
Innovation Explorers (the sophomore program),
the UNH Alumni Entrepreneur Hall of Fame, and
more.
This annual report represents a snapshot of what
we’ve been hard at work on over the past year. We are
tremendously proud of our ECenter community and
every student who calls the ECenter their home for
ideas, innovation, and entrepreneurship at UNH.
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SUPPORT OUR MISSION
If our story resonates with you and you find
yourself inspired by the energy within these
pages, we invite you to join us on the journey!
Areas for engagement and support include:
• Mentoring
• Speaker engagements
• Internship programs
• Philanthropic giving
• Program sponsorship
• ECenter Advisory Task Force
Learn more at unhecenter.com or contact
Joshua Cyr at joshua.cyr@unh.edu.
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Financial Summary
Total Funds Raised FY23:
$706,236
Thank you to our many friends and supporters who contributed to
the ECenter during the 2022-23 academic year!
All ECenter programs are donor-funded. It is truly with the support
of our friends and sponsors - individuals like you - that we are able to
offer these valuable exceptional experiential learning opportunities
to our students.
This year, we are thrilled to announce the establishment of a new
endowment for the Shaw Innovation Explorers with a $2M target,
with significant contributions made by the Shaw family.
Thank you for being a critical part of our success!
ECenter Funds Raised Year Over Year
$850k
FY23 Funds Raised:
$706,236 (cash in)
$589,131
Individuals/
Foundations
$84,849
Corporate
Sponsorships
$11,478
Endowed Gift
Dividends
$3,600
Internship
Revenue
$800k
$750k
$700k
$650k
$600k
$550k
$500k
$450k
$400k
$350k
$300k
$250k
$200k
$150k
603 Challenge Funds:
$17,178
$3,727
Individual gifts
$950
Matching funds
$12,500 bonus
Bonus courtesy of
Bob Phillips and
Christine Carberry,
ECATF Members
$100k
$50k
5
$0
FY19
FY20 FY21 FY22
FY23

