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Mike Raab (Communication ’12, Kellogg ’22) Appointed as Managing Director of The Garage in October. Followed by resignation Melissa Kaufman, Founder of Entrepreneur Space
Prior to working at The Garage, he worked in venture capital at Sinai Ventures in Silicon Valley.he left in 2019 He said he joined The Garage because he wanted to work in a place that supported a large group of students and young founders.
Raab has since served as Associate Director of The Garage and Founding Director of its San Francisco office.He also wrote a book In collaboration with Kaufman, Founded: The No BS Guide for Student Entrepreneurs, a reference guide for first-time entrepreneurs.
The Daily spoke with Raab about his goals for The Garage and innovation hub.
This interview has been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.
daily: What inspired you to start working at The Garage?
Raab: I am a Northwest graduate. Garages didn’t exist when I was a student, and entrepreneurship wasn’t as important on campus. I first heard about (The Garage) when I was working at a venture company in San Francisco. I am very excited and impressed that the university has built this resource for students to explore and experience entrepreneurship.
daily: How has your past experience as a student at NU influenced your current work at The Garage?
Raab: When I was a student, there was more of a culture of fear of failure. Students felt like they had specific courses to follow, and fewer of them were taking risks or starting something on their own. The change I’ve seen is the normalization of excitement (taking risks) back to The Garage, among students (and others) following the typical path that existed in the past. less fear of failing at
daily: Why should NU students interact and engage with The Garage?
Raab: The Garage is a resource for students interested in bringing something new to life. It doesn’t have to be a scalable, venture-backable tech company. It doesn’t have to be software. It doesn’t have to be an app. There are all kinds of projects, from nonprofits to art spaces to food and drink. For anyone with an idea that they think should exist in the world, The Garage is both a community to support it and a resource to help them get started.
I think the community at The Garage is very positive and supportive. No matter what you start with, you will come across many hurdles and obstacles. Students who have been here for a while and are a few steps ahead of you are (some of) the best resources.
daily: What is the biggest difference between your previous role at The Garage and your current role as Executive Director?
Raab: When I was Director of (the San Francisco branch), I was alone in the Bay Area and dedicated to supporting alumni, founders, operators and investors in the Northwest.
(In) In the role of Associate Director, I directly oversaw the program.We’re actually launching our 11th program this quarter. This is for first generation students. As Executive Director, I oversee the entire team and set the vision for The Garage’s future.
daily: What are your goals as Executive Director of The Garage?
Raab: We will continue to make the garage more accessible and inclusive so that every student can feel welcome when they step in the door. We can also use the resources we have to invite and support more students and the projects they are working on.
Email: [email protected]
twitter: @PavanAcharya02
Related story:
— Mike Raab Named Executive Director of The Garage
— Captured: A Glimpse Under the Hood: An Undergraduate Project in the Garage
— The Garage Director Publishes Entrepreneurial Book Founded
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