From Brainstorm to Business Competition

Thatcher Davis (MBA 1998) was always intrigued by entrepreneurship. A Foster MBA gave him the knowledge needed to start his own company, but it wasn’t until he joined forces with his wife, Shannon Davis (MPA 1998), that he seized the opportunity. Together, they founded Woven, a sustainable handcrafted furniture company. 

Soon after graduating from the University of Washington, the couple shared a moment of inflection. They wanted to make something tangible, and they wanted to do it together. The idea of Woven was born. 

“We both share a passion for sustainability, and we value the freedom and responsibility of running our own company,” said Shannon. “We wanted to build something real and something that would last. By building Woven together, we have done both.” 

Looking back on their university days, Thatcher and Shannon cite opportunities for experiential learning—combined with the chance to do something entirely new—as a strong foundation for entrepreneurship. That experience inspired them to make a generous gift to create the Davis Consumer Product Workshop through Foster’s Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship. Through this philanthropic gift, students can follow their passions and make something tangible. Thatcher and Shannon’s support has helped more than 400 students over the last five years through a three-part series workshop focusing on customer acquisition, scaling social impact, and pitching products.  

“By supporting the Buerk Center and business competitions, we hope students will discover what inspires them, and that they are empowered to achieve their entrepreneurial dreams,” explains Shannon. 

A Business Competition Takes Root 

For Thatcher, the entrepreneurial journey started with a brainstorming session. 

During the first year of his MBA, Professor Gary S. Hansen asked Thatcher and two classmates to generate ideas for the business school’s entrepreneurship program. They developed a concept for students to write a business plan and pitch it to a panel of judges. By May of the second year, the idea transformed into a business competition open to students of all disciplines from the region’s colleges and universities.  

“Amazingly, we got the word out without email or a website,” recalls Thatcher. “Our main concern after creating the competition was, what if nobody comes? In the end, that wasn’t something we needed to worry about. Dozens of students turned up with bounded business plans still warm from Kinko’s to compete.” 

Providing a Window into Entrepreneurship

From that first competition, word spread about the opportunity to turn classroom learning into a business plan. Today, the competition is known as the Dempsey Startup Competition and is one of the region’s most highly regarded entrepreneurial events. 

“Participating in a business plan competition is a window into entrepreneurship,” continues Thatcher. “Business books and even curriculums are usually based on Fortune 500 companies. There’s very little that teaches you about getting a small business off the ground. Business competitions cover the practical areas of running a business, not just one area of expertise. It’s where you learn that entrepreneurship is right for you.” 

As Woven expanded, the Davises stayed connected to Foster, returning as competition judges and taking a hands-on role in planning the Davis Consumer Product Workshop.  

Returning to campus brings back many memories for Thatcher. “I’m still applying what I learned in the MBA program to business. Lessons from professors such as Ed Rice, Rocky Higgins, and Elizabeth Stearns continue to have profound value.” 

Learn more about the Dempsey Startup Competition.