Christopher Quinn’s journey from the world of Intellectual Property (IP) law to the fast-paced universe of start-ups unveils a crucial insight: in the battle of business success, leadership often trumps technology. Now an instructor at the Center for Entrepreneurship (CFE), Quinn blends his wealth of experience with a deep passion for mentoring, guiding students through the exhilarating challenges of entrepreneurship.
Quinn’s venture into entrepreneurship started in the legal trenches of IP law, where he still works closely with tech start-ups at his firm Quinn IP Law. As he navigated this space, he noticed something intriguing. “Many failed,” he recalls, “but those with good leadership seemed to do well, regardless of how good their technology was. I was intrigued to learn more. Why didn’t great technologies always succeed? Why is there so much failure? What is everyone doing wrong?”
Driven by these questions, Quinn plunged into the world of start-ups as an investor, board member, advisor, and co-founder. He faced his share of failures, but with every setback came invaluable lessons. “Most have failed, but you learn more from failure than from success.”
Luck favored him early on when his first start-up investment succeeded, opening doors to the exciting realms of investing and advising. This success fueled his passion for entrepreneurship, leading him deeper into the start-up ecosystem.
Quinn’s path to the CFE began with a simple suggestion from a friend. Seeing a perfect opportunity to share his expertise, he joined the faculty to teach ENTR 530: Innovation & IP Strategy. With decades of relevant experience under his belt, Quinn eagerly embraced the chance to shape the next generation of entrepreneurs.
What keeps him motivated in the classroom? The infectious energy of his students. “Working in the ‘real world,’ it seems that lots of people are stressed, tired, and burned out. But students have a ton of energy, and I feed off of that,” he enthuses.
Outside the academic world, Quinn is equally passionate about giving back. He and his family are deeply involved with the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, the poorest community in the country. Through their non-profit, Spirit Horse Connection, they work to make a positive impact on this community that Quinn describes as “wonderful.”
For those looking to follow in his entrepreneurial footsteps, Quinn offers straightforward advice: “Take as many classes as you can. The faculty offers practical experience that will help you on your path. But the best way to learn is to launch a start-up! You will probably fail, but learning and connecting with the tools and faculty of CFE will greatly increase your odds of success!”
With his unique blend of expertise, passion, and commitment, Christopher Quinn is more than just an instructor at the CFE – he’s a mentor for students diving into the thrilling world of entrepreneurship.