Success Stories
a space built to create
With 116 bookings this year, the Creator Space has become a go-to for students and faculty building podcasts and creative projects. Equipped with recording tools, editing software, and flexible studio space, it gives users the resources they need to bring ideas to life. It’s a reminder that access fuels creativity.
breaking barriers
At Startup Yale 2025, an all-women panel of investors and founders shared honest insights on navigating entrepreneurship as women in a system not built with them in mind. Panelists included Alana Ackerson (Partner, Connecticut Innovations), Olga Bartnicki (Serial Entrepreneur), Xuefei Gao (Co-founder, Ascent Bio), and Justine Levin-Allerhand (Partner, Flagship Pioneering). From early-stage struggles to venture capital negotiations, they offered practical advice on building networks, overcoming setbacks, and navigating bias.
“Spending time with people who help you stretch is important,” said Alana as she reflected on the importance of network and community. While Justine expressed the career-long journey of growth: “You continue to collect, throughout your career, feedback and substantive opportunities for growth and advancement.”
Bringing together experiences from student-founded ventures, serial entrepreneurship, and institutional investing, the panel created a powerful, candid space for learning and connection. The room buzzed with energy, laughter, and a shared sense of possibility.
innovation on the move
Led by Sade Owoye, Associate Director of Student Programming, the inaugural NYC Treks brought students into the heart of New York’s innovation scene. Over the course of two days, they visited startups, venture hubs, and co-working spaces, many of which were hosted by Tsai CITY mentors. Students gained firsthand insights into startup life and expanded their networks, making it a standout pilot that successfully bridged classroom learning with real-world exposure.
