"The thing with copyright that's really interesting is that you don't have to say any magic words or do anything magical to make this happen. Copyrights really do set in as soon as you put the pen to paper, as soon as you click the camera..." Megan Costello, a 2008 College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) graduate, spoke Monday, kicking off IST's Startup Week.

“We’re trending towards a time where there are a lot of entrepreneurs who think raising money is a victory. It can certainly be helpful to bringing traffic, hype, customers to your business but it’s just really the beginning. When you raise that money, you take on a new set of complexity to your business –- suddenly there are people you have to answer to, you have more responsibility than you had before and a greater set of expectations than you had before. Before you raise the money, understand why you’re doing it and what you’re trying to accomplish as a team -- it’s incredibly important.”

“I was living my dream building things (as an engineer), but I had the opportunity to build something else, a nonprofit organization that could impact the lives of 30 million Americans. It was a no-brainer for me. Through Uplifting Athletes, we could use the platform of college diseases and make rare diseases matter. We could create a climate that does inspire others to take action and makes us relevant in the medical community. This career allows me to live at the intersection of purpose and profit.”

“When you pitch your idea, a lot of VCs (venture capitalists) will tell you no or simply won’t reply. Don't be a wussy -- don’t take no lying down! You’ve got to keep following up! Sometimes they test you and want to see if you’ll follow up. They want to see if you have the mettle to keep bothering them.”