Facts and Figures: 2022-2023
1,280 HOURS
Engaging Students
in Innovation, Ideas, and
Entrepreneurship Programs
Student Grants
$2,500 Student Idea Fund
$18,000 Summer Seed Grant
22
ECenter
coached
Alumni
4,500
Newsletter Subscribers
i2 Passport Program
529
I2 PASSPORT
Students
Participants in FY23
3,000+
Visits to the ECenter
and Events
1:1 Coaching
261 idea coaching
sessions in FY23
Fall 2022
196 Sessions
Spring 2023
65 Sessions
6
6 Top Teams
In Finals of Holloway and SVIC
coached by the ECenter
Makerspace
at the ECenter
Students From All Five UNH Colleges and Grad School
are Winning with the ECenter!
CEPS CHHS COLA COLSA PAUL GRAD Online
i2P Top 25 14 1 5 3 23 1 3
Internships 1 8
Summer Seed Grant 2 1
Maurice Prize 1 4
I&I Society 7 1 7 2 7
Shaw Explorers 5 2 8
Competition finalists 2 3 2 13
365
Visits from
55 people
5
5
Student
mentors
Miles of 3D
Printing Material
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ECenter Programs and Services
The ECenter offers a wide range of programs designed to support students throughout their academic journey.
Whether they’re just starting to explore their ideas, actively pursuing a project, or already have a startup, the
ECenter has something to offer every student.
Our programs are designed to help students realize that they have the freedom to come up with innovative
ideas. We also assist those who are actively seeking ideas or working on existing ones. We provide valuable
guidance and resources to help students progress to the next stage of their entrepreneurial endeavors.
Our ideation events are designed to encourage students to think creatively within a structured topic or societal
issue. These events mark the beginning of the journey to address real-world problems and create solutions.
Importantly, the ECenter is here to support students throughout their entire time at UNH. Whether it’s a
freshman just starting or a senior with a developed project, we welcome students to join our programs
and events at any point during their academic journey. We are committed to helping students succeed and
fostering innovation every step of the way.
GIVING STUDENTS PERMISSION TO HAVE IDEAS
Mentors &
Coaching
Outreach &
Class Visits
STUDENT WHO HAVE A STARTUP
Summer
Seed Grant
Student Idea
Seed Fund
UNH Maurice Prize for
INNOVATION
mauriceprize.com
Paid Student
Internship at Startups
Startup
Speaker Series
Ideathons
Bootcamps
Makerspace
STUDENTS SEEKING THEIR IDEA
STUDENTS HAVE AN IDEA
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i2 Passport Program
The i2 Passport Program rewards students for
engaging in innovation activities outside the
classroom with the chance to win $25,000 in
cash prizes. The program is generously
sponsored by alumni donors.
The program encourages students to begin their innovation
exploration by understanding the basics of ideas and
entrepreneurship and how they might incorporate them into their
personal and academic lives. This involvement is rewarded in a
point-based competition for a chance to win cash prizes to help
students offset student loans and tuition. There are multiple prize
categories, including a prize for first generation college students.
The 12th semester of the program kicked off on September 18,
2022. We continued to invite full-time degree-seeking Durham
graduate students to participate, and many took us up on the offer.
244 students registered to participate in the program in the fall and
285 students registered for the spring semester.
Our fall ‘22 first place winner earned the top spot by earning every
point possible. We also set a precedent in the spring with a threeway
tie between two Paul College students and a student from the
College of Health and Human Services.
Thank you to our generous donors for supporting this program!
FALL 2022 WINNERS
$3,500 First Prize
Anthony Lotane’25 (COLA)
$2,000 Second Prize A tie!
John Henkelman’24G (GRAD)
Sam Croteau ’25 (PAUL) )
First-Gen Prize
Kieran Fitch ’26 (CEPS)
$1,000 Raffle Prizes
Rachel Poston ’24 (PAUL)
Ian Lidster ’24 (PAUL)
Reagan Calcari ’24(PAUL)
SPRING 2023 WINNERS
First Prize (Tied - $2,666)
Brett Schultz ’26 (PAUL)
Luca Mikilus-Borsoi ’26 (PAUL)
Sia Manna ’25 (CEPS)
$1,500 First-Gen Prize
Tinotenda Duche’26 (PAUL)
$1,000 Raffle Prize Winners
Bailey Ciardelli ‘24 (CHHS)
Jeremy Mako ‘26 (COLA)
Christian Katumba ‘26 (PAUL)
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From left: Alex Zorychta, Alita Guillen, Angie Cole
Bootcamps
Idea Creation Bootcamp Each year the ECenter
hosts an Idea Creation Bootcamp to get students
prepared to learn invaluable techniques used for
problem solving and innovation. In fall 2022, we
hosted speaker Alex Zorychta, Zealot Interactive
product head, to guide students in a hands-on
experiential workshop.
Alex shared how the number one skill employers are
looking for is creativity. This experiential program
engaged students with learning the importance of
fostering modes of deliberate creativity in the world.
Students focused on the various frameworks of
talking about creativity from a scientific perspective.
Students were challenged to think of different
frameworks presented and identify how being
a creative problem solver can make innovative
companies seek them out as future employees, and
left inspired to enact change.
Pitch It Skills Bootcamp Pitch It, our presentation
skills bootcamp, is a hands-on event where students
develop their presentation skills. This fall, we focused
on a design thinking activity with Alita Haytayan
Guillen, a journalist, host, communications advisor,
coach/entrepreneur.
Through these lively experiences, students learned
a critical lesson we try to impart at the ECenter: that
failure and learning from our mistakes should be
not only supported by innovative businesses but
encouraged.
Making Confident Decisions This winter, The
ECenter hosted Making Confident Decisions with
business coach and entrepreneur Angie Cole.
Blending a strategic and intuitive approach, Angie’s
lessons inhabit the places where life and work
intersect.
This event brought into perspective the challenges
UNH students may have when trying to create
new ideas and introduced them to more positive
alternatives to making better business decisions.
Angie demonstrated that learning to make confident
decisions is a valuable skill that can positively
impact your business and transform your way of
thinking for the better. Several students rated this
workshop as one of their favorites from the year
because they felt they learned so many tangible
things they can apply to their world immediately.
Thank you to Bootcamps sponsor Riverstone!
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39 students from across all five colleges developed
brainstorming and idea creation tools to think
creatively. Students were led through several
exercises designed to help them deepen their
understanding of company culture.

