This past Sunday, the NEXTGEN Summit returned for its second year, bringing together aspiring entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and students eager to change the world through innovation. The day was filled with discussions, workshops, and mentorship, reinforcing the summit’s mission: to equip young visionaries with the tools they need to turn ideas into impactful ventures.
Kicking Off with Purpose
The day kicked off at 11:00 AM with opening remarks that set the stage for an event centered on innovation and integrity. IDEO’s Senior Design Director, Jason Robinson, and Writer and Strategist, Andy Reischling, led an engaging interactive workshop on Human-Centered Design and Ideation. Attendees explored strategies for developing impactful, viable business ideas through rapid prototyping and differentiation. Robinson and Reischling also shared insights from their past projects, including a standout collaboration with Canada Goose, inspired by Disney World’s “Compress and Release” architecture.
The Art of Money Making & Investment
One of the most highly anticipated sessions, The Art of Making Money & Attracting Investors Without Compromising Integrity, brought together industry leaders Erdin Beshimov, Lecturer at MIT and Senior Director of Experiential Learning at MIT Open Learning; Raymond Chang, Co-Founder of NEIA and Serial Entrepreneur; and Maia Ervin, Marketing Director at Next Gen of UTA Entertainment Marketing. Their discussion underscored the importance of purpose-driven entrepreneurship and maintaining integrity in the pursuit of success.
Beshimov emphasized that in a world full of scams, trust is the most valuable currency, saying, “In a scamming world, the most important thing is trust, and trust is integrity.” Chang offered a word of caution, saying, “If it sounds too good to be true or if it’s a shortcut, stay away.” Ervin reinforced the importance of staying true to one’s mission, stating, “Integrity means staying true to your mission and core values.”
The session highlighted that true success lies in solving real problems rather than simply chasing financial gain. Investors are drawn to entrepreneurs who can pinpoint challenges and develop sustainable solutions, a point Beshimov reinforced: “It’s when you can truly identify the hiccups, then investors will be interested.” Ervin also emphasized the value of self-awareness in entrepreneurship, advising, “You need to know what you don’t know and tap into those who do.”
Closing the session, Chang offered a candid reflection on the entrepreneurial journey: “Sometimes you will feel very lonely, but if you have perseverance, you’ll get there.”
Lessons from Babson Entrepreneurs: Mentorship & Building a Sustainable Future
A panel discussion featuring Babson student entrepreneurs Vera Aimunmondion and Zainabou Thiam provided firsthand insights into securing funding and overcoming early-stage challenges.
Throughout the panel, they emphasized the critical role of mentorship in entrepreneurial success. Vera and Zainabou shared personal stories about the guidance that shaped their paths. Vera recounted how her mentor at Morgan Stanley taught her to be intentional in all she did: “He took something that was very natural for me, communication, and made it something I became very intentional with.”
Zainabou echoed this sentiment, highlighting the importance of prioritizing time based on passion: “There is a certain amount of time I put into my passions to reach my goals.”
Final Takeaways: Resilience, Trust, and Purpose
Michelle Mercier, CEO and President of the Marlborough Chamber of Commerce, spoke about student business and resources. She underscored the importance of perseverance, saying, “Resilience is key. This is the ability to feel all the emotions and process them and come out the other side.” She also emphasized the value of authentic connections: “Know, like, and trust.”
The Pitch Competition: Ideas in Action
In the afternoon, three teams took the stage to pitch their businesses, each presenting a proposal followed by a Q&A session. These aspiring entrepreneurs showcased their innovative solutions, demonstrating their commitment to impact-driven businesses.
The pitches were judged by Erdin Beshimov, Michelle Mercier, Maia Ervin, Vera Aimunmondion, and Zainabou Thiam.
After Mercier’s talk, the winners of the pitch competition were announced. The Fan-Favorite Award, along with a $500 prize, went to PillPal, an automated pill dispenser designed by Adalynne Mertz and Amaia Mertz to help users manage their prescriptions.The Judges’ Choice Award, also receiving a $500 prize, went to SmartHeal, an app designed to identify wounds—such as burns or animal bites—and reduce the need for immediate medical consultation. SmartHeal was created by Riya Kanury (CEO), Alina Falcao (CTO), Trisha Munshi (COO), Arya Patel (CMO), and Aanya Shetty (CFO).
Looking Ahead
The NEXTGEN Summit once again proved to be a transformative experience, fostering connections, inspiring new ideas, and reinforcing the core values that drive sustainable entrepreneurship. As participants left the event, they carried with them not only valuable lessons but also the motivation to pursue their visions with integrity and resilience.
The event could not have been made possible without its CEO & Founder, Langston Reid (‘25), along with his team: Vicki Leeth (‘25), Laura Mokrzycki (‘25), Owen O’Brien (‘25), Raveena Stephen (‘26), Pearl Bogere (‘27), Geremia Chevry (‘27), Caroline Martz (‘27), Hector Cruz (‘28), and Marcus Chin (‘29), who will serve as next year’s CEO.
With two successful years behind it, NEXTGEN continues to grow, shaping the next generation of changemakers. As Raymond Chang aptly put it: “It’s so awesome to bring new ideas to change lives.”
Langston looks back on the event and toward the future, saying, “What started as a simple idea in my entrepreneurship class has grown into an international community. From late nights building this vision to launching a profitable and impactful business uniting entrepreneurs across New England—and now expanding to Costa Rica—the journey has been incredible. Seeing the NEXTGEN Summit run so smoothly was a proud moment, proving that with a clear vision, hard work, and an amazing team, anything is possible. And we’re just getting started.”
