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Inspiring aspiring entrepreneurs and investors.

Powered by the Shaddock Seed Fund

Have a business idea and need money to make it happen? Want to learn more about private equity and investing in startups? CREATE – Powered by the Bill Shaddock Seed Fund, gives you experience on both sides of a startup. Not a competition, this unique cross-campus program is designed to get early stage ideas off the ground.

Student Entrepreneurs

Take advantage of workshops, mentors, advice, grants and legal assistance. Any idea at any stage is welcome. Open to ALL TCU students.

Student Investors

TCU MBAs, training to be Angel Fellows, practice deal sourcing, due diligence and milestone tracking.

How it works

  1. Apply. Complete our online application detailing your idea and what makes it unique.
  2. Pitch and Learn. If chosen from your application, pitch your idea to a panel of TCU MBA judges. Two pitch sessions are held each semester. All who participate get access to mentors, investors and training workshops. A select few get access to grant funds.
  3. Validate and Grow Your Business. The Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation provides resources to help you demonstrate the feasibility of your business idea and grow it into the next successful venture.

Questions? Email us at create@tcu.edu or contact our team.

Apply Now

2019-2020 Academic Year

114
Teams Participated
275
Attendees
53
Businesses Funded
8
Academic Colleges
Across the TCU Campus
Section Image: CREATE team of four girls

Workshops

Experienced professors and professionals share their entrepreneurial knowledge to help you get your idea off the ground. Workshops include:
  • Exploring the Business Model Canvas
  • How to Evaluate Startup Ideas
  • How to Set KPIs and Goals
  • Startup Financial Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
  • How to Finance Your Startup
TCU students, faculty and staff, log in to watch all videos here.
 

Meet Our Mentors

Meet Our Mentors
Meet Our Mentors

Our mentors volunteer to share their entrepreneurial experience and knowledge directly with you. We match you according to industry, experience and stage of your idea

Thomas Allison 
Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship 
TCU Neeley 

Aaron Anglin 
Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship 
TCU Neeley 

Antonio Banos 
Program Director, CREATE - Powered by the Shaddock Seed Fund 
Assistant Director, Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation 

Nathan Butorac 
BBA '13, CEO and Co-Founder 
Better Than A Letter 

Rodney D'Souza 
Davis Family Entrepreneur-in-Residence 
Managing Director, Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation 

Joe Dickerson 
MBA '20, Fellow 
Cowtown Angels and Investor in Residence 

Stacy Landreth Grau 
Director 
TCU IdeaFactory 

Keith Hmieleski 
Schumacher Executive Faculty Fellow in Innovation and Technology 
TCU Neeley 

Charlie McKee 
BBA '19, CEO/Founder 
AdaptaFit 

Austin Patry 
BBA '17, Co-Founder 
Rollin' and Bowlin' 

Devan Peplow 
BBA '19, Co-Founder 
Sounde 
Program Manager 
Tech Fort Worth 

Michael Sherrod 
William M. Dickey Entrepreneur-in-Residence 
TCU Neeley 

Lianne Yang 
Fellow 
Cowtown Angels and Investor in Residence 

Amber Yourman 
BBA '19, Operations Associate 
Accelerate DFW Foundation 

Shannon Younger 
Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship 
TCU Neeley