Speaker Series
Alumni Speaker Series This spring, the ECenter
hosted “A Taste of Entrepreneurship” alumni panel,
where top food and beverage industry entrepreneurs
Galen Hand ‘16, Co-Owner of NOCA Beverages,
Brett Wintersteen ’05, Co-Owner of Dos Mexican
Eats, and Penny Brewster owner of Ceres Bakery
shared their perspectives on ideas, innovation and
entrepreneurship within the hospitality industry.
The goal of this event was to encourage students
to gain perspective from real life entrepreneurs in
the industry and apply the lessons shared into their
academic and personal lives. Students were engaged
in the panel and left motivated to build on their own
ideas as current problem solvers in the world.
Thank you to our alumni panelists!
Speaker Series The ECenter hosted Eric Schultz,
entrepreneur and author of Innovation on Tap, as
part of our speaker lineup this spring.
From top: Penny Brewster, Galen Hand,
Brett Wintersteen. Below: Eric Schultz
Eric’s talk explored what it is to be an entrepreneur,
including how he defines the term and providing
historical examples, including Eli Whitney, Elizabeth
Arden and Brent Grinna.
Eric also posed some tough philosophical questions
to the students, such as: “Should an entrepreneur
ever lie? What’s the fundamental attribution bias?
Do you want to be rich, or do you want to be king/
queen?”
Eric left the audience with signed copies of his book
and three main takeaways: Don’t fall for the dominant
narrative. Success comes from a profitable, scalable
business model. Community is an entrepreneur’s
superpower.
Thank you to Startup Speaker Series sponsor Lake
Street Advisors!
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Ideathons
The ECenter Fall 2022 Ideathon was held in partnership with the
Seacoast Science Center. 50 students gathered in person at the
ECenter on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 4 & 5 -a 23-hour event, starting
with a kick-off where partner representatives presented three
problem statements seeking student ideas for improvement:
Social Media
Citizen/Community Science
UNH Partnerships/Internships
UNH students from all majors and colleges worked around the clock
to solve one of the three education/museum industry problems. After
the Friday afternoon kick-off, teams worked individually and then
regrouped for breakfast and student presentations at 9:00 am on
Saturday morning.
The Grand Prize Ideathon winners provided their idea addressing
all three problem prompts with a microplastics project.
The students focused on the statement, “to spark curiosity,
enhance understanding, and to inspire conservation” and
identified specific solutions that kept the mission in mind.
Ideathon Winners
First Place Winners
Douglas Coulter ’26 CEPS
John Henkelman ’24 CHHS
Kieran Fitch ‘26 CEPS
Alec Mercer ‘26 CEPS
Second Place Winners
Joseph Cahill ’23 CHHS
Nick Carroll ‘24 CHHS
Katharine Hamel ’24 CHHS
Cooper Thompson ’24 CHHS
Gwen West ‘24 CHHS
Third Place Winners
Anthony Lotane ’25 COLA
Sam Croteau ’25 PAUL
Carson Loughridge ’26 CEPS
Christian Katumba ’25 COLSA
Thank you to our Ideathon judges!
Jim Chase, President & CEO, Seacoast Science Center, Kate Leavitt,
Chief Program Officer, Seacoast Science Center, and Dr. Allan
Waterfield, Immediate Past Chair, Seacoast Science Center.
Thank you to the WP Carey Foundation for sponsoring this event!
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Maurice Prize for Innovation
UNH Maurice Prize for
INNOVATION
mauriceprize.com
The Maurice Prize for
Innovation is an annual
prize endowed by J.
Dolores and Alfred P.
Maurice ‘44 to encourage
and foster innovation,
creativity, originality, ingenuity, and resourcefulness in
undergraduate students enrolled at UNH. The Maurice Prize
encourages students to be daring and take risks without
fear of failure. Fred’s passion for innovation lives on through
this prize.
GRAND PRIZE WINNER ($5,000)
Brett Schultz
Campus Connector
RUNNERS-UP ($1,500 PER TEAM)
Sam Croteau and Tyler Wittman
Kronos Watches
James Sullivan and Anthony Lotane
Coweed
We are pleased to announce the Winner of the $5,000 Maurice
Prize for Innovation is Brett Schultz ’26. Brett is a Paul Scholar
and Honors student majoring in Business Administration with
options in Entrepreneurial Studies and Finance. His project,
College Connector, is a multipurpose app designed to alleviate
common social, emotional, and financial problems among
college students.
To help students socially and emotionally, College Connector
offers a free-to-use Connect feature to find other students
on campus with whom they can connect and share common
interests and activities. This feature allows campus clubs and
organizations to advertise themselves better and make them
more accessible to students. The app also helps students
financially, offering a Marketplace tool. This feature allows
students to sell goods and services to one another, where they
can meet on campus to process the transaction.
The Maurice Prize asks students to highlight
the growth, learning, and development
that occurred between submitting
their idea in the fall and completing
their analysis in the spring. Brett
articulated specific areas of learning as
he developed his project, making his efforts
rise to the top for all of the judges.
Maurice Prize for Innovation recipient Brett Schultz
for his idea College Connector
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Summer Seed Grant
The 2023 Summer Seed Grant marks the eighth year of the ECenter’s
longest running program. This year the Summer Seed Grant supported
three great ideas from our motivated and passionate students.
During this nine-week program, students received funding for a 40-hour
week working on their ideas while they engaged in one on one mentoring
from seasoned entrepreneurs.
2023 SUMMER SEED GRANT COMPANIES
Lightcap Health, Hannah Lightcap ’24G (GRAD)
Lightcap Health is a personalized and dynamic health service offering
customized wellness advice to promote health behavior changes.
Madposture, LLC, Madison Ridky ’25 (PAUL)
Madposture, LLC is a posture, pain control and back pain reduction
solution which combines a back brace and a bra.
Soccerpolis, Gustavo Rodriguez Garces ‘23 (PAUL)
Soccerpolis is an indoor soccer training and activity facility for all ages.
Summer Seed Grant recipients
from top: Hannah Lightcap,
Madison Ridky, Gustavo
Rodriguez Garces
Thank you to Summer Seed Grant sponsor Pierce Atwood, LLP,
and our ECenter Summer Seed Grant mentors.
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Paid Student Internships at Start-Ups
The Paid Student Internship at Start-Ups program is unique ECenter
offering that matches experience-seeking students with regional
start-up companies. ECenter donors provide the funding for these
impactful internships.
The Paid Student Internship at Start-ups Program, now in its seventh
year, had eight available internships last year. This program provides
UNH freshmen, sophomores, and juniors from any college or major
the opportunity to get hands-on experience working at a start-up
company.
Knowing that while not all students have an idea right away, most
who come to the ECenter do yearn to learn and understand the inner
workings of a start-up. An internship at a start-up is the perfect way
for these students to spend a summer developing entrepreneurial
skills while gaining paid work experience.
Thank you to our generous alumni and (603) Challenge donors for
supporting the program!
Interested in supporting student internships with your donation?
Email joshua.cyr@unh.edu.
ECenter Internships
2023 Students & Start-Ups
Ryan Toscano ‘23 (PAUL)
SportsVisio
Brayden Ladue ‘24 (PAUL)
Project Happy
Cole Giannasca ‘24 (PAUL)
NOCA
Ian Lidster ‘25 (PAUL)
NH Tech Alliance
Jocelyne Bisson ‘24 (PAUL)
GoodWorks
Laura Holmansky ‘26 (PAUL)
Canopus Water Technologies Inc.
Rita Agrawal ‘26 (PAUL)
Blue Door Living
“A highlight for me was motivating
students to go out and do good in
their communities. It is something
I will carry with me always.”
Nathan Brennan ’25 (PAUL)
Auris-Avalon Group of Companies
-Brayden Ladue ‘24,
Intern at Project Happy
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Idea & Innovation Society
