The annual StartUp Showcase is a signature event at Fairfield and marks the University’s celebration of entrepreneurship and ingenuity; five student teams have been selected to pitch their business ideas to a panel of investors for seed money. One of the defining elements of the Showcase is that it is a live show that takes place at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts and is hosted each year by a distinguished guest host. This year the StartUp program is pleased to welcome GrasshoppHer co-founder and former Radio Disney personality Alexa Curtis to host the eleventh Showcase.

“I’m really excited to connect with students in my home state,” said Curtis. “I’ve always been a big fan of mentorship and know the teams are working hard with their mentors to finalize the pitches they’ll make to the investor panel at the Showcase. My biggest piece of advice for the students is to be comfortable getting feedback and to pivot if needed.”

A native of Connecticut, Curtis was born and raised in Mansfield. From a young age she knew she was different and that she didn’t fit the “normal” social mold. Following being bullied in middle school, Curtis needed an outlet to escape and in 2011, at just 12 years old, she started her own fashion blog and called it A Life in the Fashion Lane.

Curtis’ blog became a platform for her to express her feelings around topics relating to teens including body image and mental health. As she evolved as a person, Curtis’ blog shifted to discussing sensitive topics that teens and young adults face, and the blog transformed into a lifestyle website and podcast for teens and parents called Life Unfiltered with Alexa Curtis. She also gained sponsorships from brands including British Airways, T-Mobile, Lands' End, and more.

In 2018, Curtis founded the Be Fearless Summit, a pop-up summit that first appeared at Drexel University in March 2020 and has since premiered at UCONN, Vanderbilt, Central Connecticut State University, and UC Berkeley. Recently, the Be Fearless Summit was acquired by upskilling and mentorship platform GrasshoppHer. Curtis works with co-founder Heather Miller to develop GrasshoppHer’s membership model and to reinvent their career fairs. In October 2018, Curtis spoke alongside Amal Clooney and Serena Williams at Penn Women and in September 2018 she launched and hosted her own radio show on Radio Disney called Fearless Everyday with Alexa Curtis.

Curtis has spoken at numerous colleges including Northeastern, UConn, Eastern Connecticut, and Rutgers – as well as at high schools – discussing topics including how to be fearless, mental health, and the impact of social media in these areas.

Don’t miss the opportunity to see Curtis host the Showcase live on Tuesday, April 18 2022. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the Showcase starts at 7 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. To learn more and register visit fairfield.edu/startup.