Registration is now open!
Join alumni and guests for two days of learning, networking, and inspiration at the W&L Entrepreneurship Summit. This event is designed to encourage innovative business ideas and strategies, perfect for entrepreneurs at any stage of their journey. It is a special opportunity to connect, learn, and grow in the world of entrepreneurship.
Workshops. Roundtables. Mentors. Pitches.
No fluff. Bring questions. Leave with next steps.
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Athena Meyers ‘00
Athena Meyers is the Chief Product Officer at Niche, a growth-stage business where she leads the company’s mission to modernize how students and families find and enroll in schools. A proven product leader and entrepreneur at heart, Athena has spent her career building transformative digital experiences and scaling two-sided marketplaces that help people navigate life’s biggest decisions. Since joining Niche, she has spearheaded the launch of Direct Admissions- a product that was recognized among TIME Magazine’s Best Inventions of 2024.
Before Niche, Athena led The Knot’s global wedding marketplace, driving innovation across one of the largest consumer platforms in the event-planning space, and was named one of Washington, D.C.’s “50 on Fire” in tech innovation. Earlier in her career, she held roles at TIME.com and a social networking startup asmallworld.com, where she discovered her passion for early-stage growth and community-driven products.
A 2000 graduate of Washington and Lee University, Athena is passionate about helping the next generation of builders turn ideas into products that make a real impact on people’s lives.
Blair Garrou ‘94
Blair Garrou has spent the majority of his professional career advising, mentoring and investing in tech entrepreneurs. Blair is co-founder and Managing Partner of Texas-based Mercury Fund, an early-stage venture capital firm focused on investing in disruptive tech startups outside of Silicon Valley. With over$1 billion AUM and $15 billion of startup value creation since inception, Mercury employs an operationally-focused venture investment model helping startups achieve rapid, sustainable growth. Additionally, through his work in helping to build Houston’s innovation ecosystem, Blair launched a number of startup accelerators and investment organizations to help diversify and broaden educational and funding opportunities for entrepreneurs.
Blair is also an Adjunct Professor at the Rice Jones School of Business where he teaches a course on venture capital. Prior to his entrepreneurial and venture career, Blair was an investment banker with Nesbitt Burns (BMO Capital Markets), a credit analyst with Compass Bank (BBVA Compass), and an auditor with Deloitte & Touche (Deloitte). He received his B.S. in Management with special attainments in Commerce from W&L in 1994.
Blair currently serves in board and/or advisory roles for Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, Houston Innovation Council, South Loop Ventures, The Artemis Fund, The Collectiv SportsTech Fund, UTHealth, W&L’s Connelly Center for Entrepreneurship, and W&L’s Williams School of Commerce, Economics & Politics.
Blair is married to Dr. Amy Garrou (W&L ’96), a board-certified veterinarian practicing in Houston. Blair and Amy have two teenage daughters, Hannah and Maddie. Maddie will be matriculating at W&L and playing women’s soccer in 2026.
Catch up and learn more about what the entrepreneurship program is up to.