The Idea & Innovation Society positions students at the
forefront of the idea and innovation community on campus,
while providing unique benefits through the ECenter.
The Society supports first-year students from all colleges,
majors, and backgrounds by providing a network of likeminded
individuals with whom to connect, collaborate,
share ideas and resources so that students can run faster
with their ideas.
This year, 22 students from all five colleges were selected,
with a diverse range of majors to foster interdisciplinary
collaboration. To be accepted to the Society, applicants
must be a first-year student who has already started a own
company, a non-profit, or have been actively engaged in
innovation in high school.
2022-23 SOCIETY MEMBERS
Alec Mercer
Jocelyn Brierley
Alexis Tuten
Kieran Fitch
Avalaine Dries
Kolbe Vachon
Brett Schultz
Lauren Orozco
Dhiraj Naidu
Mekan Annayev
Douglas Coulter Mina Morcos
Evan Kennedy
Niranjana Thangum
Evan Tremblay
Rita Agrawal
Geo de Clermont Owen Bradlee
Carson Loughridge Sarah Dubois
Isabella Matthews Viktorie Vagnerova
Jack Cennarno
William Roberts
Each Society member received one-on-one idea coaching
from the ECenter Director, as well as monthly meetings to
foster engagement between student members. Several
members of the Society went on to form their own startup
companies or to work in start-ups, and several of them
competed in campus competitions.
Thank you to program sponsor Service Credit Union!
2022-23 Idea & Innovation Society cohort
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Shaw Innovation Explorers Program
Thanks to the generosity of David Evans Shaw ’73, CEO of Black Point Group, and his brother (and
ECATF member) John Shaw, the ECenter launched the Shaw Innovation Explorers Program in fall of
2021. This program is designed for creative and adventurous UNH sophomores.
The 14 UNH sophomores selected for this fellowship gained a 360-degree understanding of
innovation through hands-on, high-impact experiences—primarily off campus. The program provides
introductions and engagement with pioneering leaders in areas that include art, music, technology,
hospitality, and more. Students accepted to the program received a $5,000 scholarship. Each Explorer
participated in our 3 Day Start-up Weekend, a 72 -hour long hands-on workshop focused on problem
identification, idea creation, validation and customer discovery.
While academic standing is important when considering applications, more weight is given to students
who have proven in high school and/or their first year at UNH that they are adventurous, curious,
creative and/or innovative. Read on for more about our Shaw Explorers adventures this academic year.
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Shaw Innovation Explorers Programming
Shaw Explorer Shoe Golf: A Shaw family invented
game, Explorers set the course on campus ranging
from fire hydrants, to sculptures, to sign posts. The
objective, like golf, is to reach each “hole” using the
lowest number of kicks of your shoe of choice.
Team Building Kick-off Weekend: Teams and
friendships are built through experiences and
supporting each other. During the vulnerable kickoff
weekend, the Explorers’ journey began with a 3
hour drive to Northern Outdoors in The Forks, Maine
to experience a ropes course activity and whitewater
rafting on the Kennebec River. An evening
campfire with stories and s’mores created the
important initial foundation for the remaining year.
Yankee Fisherman’s Co-op: The Explorers headed
to Seabrook, NH to the Yankee Fisherman’s Co-Op
hosted by Michael Sherr and Randy Campolini. Out
on the water students learned about hauling lobster
traps, boat navigation and tracking systems. Back at
the warehouse students were taught how to shuck
lobsters, about bait storage and what it means to be
part of a cooperative.
NH Theatre Project: Genevieve Aichele and CJ Lewis
from NH Theatre Project sparked multi-dimensional
thoughts among the Explorers and demonstrated
how to work on their improv skills.
The “Talisman” exercise encouraged them to share
personal aspects of their lives via the art of storytelling.
The day concluded with the founders talking about
their journey to create their theatre company and the
challenges faced as a non-profit.
Arts for Angels: Shaw Innovation Explorers had a
unique opportunity to work with our local senior
community at Newmarket's Sunrise Sunset Center. The
Explorers learned from artist Norma Torti from Annie's
Angels Memorial Fund Inc. Norma left her corporate job
to pursue her passion for art, and continues to study
classical impressionism oil painting. She demonstrated
a gel plate print project, nurturing creativity and courage
to take risks in our budding entrepreneurs.
SXSW - South By Southwest Creative and Innovation
Conference: Big thinking in multiple areas of creativity
is one of the core tenants of the Explorers Program. The
dynamic group of sophomores took a giant leap when
they spent a portion of their spring break at South By
Southwest (SXSW) Conference in Austin, TX.
SXSW proves that the most unexpected discoveries
happen when diverse topics and people come together.
Each student repeatedly expressed a general sentiment
of, "This is one of the best experiences of my life."
Explorers met huge names in various industries, listened
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to panels, workshops, authors and more.
They also got to experiment with crazy
innovative technologies and see them
in action, went to movie premieres,
documentaries, and music sprinkled
throughout.
David Shaw (below), Dwight Davis (right), and
Shaw Explorers with Patrick Sweeney
Presentation of Year End Projects
Each Explorer spent the second half of
the year working on a personal project
that was inspired by some aspect of the
program. The half-day session did not
disappoint. Projects included a haptic
glove, electric motorcycle, manga
style novel, a self-written song and
performance, a bit-coin interface, and AI
music experimentation to name a few.
Shaw Speakers Series
Speaking with Dwight Davis
At the end of January Shaw Explorers were privileged
to hear powerful truths told by Dwight Davis.
Stories of his youth, career, and all the things he
learned along the way were spoken with candor to the
students from the ECenter program over a group lunch.
We learned about Dwight’s introduction to basketball
and his relentless pursuit of mastering fundamental
skills which brought him to success in the NBA under
significant adversity. He spoke about his injury and the
difficult life that followed after his basketball career
ended.
Students were silent and at full attention as Dwight
shared his ups and downs with honesty and care. Like
many of us, Dwight’s journey is a wandering path not
a straight line. Students found inspiration in his story,
how he came to New Hampshire, and ultimately found
success here.
Dwight’s advice to students was, “Find a mentor. Be a
mentor. We all need someone at every stage in our life
and career.”
Speaking with Patrick J. Sweeney ‘89
Shaw Innovation Explorers had the pleasure of
meeting via Zoom best-selling author, technology
entrepreneur, active angel investor, philanthropist,
and UNH class of ‘89, Patrick J. Sweeney II! With over
two decades of experience in the tech industry, he is
a renowned innovator who has created and scaled
several successful companies and investments.
Accompanied by an introduction from David Shaw ’73
& John Shaw, the conversation began with stories of
his time at UNH seeking acceptance as an athlete by
pursuing cross country skiing and then rowing all the
way to the Olympic level.
Sweeney posits that his success was greatly related
to the evident dedication of his peers working by his
side, not just in sports but also in business. Patrick
encouraged our Shaw Explorers to likewise surround
themselves with passionate, motivated friends.
But, he was also honest. His motivation? Fear. “People
can use fear as fuel to propel them through their
challenges, whether it’s at work or out in the world,”
he says. “All our dreams are on the other side of fear.”
18

