Though not every start-up seeks to become acquired by a bigger company or transition to different leadership, many do. According to TechCrunch, most start-ups have less than a 20 percent chance of acquisition by a larger business. One entrepreneur who achieved this milestone is Adam Berk ’95, founder of Osmio, Inc., now known as Grubhub, a leading online and mobile food ordering and delivery platform. At Skeptics on Tuesday, December 3, Blair students learned from Mr. Berk, an industry leader who has successfully managed multiple businesses.

Mr. Berk’s Skeptics presentation explored his entrepreneurial journey, highlighting the unique challenges and opportunities he encountered along the way. 

“I look forward to highlighting the ups and downs of building a business, the persistence required to see a vision through, and the importance of flexibility, resilience and continual learning,” shared Mr. Berk in a pre-event interview. His experiences while building Osmio and the innovations around food ordering and logistics will illustrate how, as an entrepreneur, one “must adapt, take risks and redefine success based on personal growth and market impact.”

Since founding Osmio Inc., Mr. Berk has gone on to found several ventures, including Stem Holdings. This success uniquely positioned him to acquire Driven Deliveries, bringing about a full-circle moment for him. 

Though Mr. Berk has always wanted to be an entrepreneur and achieved great success, he looks forward to speaking to Blair students and relaying a lesson: “Success isn’t a straight path. It is filled with detours and obstacles that shape one’s character and skills. Setbacks and challenges are not signs of failure but are essential parts of learning and growth. Being able to pivot or adjust plans is as valuable as having a solid vision,” he said. 

“At this stage, students may feel pressure to know their future direction. For those unsure about their futures, my advice is to take on challenging tasks that push them out of their comfort zones. For aspiring entrepreneurs, I would suggest that they seek skills and experiences rather than just following a traditional path, as these elements will help them discover their strengths and interests over time.” 

History of Skeptics
 
The Society of Skeptics was established as a forum for students and faculty to discuss and debate important global issues; it has grown to become one of the premier high school lecture series in the United States. Each week, speakers from the political, social, scientific, economic and literary arenas share their unique perspectives with students, who are encouraged to engage with presenters, asking questions and debating points of view.

The program, which is funded in part by the Class of 1968 Society of Skeptics Endowment Fund, is an outgrowth of the Blair International Society, begun in 1937. Forty years later, former history department chair Elliott Trommald, PhD, Hon. ’65, established the modern Skeptics program as a regular forum for student discussion and debate; history teacher Martin Miller, PhD, took over in the mid-1980s and molded the program into a weekly lecture series, one that has since continued without interruption. Under the tutelage of Dr. Miller and his successor, history department chair Jason Beck, Skeptics has featured a wide variety of speakers who are thought-provoking, engaging, accomplished in their respective fields and often controversial. For a listing of upcoming Skeptics programs, please visit Blair’s website.