Thomas Athey of Davidson College: Founding MESA, The Pitch Competition, and Being An Entrepreneur.

Thomas Athey of Davidson College: Founding MESA, The Pitch Competition, and Being An Entrepreneur.

Author: Venkat Raman December 3, 2024 Duration: 47:40

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I last spoke to Thomas when he was a sophomore at Davidson and was pursuing an entrepreneurial venture called Portfolio Kings.

Thomas stayed entrepreneurial in the second half of his college years and co-founded MESA, a startup to provide independent musicians an administrative infrastructure and also ensure that all rights holders on music NFT get paid.

In this episode, Thomas shares his undergraduate & entrepreneurial journey at Davidson, co- founding MESA, Winning the Hub Pitch Competition, Building MESA, The Hub’s Role and What’s Next for MESA.

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In particular, we discuss the following with him: 

  • The Davidson College Experience
  • Entrepreneurial Pursuits
  • Co-founding Mesa
  • Role of the Hurt Hub

Topics discussed in this episode:

  • Introducing Thomas Athey, Davidson College []
  • Hi Fives - Podcast Highlights []
  • The Davidson Experience []
  • Portfolio Kings []
  • Exploring Tech-based Ideas[]
  • Co-founding Mesa []
  • Winning The Hub Pitch Competition []
  • Building Mesa []
  • Raising Funds []
  • Beta Testing []
  • Campus Activities []
  • What’s Next? []
  • Memories []

Our Guest: Thomas Athey graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE), and History at Davidson College

Memorable Quote: “...it's hard to figure out what you want, and it's also hard to not cave to sort of societal pressures of what you think you should do. And so I think you just got to stay strong in that process and trust yourself, and put the work in, right?” Thomas Athey.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

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Navigating the path from high school to college is filled with big questions and personal choices. College Matters. Alma Matters., hosted by Venkat Raman, offers a space for those stories, moving beyond dry advice to share real conversations. Each episode brings forward the voices of people who have been exactly where you are-alumni reflecting on their campus lives, faculty members discussing what they look for in students, admissions officers demystifying their process, and counselors offering grounded strategies. This isn't about a single formula for success; it's about hearing a diverse collection of journeys and practical insights that can help you shape your own. Tuning into this podcast feels like getting honest, thoughtful perspectives from a trusted mentor. The focus remains on authentic personal experiences, from the challenges of preparation to the transformative moments of actual college life. By presenting these narratives, the aim is to both inform and inspire, providing listeners with a deeper understanding of what lies ahead. For any student charting their course toward higher education, these conversations can be a valuable companion, offering clarity and encouragement for the road ahead.
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