This week saw the return of Student Networking Night (formerly “College Night”) for the second consecutive fall and the second time this year. The event was organized and hosted by The Seed List with support from an NC IDEA Engage grant.
In keeping with The Seed List’s broader mission of connecting area college students to opportunities with innovative companies in the Triangle, this event offers a chance for those same students to gather, meet one another, and gain exposure to founders and supporters from around the ecosystem. It is open to (and indeed encourages participation from) not only the big three Triangle universities, but also students from Meredith, Elon, NC Central, Campbell, and beyond.
What we saw at this latest Student Networking Night was a dual sense of purpose and familiarity among attendees. While this remains a relatively new event, it is clear that it has reached the radar of entrepreneurially minded college students in the area; they know what to expect and are coming out to Boxyard RTP (the unofficial home of the event so far) intent on connecting with working professionals in the innovation space.
That understanding has been built up over multiple iterations of College Night and is why the event is becoming a staple on the calendar (with the next installment likely to take place during Raleigh-Durham Startup Week in the spring).
As has been stated in past coverage, this event is intentionally light on programming. The Seed List, NC IDEA, and Boxyard RTP provide the space, and the students do the rest.
Here are some photos from the event:
