Cornell's 2026 Eclectic Convergence Lines Up Blackboard Founders

Four Cornell alumni who turned a startup called Course Info into Blackboard will reunite on one panel at the 2026 Eclectic Convergence conference in New York City on Friday, Nov. 6.

Entrepreneurship at Cornell organizes the daylong event, set for the Verizon Education Center at Cornell Tech. The program mixes fireside chats, TED-style talks, a pitch contest among Cornell startups, and dedicated networking time. Registration is still open, according to the Cornell Chronicle.

What's on the schedule?

The conference runs a single day built around short talks and one-on-one access rather than a lecture hall format. Attendees can sit down with speakers directly.

"Each year, our speakers bring unique insights from their entrepreneurial journeys and the process of building their incredible startups," said Zach Shulman '87 J.D. '90, director of Entrepreneurship at Cornell. "Just as important, we create plenty of space for conversation and networking during the day. And our speakers even hold office hours and meet one-on-one with attendees."

Shulman will co-emcee the event alongside Aaron Holiday, MBA '12, co-founder and managing partner at 645 Ventures.

In short: the format sells access, not just stage time.

Who are the speakers?

The lineup spans cybersecurity, consumer goods, jewelry and digital advertising:

• Sam Jones '13, CEO and cofounder of Method Security
• Dan Cane '98, 2026 Cornell Entrepreneur of the Year, Tim Chi '98, Stephen Gilfus '97 and Stephano Kim '98 — the four cofounders of Course Info, the company that later became Blackboard
• Gwen Whiting '98, founder of The Laundress and The Fill
• Alex Collmer '97, founder and executive chairman of Vidmob
• Nicole Wegman '08, founder and CEO of Ring Concierge

What does Sam Jones bring to the stage?

Jones, who leads the cybersecurity firm Method Security, will trace his path from Cornell to the Air Force to Palantir before founding his current company. His talk argues that a polymath career — moves across very different fields — better prepares entrepreneurs than a straight-line résumé.

He also plans to address what he calls one of the hardest problems for founders: calibrating outside feedback against your own judgment.

"Listening is always fine, but you have to ignore a lot of feedback and not let it get to you," Jones said. "You are what you are betting on after all."

That line lands hardest for founders drowning in advice from investors, customers and peers.

Why the Blackboard panel matters

Course Info, cofounded by Cane, Chi, Gilfus and Kim, grew into Blackboard — one of the most widely used learning management platforms in higher education. The 2026 panel marks a rare gathering of the full founding team, headlined by Cane's recognition as Cornell Entrepreneur of the Year.

How to attend

The event runs all day Friday, Nov. 6, at the Verizon Education Center at Cornell Tech. Prospective attendees can read the full speaker list and schedule, and register, through the Eclectic Convergence website.

For founders weighing a career pivot — or wondering whose feedback to trust — Nov. 6 offers both the answers and the people to ask directly.