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Second Annual Alumni Dinner Brings Entrepreneurs to Philadelphia
Philadelphia’s Union League may date
to the Civil War but as the location of
this year’s Wharton Entrepreneurship
Conference, the buzz was focused on
the new and innovative.
The conference featured panels,
workshops and one-on-one sessions
aimed at educating entrepreneurs
on how to build successful businesses.
Wharton alumni were everywhere and
especially visible as panelists for sessions
related to such topics as emerging economies,
social entrepreneurship, venture
capital and real estate.
The conference’s keynote, M&T
alumnus Jeff Fluhr, E’96, W’96, imparted
inspiration by describing how
he surprised even his parents in launching
StubHub, an online ticket marketplace.
Fluhr told of traveling to state
capitals successfully lobbying against
antiquated anti-scalping laws. As those
laws were revised, StubHub benefited,
with the operation becoming profitable
and attracting major sports teams and
top performing artists. StubHub also
attracted acquisition interest, including
from eBay. In February it bought
StubHub for $310 million.
The evening before the conference, David Marshall, W’61, a Wharton
alumnus and real estate entrepreneur,
presided as Keynote of Wharton
Entrepreneurial Programs’ second annual
Alumni Dinner which was held at perhaps
Marshall’s most dazzling property,
the Rittenhouse Hotel. Dean Thomas
Robertson offered the School’s vision for
a Wharton Entrepreneurship Institute
before nearly 70 alumni ranging from
Class of 2008 to Class of 1959. Many
also attended a lively pre-dinner session
focused on building connections among
the entrepreneurial community.
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