ECenter students at 3 Day Startup
3 Day Startup
Offered as part of the Shaw Innovation Explorers
program, the second year of the 3 Day Startup event
welcomed entrepreneurial-minded UNH students
seeking to further their business ideas. Students from all
colleges and majors were invited to join the Explorers for
3 days of intense ideation presented by 3DS CEO, Erika
Haskins on October 14, 15 and 16.
This experiential 72 hour-long event is an intensive
crash-course tailored to help students understand
idea creation, customer discovery, and concludes
with presentation pitches of their new and impactful
ideas. Teams included Handshake for High schoolers,
ORGanize, Got Food, Electroblend, and Co-Life.
From Friday to Sunday, 14 Shaw Innovation Explorers
and 19 additional UNH students participated in this
amazing program.
Six ECenter mentors joined the students over the
weekend to assist them in enhancing their thought
processes and in identifying potential breakthroughs.
On Sunday, the event concluded with team
presentations in front of four panelists.
“I loved how the mentors and panelists were straight
to the point. There was no sugar coating the critique
and guidance, making it all the easier to understand.
10 out of 10,” said attendee Rita Agrawal.
Thank you to our mentors: Olivia Austin, Karl Brommer,
Christine Carberry, Todd Clark, Dave Hall, and Stephen
Kosacz.
Thank you to our panelists: Paul Laird, Joel Nkounkou,
Bob Phillips, and Dan Waintroob.
19

