The Global Entrepreneurship Exchange Workshops (GE2)

The Global Entrepreneurship Exchange (GE2) Workshop provides entrepreneurship education with a unique global experience, and applies concepts to the real world. The workshop is designed to explore the importance of entrepreneurship and innovation in today's global economy, and to cultivate an entrepreneurial mind-set. As part of this, students work in multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural teams to develop their ideas into vetted business concepts. Standard Business model frameworks are used to explore problem-solving techniques, opportunity identification, business concept development, and venture planning. The goal is for students to bring their ideas from concept to reality.

The workshop consists of specific entrepreneurship concept discussion, exercises, guest entrepreneurs, mentoring, and working on a real life project. It culminates in a pitch competition.

Entrepreneurship and innovation can take many forms. Whether you find yourself evaluating a new business idea, considering possible growth opportunities, or pursuing innovation as part of a large corporation, the concepts and active learning leveraged at the GE2 Workshop will expand your skill set for multiple applications in a fast-changing world.

2025 GE2 Workshop Pitch Competition Winners

GE2 winners (Toshio Naito, right, and Gireesh Kalluri) receiving backpacks as their gift for winning the pitch contest.
GE2 winners, (left to right) Gireesh Kalluri and Toshio Naito, receive backpacks as their gift for winning the pitch contest.

Our July 2025 GE2 Workshop was held in person on campus for the first time since 2020, bringing together students from diverse backgrounds, including five international students, for two weeks of entrepreneurship learning, innovation, and collaborative teamwork. The program included lectures from faculty and guest speakers, challenging students to understand complex technology, research the market, and develop actionable business recommendations. Throughout the workshop, the product’s inventor, Physics Professor Supriya Chakrabarti was present almost daily, providing guidance and answering questions to support student teams.

The program concluded with a pitch competition, where Toshio Naito, a medical doctor and professor at a university hospital in Tokyo, and Gireesh Kalluri won top honors for their creative, market-ready plan. Their achievement reflects the mission of GE2, empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs to tackle real-world challenges with fresh ideas and diverse perspectives.

See previous winners on our Past Workshops page.