Business Buzz

Who will take home the BIG PRIZE THIS Thursday at the Patriot Pitch Competition? Attend as a spectator and find out!

Crystal Fickers — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 19:32:33 +0000

Who will take home the BIG PRIZE THIS Thursday at the Patriot Pitch Competition? Attend as a spectator and find out! Crystal Fickers Mon, 03/20/2023 - 15:32

In This Story

Nicole Washington

Ajay Vinzé, PhD

The Patriot Pitch Competition supports idea and early-stage business ventures and is open to current �鶹��Ƶ students and recent alumni from all majors/fields of study.

This year’s competition is being led by the School of Business and includes interdisciplinary collaboration from the College of Engineering and Computing and the College of Science. Finalist teams will participate in mentoring sessions this March and make their pitches in front of a live audience THIS Thursday on Thursday, April 13 in Dewberry Hall.

The event will begin at 11 a.m. with entrepreneur Nicole Washington, Founder and CEO of Boralogix, as our esteemed keynote speaker. School of Business Dean Ajay Vinzé and other speakers from �鶹��Ƶ’s entrepreneurial ecosystem will follow. A light lunch from HUNGRY & a networking opportunity for registered attendees will precede the pitches.

The pitches will begin at 12:00 p.m. The event is open to spectators. There will also be a “�鶹��Ƶ’s Choice Award,” inviting the audience to vote on their favorite pitches and join the fun! Only registered attendees can vote, so be sure to register early.

From 12:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., there will be 4 teams pitching in each of the 4 tracks: Public Engagement, STEM, Social Impact, and General Entrepreneurship. An awards ceremony and networking opportunity for competitors, judges, mentors and coaches, and audience members will follow.

Don’t miss this chance to connect with local entrepreneurs and your fellow innovators on campus!

Registration is required and free!

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Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Campus News

Explore the Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's in Finance

Jaclyn Beasley — Wed, 12 Oct 2022 20:41:47 +0000

Explore the Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's in Finance Jaclyn Beasley Wed, 10/12/2022 - 16:41

Fast Track your Master of Science in Finance Degree! Explore the Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s (BAM) program for academically strong �鶹��Ƶ undergraduates who want to earn a MS in Finance.

For more information, visit the School of Business Website: https://business.gmu.edu/programs/bachelors-accelerated-masters-programs

Questions? Email the MS in Finance program team at busmsf@gmu.edu or Undergraduate Advising at masonbus@gmu.edu.

Note: Because of pre-requisites and program requirements, interested students should meet with an Advisor before registering for Spring 2023 courses

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Business Buzz

CIE Opens the Student Design Challenge for #�鶹��ƵInnovators - Sign Up Today!

Crystal Fickers — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 16:31:15 +0000

CIE Opens the Student Design Challenge for #�鶹��ƵInnovators - Sign Up Today! Crystal Fickers Mon, 09/19/2022 - 12:31

The Fall 2022 Student Design Challenge Is Open for Registration!

The Fall 2022 Student Design Challenge, inviting students to reinvent the urban agriculture industry, is now open for registration!

The goal of this semester's program is to explore current industry challenges and reimagine solutions such as innovative aquaponics, vertical gardening structures, or disruptive energy systems that will support sustainable and affordable food production in urban areas, while also reducing the carbon footprint of the food system. Each semester, the Student Design Challenge focuses on a different industry.

CIE will provide fall semester participants with access to the tools, technology, and mentorship from �鶹��Ƶ alumni, staff, and faculty members, as well as the chance to learn from industry experts and local urban agriculture ventures.

The Student Design Challenge will include over $3,000 in CIE Innovation Awards for selected finalists. In addition to cash prizes, winners will also receive post-program ongoing support from CIE as well as opportunities to present their prototypes at CIE events.

The in-person kick-off event will take place on Tuesday, September 27th at 4:30pm-6:30pm at the MIX (lower level of Horizon Hall).

Urban agriculture has emerged as a sustainable and resourceful way of producing food in urban environments. It is one of the fastest-growing industries (pun intended!) at a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) rate of 24.46% which is predicted to result in a global market size of $16+ billion by 2027. Join us we help you develop your vision of the future!

*Read more about CIE's Spring 2022 Student Design Challenge and how the program supports #�鶹��ƵInnovators.

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Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Business Buzz

CIE's Book Club - Join Us this Thursday!

Crystal Fickers — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 15:47:05 +0000

CIE's Book Club - Join Us this Thursday! Crystal Fickers Mon, 09/19/2022 - 11:47

Join us this Thursday for the Next CIE Book Club Discussion

This Thursday from 12-1pm, the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) is pleased to host a discussion of the Fall 2022 selection for Smart People Still Read Books Book Club: 25 Million Sparks: The Untold Story of Refugee Entrepreneurs by Andrew Leon Hanna.

