Hackathon + Mentorship + Professional Consultation Training
Schedule of Events | Sponsors | Parking | FAQs | PDF Release
A full day of activity – Friday, March 21, 9am to 6pm
“VueFWD>>” is a collaborative, entrepreneurial clinic led by faculty and students designed to empower aspiring entrepreneurs in Bellevue by offering expert consultation, practical resources, and community support. Partnering with Point Park University’s Rowland School of Business, Bellevue Forward, the initiative will connect local entrepreneurs with students and faculty for hands-on business development.
Schedule of Events
8:30am – 10:00am
- Registration, coffee, and networking at Bellevue Beans
- 9-9:30am – A guided walking tour of Bellevue
- 9:30am: Panel discussion: Entrepreneurship on Main Street
10:00am – 1:00pm
- Marketing Hackathon competition sponsored by AMA Pittsburgh Collegiate Committee
- Field Practice consultations – venues to be announced
- Resume & Portfolio reviews (till 1:30 pm)
1:00pm – 2:30pm
- Marketing Hackathon presentations at Tavern Pizza (winning team gets $300!) hosted at AGH Suburban
- Complimentary food will be available at Tavern Pizza
- Tour of AGH Suburban and Alpha Lab Health
- 2-2:45pm: Panel discussions and networking – venues to be announced
- Telling Your Brand Story through Social Media
- Small Business Growth: Navigating Challenges and Opportunities
- Economic Development: Building a Thriving Community
- Entrepreneurship: From Idea to Impact
3:00pm – 6:00pm
- Design Hackathon sponsored by Joe Zeff Design (winning team gets $300!) hosted at AGH Suburban
- Field Practice consultations – venues to be announced
6:00pm to 8:00pm
- Design hackathon presentations at Tavern Pizza
- Resume & Portfolio reviews (till 7:30 pm)
- End-of-day networking mixer with students, professionals, business owners, and everyone else at Tavern Pizza – enjoy complimentary snacks at the event!
Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are available for purchase on your own. - Post-mixer fun: Play pinball at the Pittsburgh Pinball Dojo
Testimonials
Post-Event Survey Feedback
- Results as of 3/25/25.
- Are you a student, professional, business owner, or other?
- 13 Respondents
- 3 Students, 9 Professionals, 1 Business Owner
- How satisfied were you with the event?
- 53.8% (7 votes) ranked at level 5 – “very satisfied”
- 46.2% (6 votes) ranked at level 4 – “satisfied”
- How relevant and helpful do you think it was for your career or business?
- 53.8% (7 votes) ranked at level 5 – “very relevant”
- 38.5% (5 votes) ranked at level 4 – “relevant”
- 7.7% (1 vote) ranked at level 3 – “somewhat relevant”
- Which sessions did you find most engaging?
- Marketing hackathon – 23.1% (3 votes)
- Design hackathon – 15.4% (2 votes)
- Field Practice consultations – 69.2% (9 votes)
- Portfolio reviews – 30.8% (4 votes)
- General networking – 38.5% (5 votes)
- Panel discussions – 23.1% (3 votes)
- Would you like to see us continue this event annually?
- Yes – 100% (13 votes)
Comments:
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It was hard for me to tell who was there as a business and who was part of the event staff
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More marketing needed for higher attendance and attention
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The event was fantastic! It was an excellent networking opportunity. Thank you!I loved the full event. It was a long day, but I think things were organized well overall. I felt like the Design Hackathon was engaging, but it felt more marketing-inclined, rather than design. I also wish that we had had more time. I don’t believe we got the full 3 hours for the hack.
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RJ did a great job moving people around! Need addresses of locations on marketing materials/agenda. Could not find book store and later a student could not find the pinball place. Students were trying to get my advice during the panel discussion and later when other students were presenting, but not sure how to rectify that. The panel discussion I was a part of was not a panel discussion, but I made it work and winged it with the business owner hosting (this was likely because it was too far away and the seating was odd once others showed up). Would consider having the mixer time over lunch. Many of us who were there a good bit of the day were losing energy by 5ish. A speed-dating style session could even be fun – if it grows and more people join, it would be interesting to grow the community that way? These are all little first-time things to work out – it was a great event and all seemed to want to do what it took to make it a success!
