Top Entrepreneurship Stories of 2017
Entrepreneurship plays a critical role in the SDSU experience.
Here are some of the top entrepreneurship stories from the past year.
Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Program Named National Model
The United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship named SDSU the National Model Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Program for 2017. SDSU was recognized for offering “high quality and innovative programs…to educate and train future generations of entrepreneurs.”
SDSU Hosts First-Ever CSU Entrepreneurship Workshop
In June, SDSU hosted the first-ever California State University I-Corps Entrepreneurship Workshop. The workshop was designed to give graduate students and assistant professors from underrepresented groups the opportunity to learn start-up and design-thinking approaches to help develop their own companies.
Aztec Made: Sand Cloud
What began as an idea for a beach towel company with a social cause took SDSU alumni Brandon Leibel (’12) and Steven Ford (’12) to the hit television show, “Shark Tank,” where they eventually made a deal with Robert Herjavec. The company projects $7 million in sales revenue for 2017.
Campaign Impact: Entrepreneurship Initiatives
Thanks to donor support during The Campaign for SDSU, the university opened the Lavin Entrepreneurship Center and the Zahn Innovation Platform Launchpad, which help students turn their entrepreneurial ambitions into marketable realities. Both programs have fostered dozens of startups and garnered SDSU national acclaim.
Aztec Made: Robo3D
What started as a resourceful student trying to finish a school project landed SDSU alumni Braydon Moreno (’10) and Coby Kabili (’12) on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for Robo 3D. The company manufactures high-speed 3D printers.
More SDSU student and alumni companies started with help from the ZIP Launchpad and Lavin Entrepreneurship Center:
Aztec Made: Bold Brew Coffee
Alleviating World Hunger One Protein Bar at a Time
Homebrewed Startup Prepares to Graduate
Aztec Made: Riptide
Aztec Made: Soul Insole
Aztec Made: VendiBean
She’s Got Something Unique