“25 Millon Sparks is a powerful story of hope – a beautiful reminder of our equal dignity, common humanity, and brilliant potential for innovation… Hanna’s captivating human-centered narration of the stories of three women entrepreneurs in the Za’atari camp allows their voices to be heard clearly.” –Leymah Ghowee, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

Join us as we discuss entrepreneurship from the perspective of three incredibly strong entrepreneurs who persevere despite (or perhaps because of) their circumstances.

The discussion will be held in-person and virtually THIS Thursday, November 17th, from 12-1pm in Enterprise Hall, room 278 and via Zoom: go.gmu.edu/CIEzoom . You don't need finish the book in order to join the discussion; all are welcome!

The Smart People Still Read Books Book Club was created to connect the #�鶹��ƵNation with entrepreneurial works.

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Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Business Buzz

Buy Local Products at The Depot: This Thursday & Friday!

Crystal Fickers — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 13:58:49 +0000

Buy Local Products at The Depot: This Thursday & Friday! Crystal Fickers Mon, 09/19/2022 - 09:58

The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) Student Leadership Team will be setting up shop at Dolce Vita in Fairfax again this semester! Head over to stock up on farm fresh goods, locally produced pantry items, and greens from the GMU on-campus Greenhouse.

Learn more about the program, made possible through a partnership from the Fairfax City Economic Development Authority and support from the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia.

12-3pm at Dolce Vita Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar

DEC 8 & 9: This Thursday and Friday!

�鶹��Ƶ students look forward to seeing you there!

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Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Business Buzz

DMV Entrepreneurship Happy Hour: THIS Wednesday!

Rebecca Howick — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 16:40:47 +0000

DMV Entrepreneurship Happy Hour: THIS Wednesday! Rebecca Howick Tue, 09/06/2022 - 12:40

Whether you’re looking to meet like-minded founders from different universities or looking for a teammate to launch your next big idea, meet student entrepreneurs from American, Georgetown, George Washington, George �鶹��Ƶ, and UMD on the rooftop of Western Market on September 14th from 5:30-7:30pm. During this time, you’ll get a chance to network with one another, share stories, challenges, and ideas over a drink or two.

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entrepreneurship

Business Buzz

Workshops @ the MIX: Where Ideas Begin

Rebecca Howick — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 16:35:30 +0000

Workshops @ the MIX: Where Ideas Begin Rebecca Howick Tue, 09/06/2022 - 12:35

Explore how and where business opportunities start and examine which technology innovation and business ventures are worth development. Visit mix.gmu.edu to learn more!

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entrepreneurship

Business Buzz

Drone Prototyping Workshop @ the MIX

Rebecca Howick — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 19:41:14 +0000

Drone Prototyping Workshop @ the MIX Rebecca Howick Wed, 08/31/2022 - 15:41

8 week course

Thursdays Starting THIS Thursday, September 15

4:30-6:30pm

Horizon Hall 1408

Applications close September 12th

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Drones

The MIX

Business Buzz

You're Invited to The Depot

Nicole Kelleher — Mon, 21 Mar 2022 19:15:22 +0000

You're Invited to The Depot Nicole Kelleher Mon, 03/21/2022 - 15:15

The Depot Pop-up Retail Farm Store

Mark your calendars and visit us at The Depot:

Wednesday, April 20 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Dolce Vita Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar

We're restocking your favorites & ordering new products, including the fixings for a full dinner!

Cameron’s assorted artisanal chocolates and treats
Campus Food & Beverage Network coffees & teas featuring Foundation Coffee and True Honey Teas
GMU Greenhouse fresh herbs, microgreens, and live plants
Green Body Brand t-shirts
Nordic Knot gourmet pretzels
Rocky Branch homemade jams
Shenandoah Valley Family Farms organic raw milk cow cheeses
Wadel's Farm Wagon fresh pasta, sauce, salsa, cheese, and freshly baked goods
Whiffletree Farm pasture-raised: chicken, eggs, sausage & 100% grass-fed beef

See you there!

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Business Buzz

Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Fraudulent Internships and Job Posts

Marianne Klinker — Fri, 18 Feb 2022 21:04:51 +0000

Fraudulent Internships and Job Posts Marianne Klinker Fri, 02/18/2022 - 16:04

Job Scams: What to Look Out For

Fraudulent Job Postings

Unfortunately, not every job posting is legitimate, even on trusted platforms like Handshake, Indeed, or LinkedIn. Some postings are scams designed to steal personal information or money. It’s critical to know how to identify real opportunities and avoid fraud.

Never send or accept money as part of the application process.

No legitimate employer will ever ask you to pay for training, equipment, background checks, or application fees upfront. Also, be cautious if you're asked to cash a check or transfer money on behalf of the company — this is a common scam tactic known as a "check fraud scam." If money movement is involved before you’ve officially started the job and signed proper employment paperwork, it's almost certainly fraudulent.