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It was very successful! Can’t go wrong adding cookies.
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There’s always room for improvement
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It went really well and I enjoyed getting to be part of the event! I enjoyed getting to meet and brainstorm with the local business owners.
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More time for portfolio reviews! There was a lot going on and not a lot of time to do the things well.
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It was great to brainstorm with so many people at once
Comments:
- As one of the professional consultants present, it was a great opportunity to not only meet students that could be future talent, but also network with businesses that might want to partner in the future.
- Connections to other professionals
- The key take aways for me were the interactions with the students and business people. I enjoyed the one-on-one conversations with various people. As a result, I exchanged business cards with a few people. The group panel discussions were GREAT! They were very informative. I really enjoyed the candid and open dialogue about starting a business, the pitfalls involved, and the importance of maintaining a viable network. I arrived to the event at about 1:30 p.m. so I missed the lion’s share of the Marketing and Design Hackathons (due to an office meeting). However, I can only imagine how grand they were after meeting and speaking with the college students and young professionals. Oh, I forgot to say the pizza was delicious! Kudos to the Tavern Pizza. The environment was an important part of the event. I believe it set the stage for all the wonderful conversations that took place.
- A ton of enthusiasm and knowledge sharing. It was great to be a part of the event.
- The sense of community – both of the local area and the industry was strong!
- I am blown away by the student talent!
- Collaboration
- The field consultations were really beneficial for both marketers and (seemingly) business owners. Would be helpful to have a working session event or a template for the next one, where the marketers are able to walk away with an actionable item. It was a lot of high level diagnoses, but many biz owners don’t have the time to follow up. – Most students weren’t able to participate in the field practice consultations in favor of the hackathon, so if we want them to be included in the future maybe breaking out the day differently, where the hackathon is in the afternoon and field consultations are in the morning, so they can have exposure to both
- I got some good practice talking to others about my skills and abilities and presenting my work in front of a potential employer.
Photos | View Online Photo Gallery
Report | Download PDF
Supported by
VueFWD>> is supported by the Social Impact Grant award from the Community Engagement PhD program within the Rowland School of Business at Point Park University.
Sponsored by
Our and Collaborators
Parking
- There is metered parking on Lincoln Avenue
- A metered lot off Lincoln Avenue between N. Sprague Avenue and Hawley Avenue is available.
- Metered lots between S. Sprague Avenue and Meade Avenue.
- Unmetered parking in residential areas, please be considerate to parking permit and handicap access signs.
- Port Authority transit:
- 13 – Bellevue
- 16 – Brighton
- 14 – Ohio Valley
- 19L – Emsworth Limited
- Access bus schedules here
FAQs
What is VueFWD?
VueFWD>> is a hands-on entrepreneurial initiative that connects aspiring business owners in Bellevue with expert guidance, community resources, and support through a single-day event featuring consultations, competitions, and collaborative activities.
How will students benefit from VueFWD?
Students gain real-world experience through interdisciplinary collaboration, hands-on projects, and networking with professionals and entrepreneurs, enhancing their skills and resumes.
What is the impact on local businesses?
Local entrepreneurs receive expert guidance, creative marketing solutions, and access to innovative ideas while building connections with future professionals and community stakeholders.
How is VueFWD funded?
The program is funded through a $1,000 grant from Point Park University and partial matches from Bellevue Forward, with all expenditures benefiting Bellevue-based businesses.
Can I attend as a community member?
Yes! Community members are welcome to attend certain activities, including competition presentations, panel discussions, and networking mixer to support and engage with local entrepreneurs.
How do I get involved as a participant or partner?
Reach out to Bellevue Forward at bellevueforward@gmail.com or visit our website to learn more about participation, partnership opportunities, and volunteering.
Is VueFWD a one-time event?
No! Bellevue Forward envisions VueFWD>> as an annual event that grows each year, fostering ongoing economic development and community engagement in Bellevue.
Questions? Contact RJ!
Have a question? Contact RJ Thompson at bellevueforward@gmail.com or via text at 412-779-7665.