The stage is (almost 😉 ) set for Demo Day Spring 2026 🌷
This Friday, 23 participants, across three entrepreneurial categories, will pitch their business ideas at Shift Retail Lab and compete for seed funding to GROW their ventures! It's going to be a night full of innovation, creativity, and community that you don't want to miss.
Help us cheer on the participants, and choose our People's Choice Awardees, on April 17th, from 4-7 pm at the Shift Retail Lab 🌟
Details and registration are in the link in our bio!
Want to see the innovation happening inside the Shift Retail Lab? Join us on April 17th for our Spring 2026 Demo Day!
Demo Day is our bi-annual pitch competition where VCU students, alumni, and Richmond community members bring their ideas to life, connect with resources, and compete for funding.
All friends, family, and community members are welcome and encouraged to attend and cheer on the pitches. Following the pitches, everyone is invited to stay for an awards ceremony and networking session.
Details and event RSVP are in the link in our bio!
Looking to test a product, get feedback on a business idea, or just want to learn about entrepreneurship? Join the Shelfie Program!
The Shelfie Program is a 4-week, no-cost program that using tools like design thinking and business model canvas to help you test out innovative ideas! Whether starting a business is something you've always wanted to do, or you're just looking to explore opportunities, this program is for you 💡
Our next session kicks off this Sunday, March 29th, @ 12pm at the Shift Retail Lab. Register via the link in our bio to join!
Check out what our Shelfies have been working on at this week's Feedback Friday!
We have a great lineup of pitches to present on Friday, from innovative healthcare products, to money saving apps, to local food and beverage brands, and more!
Open to students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members—come support emerging founders, make new connections, and help spotlight the next wave of innovation.
RSVP via the events link in our bio 👏
Applications are now open for our Spring Demo Day! 🌟
Do you have an innovative product, startup, or business idea?
Apply to pitch at the VCU da Vinci Center's Spring Demo Day! Whether you're in the early idea stage, have a workable prototype, or are an active business venture, you can compete to win prize funding upwards of $2000 for your idea!
Applications are due April 6th at 11:59 pm - Demo Day is on Friday, April 17th from 4-7 pm.
Application link is in our bio 🎉
Say hello to our first Spring Cohort of Shelfies 🤩
This cohort is made up of undergrads, graduates, alumni, and Richmond community members, who are all working on exciting and innovative ideas—from bike rental apps to motorcycle helmets to paper goods, and everything in between!
Come help us cheer them on as they pitch their ideas at Feedback Friday on February 20th, from 4–6 pm, at the Shift Retail Lab 👏 Get ready for big ideas, bold pitches, and serious creative energy in the room. You won’t want to miss the innovation, inspiration, and community vibes!
RSVP through the events link in our bio 📎
Our Executive Director and Program Manger, Lloyd and Ashley, had a fantastic time visiting the Virtual Curation Lab this week and seeing all of the mind blowing 3D prints that the lab has produced - including this model of Bigfoot! 👣
Thanks for the tour @virtualcurationlab 😎
Help us give a warm welcome to our Spring Food Shelfies! 👏
This group includes Chunky Vegan, Pi’s Coffee, Powell’s Pickles, Atelier Rituelle, Chilicopter LLC, Buen Día Market, and Twist n' Shout LLC. So far our Food Shelfies have started strengthening their design thinking skills, identifying the problems they’re solving, and building relationships.
These entrepreneurs are ready to learn, grow, and take their businesses to the next level. We cannot wait to share their journey with you, so stay tuned for updates along the way! 🥨☕🌶🌮🍽
Mark your calendars - our first Feedback Friday of the semester is almost here!
On February 20th, each of our Shelfies will deliver a 60-second pitch on the product, service, or business idea they’ve been testing.
Come celebrate their work, bring your curiosity, ask good questions, and help us crown the People’s Choice Award winner. No pressure, just good ideas, honest feedback, and a lot of fun.
Link to RSVP to events is in our bio 😊
Our Executive Director Lloyd Young and our Program Manager Ashley Wenger facilitated a Design Thinking workshop at the VCU Events Council Forum this week 💡
Participants came up with ideas for unique events on campus, mapped out their key stakeholders, identified potential problems, brainstormed solutions, and prototyped their event using LEGOs! Each group came up with creative events and solutions to their problems, and the energy in the room was fantastic 👏
Interested in partnering with the da Vinci Center to bring a Design Thinking workshop to your event, class, or organization? Reach out to us!
📩 [email protected]
A round of applause for everyone who pitched at Demo Day! The creativity, courage, and energy in the room were unreal. Thank you to everyone who showed up to support our students, alumni, and community innovators.
Big thanks to our judges and to our amazing emcee for keeping the momentum strong. And a special shoutout to Ashley for shining during her first Demo Day as Program Manager.
Thinking about pitching next semester? Spring Demo Day applications are coming soon. Do you or someone you know have an idea ready for the spotlight?
Want to test a product before you pitch? Check out the Shelfie Program at Shift Retail Lab! Learn more in our bio.
Check out the innovators who received awards and a full recap on our blog. Link in bio!
@vcu@uc_vcu@vcuarts@vcu_brandcenter@vcu_eng@vcuchs@vcubusiness@capitalone@vcuhealth_nurse
