Founder Friday is a speaker series hosted at 121 Tech Hub, featuring fireside chats led by Haslam lecturer Haseeb “HQ” Qureshi. Each session invites entrepreneurs to share the pivotal moments, mindsets and challenges that have shaped their journeys. Designed to connect students with the startup community beyond the classroom, Founder Friday delivers firsthand stories, practical advice and real-world insights to inspire and support the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Guest Speaker: Simba Jonga (UT, ’22), founder and CEO of Laborup

Laborup addresses the labor crisis in the U.S. industrial sector by using AI to streamline hiring, connecting manufacturers with vetted, skilled workers more quickly and efficiently to fill critical roles, maintain production and strengthen America’s workforce.