Section Image: CREATE Investment Competition

CREATE Opportunity

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

Pitch us your idea for a chance to receive up to $25,000 in funding. In one year, we’ve funded 53 ideas from all eight schools and colleges across the TCU campus. Your idea could be next!

Any idea can be a great one. Whether you’ve got an idea on a napkin, a business plan, or already have a startup in the works, we want to help fund your idea and grow it into the next successful venture. No equity, no strings attached – just cash.

Questions? Email us at create@tcu.edu or call us at 817-257-6544.

2019-2020 Academic Year

Teams Participated

Students Participated

Businesses Funded

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.

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