Makerspace
The Makerspace is free to use and open to all UNH students,
faculty, and staff. Users worked on personal projects,
business idea prototypes, and research using 3D printers,
the laser cutter/engraver, vinyl cutter, CNC mill, and more.
Thanks to the generosity of Richard Tasker ’68 and Michael
Tasker, the Makerspace was able to make equipment
purchases to enhance the capabilities of the space and the
quality of projects created by users.
The Makerspace received two Ender-3D printers for updated
3D printing capabilities. Computers were also updated to
allow better utilization of various software packages.
These new improvements help us to meet a growing
Makerspace demand from the UNH community.
Learn more about happenings at the Makerspace at the
UNH Entrepreneurship Center at UNHMakerspace.com
Thank you to Makerspace sponsor the Tasker Family!
Makerspace Leadership 2022-23
Connor Marvin ‘25 (CEPS)
Board Chair & Mentor
Logan LoPresti ‘25 (CEPS)
Tim Sicard ‘24 (PAUL)
Alex Smyrak ‘23 (COLSA)
Julia Brockman ‘25 (COLSA)
“The UNH ECenter helped
me strengthen my abilities
to network and work
with other people in a
professional environment,
and the Makerspace is
awesome!”
– Connor Marvin ‘25 (CEPS)
20

ECenter Competition Coaching
Social Venture Innovation Challenge (SVIC)
Four of seven finalists in SVIC
Best Well-Articulated Problem
Coweed, Sam Croteau ‘25 (PAUL) & Anthony
Lotane ‘25 (COLA)
Most Impact Potential, Audience
Choice Award & Second Place
Enersave, Eli Duggan ‘23 (CEPS)
Best First-Year Student Entry
Closed Loop, Brett Shultz ‘26 (PAUL)
Holloway Prize
Two of six finalists in Holloway Prize
First Place
HydroPhos Solutions
Jason Plant ‘23 (PAUL)Derek Long ‘22
(PAUL), Katie Remeis ‘23 (PAUL), Matt
Oriente ‘23 (PAUL)
Runner-Up
Takko Time
Gustavo Rodriguez Garces ‘23 (PAUL)
Hannah Weatherby ‘24 (COLA)
Audience Choice Award
CRRS Biofuel, Jason Plant ‘23 (PAUL)
Grant Memorial Prize
The William and Joan Grant Memorial
Entrepreneurship Prize was established by
former ECenter Director, Ian Grant, in memory
of his parents who provided him a lifetime of
unwavering support of his entrepreneurial,
adventurous, and innovative pursuits.
The intent of the Prize is to be given to the top two
graduating undergraduate or graduate students,
selected by a committee, who have exemplified the
spirit and actions of innovation and entrepreneurship
during their years at UNH. A $500 prize and trophy is
awarded to each student. An engraved plaque at the
ECenter also attests to their achievement.
The recipients of the 2023 William and Joan Grant
Memorial Entrepreneurship Prize are Jason Plant ’23
(Paul College) and Derek Bobbitt ’23 (Paul College).
The review committee identified Derek and Jason
as deserving due to their dedication to “in-thetrenches”
innovation and entrepreneurship during
their time at UNH. These outstanding students
sampled virtually everything the ECenter had to offer
enthusiastically making the most of their time here.
21
Jason Plant, Ian Grant and Derek Bobbitt

Spotlight on HydroPhos Solutions
Founded September 5th, 2020, HydroPhos Solutions
emerged from the collaboration of Co-Founder and
CEO Jason Plant ‘23 and a team of business students—
Katie Remeis ‘23, Derek Long ’22, Matt Oriente ‘23, and
Daisy Burns ‘24.
Focused on addressing eutrophication, a consequence
of excess nutrients like phosphorus in water, the team
identified a solution during their participation in UNH’s
2020 Social Venture Innovation Challenge (SVIC).
Informed by circular economy models and guidance
from the Sustainability Institute and UNH ECenter
Executive Director Ian Grant, the team devised a
filtration technology to extract phosphorus from
wastewater for sale to the fertilizer industry. The
venture gained momentum after HydroPhos Solutions
secured the 1st Place Audience Choice Award and the
Most Impact Potential Award at SVIC.
Encountering a funding challenge due to the need
for a prototype, the team, with Ian Grant’s support,
entered competitions to raise capital. Winning 2nd
Place in the Maurice Prize and 3rd Place at the national
Draper Competition opened doors for HydroPhos. The
latter achievement led to participation in the Draper
University pre-accelerator program in Silicon Valley,
providing valuable insights into entrepreneurship.
Following Draper, and mentored by Ian Grant
and the UNH ECenter, HydroPhos triumphed
at eFest, securing a grand prize of $50,000 and
a $10,000 Global Impact Award. This financial
injection enabled the development of a working
prototype. Subsequent victories in national
and global competitions and the recruitment
of key technical team member Nicole King ‘22
enhanced the company’s momentum.
Having amassed four championship prizes, six
finalist positions, and over $100,000 in nondilutive
funding, HydroPhos Solutions expanded
its team with the addition of Chief Technology
Officer Mark Summe. Progress in developing the
filtration technology positions the company to
annually fertilize 80,000 acres of farmland and
feed over 80,000 people from a single installation
at a wastewater treatment plant.
Supported by mentoring and skill-building
opportunities from the UNH ECenter, and
coupled with an indefatigable drive to succeed,
HydroPhos Solutions has transformed from
an ambitious idea into a serious venture. The
company is poised to execute its vision and
create a significant impact in the field, and we at
the ECenter couldn’t be more proud.
22

