Outside the Box

With students heading back to school in hopes of becoming the next Mark Zuckerberg, many people believe four-year programs are becoming a thing of the past.

This year Peter Thiele, co-founder of PayPal, launched the fellowship, “20 under 20” with the hopes of finding top entrepreneurs wanting to improve the world. The  handful of finalists received a $100,000 grant, and the opportunity to mentor with elite leaders of Silicon Valley. The only catch? They are not allowed to enroll in college.

As Thiele’s program was announced, controversy stirred in the educational system with many appalled by his initiative. Others were left wondering if education was becoming obsolete for entrepreneurs. (more…)

With Inc. Magazine naming Ideeli the fastest growing company of the year and the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in full swing, I thought it would be the perfect time to examine where  fashion entrepreneurs are succeeding.

With super models strutting down the catwalk, a continuous flashing of bulbs, and the sounds of thunderous applause, the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is a dream come true for any fashion entrepreneur.

Rafael Cennamo, one of the notable newbie designers, explained to The New York Times

“Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is a way to show the world exactly who I am.”

With notoriety, comes quite a hefty price tag. According to The New York Times article, “No Beginner Discounts at Lincoln Center,” the average cost to put on a 15-minute show can range anywhere between $30,000-$100,000, with more established designers spending up to $500,000. This is no easy feat for anyone, especially young designers,  and with an unknown return on investment, it makes taking the plunge that much more difficult. That being said, in the world of fashion many designers, including Cennamo, must find some way to, as Tim Gunn would say, “make it work.” (more…)