KENT-repreneur Live was a panel discussion recorded in front of a live audience on April 29th. The audio has been edited for time and clarity. 

Listen to “Episode 8: KENT-repreneur Live” on Spreaker.

Panelists:

J.R. Campbell, Executive Director of KSU’s Design Innovation Initiative

Anna Katsas, Digital Media Production major & Co-Founder of Shoot the Gap

Victor Searcy, Founder/CEO of Sauce the City

Dania Mofleh, Graduate Student in College of Public Health & Co-Founder of Togetherness

0:33 Welcome & opening remarks

3:06 Introduction of panelists

4:28 Panelists describe innovation experience

17:35 What does innovation mean to you, and why is it important?

21:42 Advantages/challenges of innovation on a college campus

25:07 Risks of innovation in the restaurant industry

29:10 Diversity in innovation across industries

33:12 Social media question: How can Northeast Ohio become like Silicon Valley?

34:49 Social media question: What do you see as the most important opportunities for innovation that Kent State students should take advantage of?

37:28 Audience question: What’s the biggest obstacle that you have faced in your innovation journey, and how did you overcome it?

39:12 Audience question: What did host Anna Huntsman learn that was the most surprising during her podcast project?

39:45 Audience question: What resources are available to students in a non-technical field?

43:56 Is right now a prime time for innovation?

47:00 Panelists’ advice to innovators

51:17 Closing remarks