“In my mother’s ability to take a blank canvas and create something from anything, I can now see the beginnings of my interest in building a simple seed startup from an idea to a prosperous business,” said Schmidt.
As the first cycle in engineering in Penn State, Schmidt combined his passion for technology and entrepreneurship by spending his summers in California, working with companies that laid the basics of today’s modern communication infrastructure. This practical experience has borne fruit: he was recruited by the founder of a startup of GPS semiconductors, joining a team of unhooked coaches with great dreams and a desire to innovate.
“Every day in Duke, I am inspired by the revolutionary work that occurs in our research laboratories, within our community of elders and by our students. It is a privilege of being in an environment where innovation is constant and the real impact potential is so high. ”
Kurt Schmidt, Duke Capital Partners
“I felt like I found my tribe,” said Schmidt. “It was a team that shared a deep sense of objective and possibility.” Over a decade with the company, he has adopted all opportunities to learn, move to new challenges and gain a large practical understanding of what it takes to create and manage a prosperous business.
After a successful IPO for this company based in Silicon Valley, Schmidt and his wife were looking to move to a region with a emerging technological scene where he could share what he had learned and help build something new. Austin, Boulder, Seattle and Portland were all on the list – but a visit to the triangle sealed the agreement.
“With three incredible universities anchoring the region,” said Schmidt, “we fell in love with the triangle.” Schmidt quickly joined the local entrepreneurial community and began to invest more.
With students, inventors, entrepreneurs and engaging investors from the Duke community, Schmidt has found his tribe. And thanks to DCP, he found a way to restore significantly.
“For me, this is one of the most rewarding things,” said Schmidt. “Now I can pay it forward.”