There’s a buzz at Scripps—and it’s starting to spread. From the monitoring and treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder to the development of a virtual reality remote collaboration software, students are creating solutions to problems within their community. They are tomorrow’s entrepreneurs.
Established in 2012, Pomona Ventures is an intercollegiate group whose mission is “to inspire, support, and promote entrepreneurship at The Claremont Colleges.” The group has “advised, supported, and provided grants to multiple startups founded by Claremont Colleges students.” A useful resource available to all Claremont consortium students, the organization regularly hosts interactive workshops, networking events, fireside chats, and idea pitch competitions.
Marie-Nicole Jeffroy-Meynard ’18, director of Pomona Ventures community outreach, has described the organization as an invaluable resource as she forges her own entrepreneurial path. Since joining, Jeffroy-Meynard says she has gained meaningful insights from networking with Claremont Colleges alumni. In her role, she coordinates the logistics and planning behind a number of events, including the educational workshops, fireside chats with alumni, and one of her favorite events, Sage Tank. Sage Tank mirrors the popular television show Shark Tank, where aspiring entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to leaders of industry. The pitch competition allows Jeffroy-Meynard to support other students and watch them grow as business owners and public speakers. “I encourage other Scripps students to join Pomona Ventures and benefit from the tremendous resources this club has to offer,” she says. “The team is full of talented and intelligent people, with varied backgrounds and professional experiences, and this allows us to solve unique problems in creative ways.”
Since its inception, Pomona Ventures has benefitted greatly from the support of Pomona College alumni and families. These volunteers have enhanced numerous initiatives, including the Start-Up Claremont workshop and speaker events, the Pomona Ventures podcast series, and individual student start-up projects. Today, the group encourages alumni and family mentors from all of The Claremont Colleges to similarly get involved and share their talents.
Jeffroy-Meynard has set a personal goal of increasing that involvement with Scripps parents and alumnae. “We want to continue incorporating design-thinking and innovation into our liberal arts education,” she explains. “One way to do that is by increasing our network of Scripps College mentors and volunteers. Women helping women is powerful, especially in the business world.”
Pomona Ventures seeks Scripps alumnae and parent volunteers who have an entrepreneurial spirit. Visit their website to learn more about the organization and discover how you can get involved.
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