Ayesha Driggers
Director
Connecting young entrepreneurs to the city's network of doers and decision-makers.
Mentors & Collaborators
The people you'll learn from.
Donna Davis
CEO
Leadership and strategy coaching for founders ready to grow with intention.
Tripp Roache
Founder
Helping young founders translate ideas into ventures that hold up in the real world.
Diko Pekdemir-Lewis
Fashion Designer · Founder
Building a fashion label and teaching campers how craft becomes a brand.
James Agens
Founder
Founder-operator perspective on building services businesses that scale.
Darssan Eswaramoorthi
Co-Lead TEDxCongareeVista · Co-Founder Inspire Columbia
Teaches the craft of turning a notebook idea into a working prototype people pay for.
Andrew Gajadhar
Co-Founder
Hospitality and film operator weaving Columbia's creative economy together.
Michael Wang
Founder / President
Champion for AAPI entrepreneurs across the Carolinas and a voice at the ceremony.
John Ling
Founder
Investor and operator with a long view of what makes early ventures durable.
Derek Tyree Anders-Turner
AVP Corporate Payments Systems · FinTech & Data Operations
FinTech leader and civic volunteer connecting payments, data, and community.
Cynthia Villar
Director · Business & Career Development Center
Building beloved local ventures through hospitality, story, and craft.
Evans Duren
CEO
Helps campers find their why before they pick the what.
Alysia Kehoe
Business Coach · Coaching Strategist · HR Consultant
Coaches the alignment between career calling and the work in front of you.
Larry Phillips
Supply Chain Director
Brings enterprise operations rigor into a hands-on resume and cover-letter lab.
Tyler Zolkos
Chief Marketing Officer
Co-presenting how students brought TEDxCongaree Vista alive in a year.
Holly Atkins
Founding Member
Demystifies the legal scaffolding behind every young venture.
Benjamin Means
Professor of Law · John T. Campbell Chair
Director of the Family & Small Business Program, bringing the academy into the founder's chair.
Chris Kenney
Attorney
Practical counsel on contracts, formation, and the day-one decisions that matter.
Tameika Isaac Devine
Senator · Attorney
Public service and the law, from city council chambers to the State House.
Julie Lumpkin
Retired Public Health Professional · Civic Advocate
Voice, presence, and decades of community leadership distilled for campers.
Julie Zimmerman
Licensed Professional Counselor · Therapist
Mindset, resilience, and the inner work of starting something of your own.
Tyson Brown
TEDx Speaker · Executive Director of Project OneWay · Corporate Culture Consultant · SHRM-CP
Public speaking from a TEDx stage — coaching campers to find their voice.
Yili Fan
International Award-winning Filmmaker · Founder/President, Columbia Chapter
Helps campers capture their stories on camera and own the lens.
Sharon Tchonev
Co-Founding Director · Varna International Music Academy
Bridging the arts, music, and entrepreneurship into one festival-shaped curriculum.
Who It's For
Built for the next generation of leaders.
The Program
What you'll actually experience.
Day By Day
Four days inside the hive.
June 8 – 11, 2026
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Monday · June 8
Entrepreneurship Readiness
- 9am–12pm
- 12–12:30pm
- 12:30–1:30pm
- 1:30–2pm
- 2–3pm
- 3–4pm
- 4–5pm
Tuesday · June 9
Next Move: Real World Ready
- 9–10:30am
- 10:30am–12pm
- 12–2pm
- 2–4pm
- 4–5pm
Wednesday · June 10
From Ideas to Impact
- 9–10am
- 10–11am
- 11am–12pm
- 12–3pm
- 3–5pm
Thursday · June 11
Field Trips, Pitches & Celebration
- 9–10am
- 10:30–11:20am
- 11:30am–12:15pm
- 12:30–2pm
- 2–3pm
- 3–4pm
- 4–5pm
- 7:30pm
The Hive Map
Nine skills. One interconnected comb.
Our Partners
Built with Columbia.
Tuition
Reserve your seat in the hive.
Apply