Student Idea Seed Fund
The Student Idea Fund was created to further our
mission of helping students pursue their ideas.
Often, one of the greatest hurdles for a student in
turning their idea into a full-fledged business is paying
for initial launch items. Expenses like domain names,
web hosting costs, prototype development, and so on,
can limit a student’s ability to reach that next level.
Applications are reviewed and awarded based upon
importance of the funding for the success of the venture
and readiness of the student(s) to maximize the funding.
More than $2,500 has been invested in student
entrepreneurial ventures through the program this year.
Thank you to 2022/23 Student Idea Fund sponsor Bangor
Savings Bank!
The Student Idea Fund allows the ECenter to provide
small, non-equity-based funding grants to help students
pay for some required expenses.
Boston University Idea Conference
ECenter students at BU Idea Con
23
The ECenter team was excited to be able to offer access
and transportation to UNH students again to attend
the IDEA Con hosted by Boston University’s Innovate@
BU initiative. This conference allows students and
professionals to come together to share inspiration for
ideas, technology, social impact, arts, and culture.
The goal of the conference was to inspire students by
learning from world-class innovators, engage with
strategies and useful tools for developing new ideas,
and connect with resources and people from Boston
University and beyond.
This year we brought 27 UNH students to the event,
where they participated in workshops in partnership with
the UNH ECenter and the Derby Entrepreneurship Center
on topics ranging from networking and financial ventures
to non-profits and pitch development.
Thank you to the Boston University Innovation Lab!
“It was an amazing program that helped to
foster my interest in entrepreneurship and
receive valuable feedback from my peers.”
- Niranju Thangam Archunaraj Indhumathy ‘26

Alumni Entrepreneur Hall of Fame
Selection for the Hall of Fame, housed within the UNH
ECenter, is based upon alumni who (a) have achieved
entrepreneurial success in ventures as a founder, cofounder,
or owner, and (b) have given back to the community
in a meaningful way. The definition of “ventures” includes
economic or social value in for-profit and non-profit entities.
The 2022 induction took place on October 7th, 2022. The
ceremony was preceded by a round table discussion where
the 2022 inductees got to meet some of the ECenter’s most
promising students and answer questions about start-ups
and their own experience building businesses.
The ceremony, hosted in Hamilton Smith Hall, was followed
by a lively reception in the Hamilton Smith atrium.
2022 Inductees
Jerome Dubois ’96
Co-founder & former Co-CEO of 6 River Systems
Fred Forsley ’83
Co-founder and owner The Shipyard
Brewing Company
Scott Knightly ’86
Founder and president of EnviroVantage, Inc.
Tonya Knightly
CFO EnviroVantage, Inc.
Tom Moulton ’77
CEO and president Sleepnet Corporation
Above from left: Fred Forsley, Tom Moulton, Tonya Knightly, Scott Knightly and Jerome Dubois; below: student round table and reception
24

ECenter Corporate Sponsors
SUPPORTER
PARTNER
VENTURE
VENTURE
PLUS
PREMIER
25
2022|2023
E C E N T E R
SPONSORS
INTERESTED IN BECOMING A
CORPORATE SPONSOR?
Contact Joshua Cyr, ECenter Executive Director:
Joshua.Cyr@unh.edu | (603) 862-5470

MANCHESTER, NH | ATLANTA , GA | SAN DIEGO, CA | ROCKVILLE, NY | LONDON, UK
We believe in the next generation of
thinkers, ideamakers and problem solvers.
Sponsoring the ECenter at UNH is important to our values:
connecting with our community, supporting future entrepreneurs,
and driving innovative solutions for insurance services.
UNH students
ideate with us to create
solutions for real life
challenges.
2022-23 Sponsor
RiverStone is a leading insurance services provider
dedicated to solving pressing industry challenges.
WWW.TRG.COM
26

ECenter Advisory Task Force
Robert “Bob” Phillips ‘76, Chair
Managing Partner & CTO
3EDGE Asset Management
Peter T. Paul ‘67
CEO
Headlands Asset Management
David Araujo
President and CEO
Service Credit Union
Joel Berman ‘76
Former CEO
Iatric Systems
Christine Carberry ‘82
SVP, COO
Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
Fred Forsley ‘83
Owner
The Shipyard Brewing Company
Alita Guillen ‘92
Communications Trainer and Podcaster
Guillen Media
Tom Hayes ‘87
President and CEO
Ocean Spray Cranberries
Tom Malkoski ‘78
Consultant
Arbor Investments
Steve Maloney
Executive Vice President
Acuant
Geno Miller ‘17
Founder and CEO
Schtudy
John Morison III ‘76
Chairman and CEO
Hitchiner Manufacturing Co., Inc.
Joel Nkounkou ‘18
Co-Founder
ecoText, Inc.
Joe Petro ‘90
CTO, EVP Research and Development
Nuance Communications
Jennifer Pitre ‘95
Vice President of Philanthropy
Catholic Medical Center
Toby Ripsom ‘01
CEO, Avér Skin
Co-Founder, Vertias Fine Cannabis
Sarah Samuels ‘04
Partner and Director of Traditional Research
NEPC, LLC
John Shaw
CEO
Itaconix Corporation
Devin Silva ‘19
Project Manager
The Simon Group, Inc.
Dick Tasker ‘68
Retired CEO and VP of Engineering
American Sensor Technologies
Buddy Webb
CFA, Managing Partner
Lake Street Advisors
Ryan Zarick ‘09
Co-Founder and CTO
LayerZero Labs
27
Thank you to our ECenter
Advisory Task Force members!