Be cautious of job offers that seem too good to be true.

Scammers often lure victims with promises of high pay for little effort, such as "work from home and make $2,000 a week with no experience required!" Real jobs, especially entry-level and internship positions, offer pay that is appropriate for the role and location, not excessive amounts for minimal tasks. Use salary research tools or check sites like Glassdoor to see what's normal in your field.

Watch out for unsolicited job offers.

If you didn’t apply for the job, yet someone reaches out offering you the position, be skeptical. This is especially true if the communication is generic (e.g., "Dear applicant") or lacks specific details about how they found your information, or if the details of the job duties are vague or nonsensical. Authentic employers usually conduct interviews before extending offers, and they rarely hire without at least some screening process.

Scrutinize email addresses and web links.

Fraudsters often use email addresses that look similar to real companies but have small differences — like extra letters, hyphens, or strange domain names (e.g., using @gmail.com instead of @companyname.com). Similarly, fake job postings may link to sites that look like real company pages but have slightly misspelled URLs (for example, a web address that is gmu.com instead of the legitimate gmu.edu). Always check links carefully and only apply through official company websites or trusted job platforms.

Don’t click on suspicious links or download unknown attachments.

Clicking on malicious links can lead to phishing websites that steal your information, or download malware onto your device. If you receive an unsolicited email with a link or attachment, even if it appears to come from a known contact, verify with the sender through another channel before clicking.

Pay attention to poor spelling, grammar, or unprofessional communication.

Many scam messages are written quickly or by non-professionals and contain noticeable errors. Additionally, legitimate employers use professional language and often have structured, formal emails when communicating about hiring.

Verify company details and do your own research.

Before applying or engaging with an employer, check their official website, look them up on LinkedIn, and search for reviews or reports about the company. Trustworthy companies will have a clear digital presence, including contact information that matches the details in the job posting.

Be aware that even legitimate-looking emails can be hacked or faked.

Sophisticated scams can make an email appear as if it’s from a university or trusted company domain. If something about the message feels off — like an unexpected offer, unusual requests, or high-pressure tactics — take a moment to confirm its authenticity by contacting the employer directly through publicly listed contact info.

Anyone’s email can be hacked. Always be cautious of applying to jobs in emails. If you receive an email from a trusted source that seems suspicious, has poor grammar, or is out of character, or is unexpected, reach out to this person by a different method to make sure the message is legitimate. (For example, if you receive an email from a professor that seems fishy, call or ask them in person if it was from them. Don’t just respond to the email – that will go directly to the scammer!).

Multi-Level Marking Companies Are Scams. Companies like Amway, Herbalife, Cutco, YoungLiving, Monat, doTerra, and Younique operate in exactly the same way as illegal pyramid schemes. These companies often target students or members of minority communities by offering them a way to “run their own business,” but in reality, can make you lose thousands of dollars. Read this article from Forbes to learn more about how these companies operate. You can find a list of documented MLM companies here on Wikipedia.

Examples of Common Job Scams

Fake Personal Assistant Jobs

Scammers pose as executives or professors and offer flexible "personal assistant" roles. They may ask you to run errands that involve handling money, like buying gift cards or wiring funds.

Check-Cashing and Reshipping Scams

You’re sent a check and asked to deposit it, keep part of the money, and send the rest back or buy items (like electronics) to ship elsewhere. The check eventually bounces, and you’re left owing the full amount.

Mystery Shopper Scams

You’re hired to evaluate stores or services and asked to deposit a check, spend money, and report back. These checks are fraudulent, and you’re responsible for the losses.

Fake Remote Job Offers

Scammers exploit the popularity of remote work by offering well-paying online jobs that require you to buy "training materials" or special software — always at your expense.

Phishing for Personal Data

Some fake job ads are designed just to collect your sensitive information (Social Security Number, bank account, copies of your ID) which is then used for identity theft.

Fraud Checklist: Spot the Red Flags

☐ Did they ask for money or offer to send you a check?

☐ Is the pay unusually high for little work?

☐ Did you get an offer for a job you didn’t apply for?

☐ Are there spelling and grammar mistakes in the message?

☐ Is the job description vague?

☐ Is the email from a free account (like Gmail, Yahoo) instead of a company domain?

☐ Is the website link slightly misspelled?

☐ Does something just feel off? Trust your instincts.

If you suspect fraud:
The FBI warns that job scams continue to target students and job seekers nationwide. If you believe you’ve encountered a fraudulent job post or have fallen victim to a scam, report it immediately.

If you suspect you’ve seen or been sent a fraudulent job offer, contact Career Services at 703-993-2140 or email mycareer@gmu.edu.

For scams outside the university, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov or with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.

Updated January 2026

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