Campus Partnerships
LEADERSHIP
James W. Dean
President, University of New
Hampshire
Wayne E. Jones
Provost and Vice President,
Academic Affairs
Marian McCord
Senior Vice Provost for Research,
Economic Engagement & Outreach
ADVANCEMENT
Debbie Dutton
Vice President, Advancement
Susan Entz
Associate Vice President, Alumni
Relations
Jennifer Lowrey
Managing Director of Development,
Advancement
COLLEGES
Anthony Davis
Dean, College of Life Sciences and
Agriculture
Michele Dillon
Dean, College of Liberal Arts
Kristen Corazzini
Dean, College of Health and Human
Services
Cyndee Gruden
Dean, College of Engineering and
Physical Sciences
Lucy Gilson
Dean, Paul College of Business and
Economics
Micky Bedell
Senior Multimedia Manager, Paul
College of Business and Economics
Andrew Earle
Assistant Professor
Paul College of Business and
Economics
UNHINNOVATION
Marc Eichenberger
Associate Vice President & Chief
Business Development and
Innovation Officer
Allison Bell
Marketing, Communications,
and Engagement Director,
UNHInnovation
Heather Gordon
Business Manager, UNHInnovation
Nicole Colbath
Business Manager, UNHInnovation
CAMPUS PARTNERS
Carrie Jensen
Financial Planning and Analysis
Specialist, AABSC
Fiona Wilson
Deputy Chief Sustainability
Officer and Director,
Sustainability Institute
Faina Bukher
Program Director, Changemaker
Collaborative
Kimberly DeRego
Associate Vice Provost
Enrollment Management and
Marketing
Cheshet Bliaya
Director, Admissions
Trudy Van Zee
Associate Vice Provost (retired),
Career & Professional Success
Center for Academic Resources
Printing & Mailing Services
Academic Affairs and Business
Services Center
Memorial Union Building
... AND MANY OTHERS!
Thank you to our many partners,
donors and ECenter supporters!
28

Thank you, Ian Grant!
In January, the ECenter bid Ian Grant, Executive Director, a fond farewell as
he embarked on a new adventure with the African Wildlife Foundation, an
organization he has cared deeply about throughout his life.
Ian was the founding member of the ECenter team and brought a startup
approach that merged hard work with optimism, curiosity, and a lot of
experimentation. In his seven years, he has built an incredible foundation for
the future and touched many lives.
Below are just some of Ian’s achievements at the helm of the ECenter.
National Award Recognition
GCEC Outstanding New Entrepreneurship Center 2017
USABE Runner-up Excellence in Co-Curricular Innovation Award 2018
Deshpande Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship 2022
Program Development (by year)
Makerspace at the ECenter 2016
i2 Passport Program 2017
Paid Internships at Start-ups 2017
Endowed Maurice Prize 2017
UNH Alumni Entrepreneur Hall of Fame 2018
Idea & Innovation Society 2018
Student Idea Seed Grant 2018
Shaw Innovation Explorers 2021
William and Joan Grant Memorial Entrepreneurship Prize 2021
Patten Sales and Funding Accelerator 2022
Corporate Innovation Co-Op 2022
Student Success-Campus Competitions
Coached Holloway winners 2017 - 2021, 2023
Coached 29 finalists Holloway
Coached SVIC winners 2016 - 2022
Coached 35 finalists SVIC
Student Success-National Competitions
National Champion 2022 e-fest, Hydrophos
National Runner-up 2019 e-fest, Smart Wheel
6 teams total top 25 in country at e-Fest
Draper Competition 3rd place, 2021, HydroPhos
Draper Competition 4 semi-finalists 2019, 2021, 2022
11 Student companies in funding/revenue, 2018-2022
UNH team accepted into Y Combinator, SideGuide, 2022
29
... and raised over $8 million dollars for the ECenter!

Meet the ECenter Team
STAFF
Joshua Cyr
Interim ECenter
Director
Belle Vukovich
Kenoyer
Associate Director
Nichole Jones
Program Support
Assistant
Daijon “DJ” Beasley
Marketing
Assistant
EBASSADORS
INTERN
Madison McEachern
’23 (COLSA)
Gunnar De Young ‘23
(PAUL)
Kolbe Vachon ‘26
(PAUL)
Caroline McCarthy ‘24
(PAUL)
Ian Lidster ‘25
(PAUL)
30

Bringing ideas to
life at the ECenter.
unh.edu/ecenter