Boundaryless Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center Annual Report - 2022-23

BOUNDARYLESS

NEW BEGINNINGS

This year felt like something completely new. We were back on campus for the first time in nearly two years. Life slowly moved from abnormal to new normal as we navigated fall and spring semesters. We returned to classrooms, dorm rooms, parties, and programs. We saw many of the things we took for granted two years ago as special and new. Couple this with a new university president and new initiatives and the stage was set across our campus community for a fresh start.

At Boundaryless this ethos of new beginnings ran through every aspect of our programs and curriculum. Pent-up energies and ideas flowed into reality in what turned out to be our most productive and focused year to date. This report highlights what we did this year, how it measured up to what we hoped to accomplish, and it also touches on our boundless aspirations as we look to the next year with even more anticipation and excitement for impact and growth.

Thanks for being part of the ride!

Dr. Curtis Smith

Boundaryless

Professors meet with president Cruz Rivera in Boundaryless

NAU students at Bahia de Kino, Mexico

of

IDEA/La Gran IDEA

THE TEAM WITH BIG PLANS

FIRST: Add value to student

co curricular

focus on improving UCRT,

and ensuring a first cohort

by spring 2022.

co curricular

focus on growth and

as measured by total projects/ventures

total number of student

SECOND: Catalyze innovation and entrepreneurship across campus through programmatic partnerships as measured by number of partnerships and students

THIRD: Engage more with our broader NAU and Flagstaff communities and measured success in terms of new partnerships

and their

sections of this annual report

details about how

By the Numbers,

(insert)

Curtis Smith Director Chad Williamson Instructor Dani Dreher

STUDENT TEAM

Young

Stephen Pagano

Film

Campus

NUMBERS

11 VENTURES, PROJECTS, HUSTLES...

From launching fashion brands to junk removal, Boundaryless supported 11 student projects in their early stages. Of these 11 projects, 4 participated in the first ever student popup sale on campus.

153 ENROLLMENT ON A ROLL

Students from all majors and backgrounds took courses in innovation and entrepreneurship. 12 students officially declared the UCERT in Innovative Thinking & Problem Solving The first cohort (3 students) completed spring, 2022.

25K FUNDING FLY WHEEL MOVING

Boundaryless partnered with the NAU CIE to secure $25,000 in funding from the US State Dept and 100K Strong in the Americas Funds supported The Big IDEA/La Gran IDEA which brought students from NAU and UNISON (Univ. of Sonora) together spring 2022

TRAFFIC, THE GOOD KIND

Over 1,500 students visited Boundaryless in the University Union. They participated in over 45 curricular and co curricular programs and just came in to the hub to meet, mingle, study, and be inspired.

BEHIND THE

NUMBERS

XAVIER'S PASSION & BRAND

Xavier Juniel (Philosophy Politics and Law, BS 2024) drew on his love of fashion and active lifestyle and his work experience in printing and textiles to launch his brand, Love Baby. Throughout the process he worked with the Boundaryless team.

KELLY'S JAM Kelly Crowley, (Film and Media, BS 2022) used her certificate experience, as well as her talents in photography, and entrepreneurship to launch Jammer Threads, a bespoke fashion line made 100% from upcycled materials.

NASYA CONNECTS

Nasya Valenzuela (Computer Science, BS 2024) was able to work in a team of NAU and Univ of Sonora students She traveled to Hermosillo, worked on solving problems related to food security and financial access, and made new friends at NAU and abroad

TIM AND THE "CRYPTO JAX"

Tim Giroux (Computer Science, BS 2022) was one of a handful of students who started an ad hoc group for all things crypto they called themselves the "cryptojax." A few weeks after graduation he was in Austin, TX, working for a crypto startup

Boundaryless 2021-22 Annual Report

bg photo: Kelly Crowley selling her art/upcycled clothing at the popup market

STUDENT

We help all students become innovators who convert their ingenuity into meaningful action and value in Arizona and beyond.

THE NEW BOUNDARYLESS IN THE UNION

In summer 2021 we completely overhauled Boundaryless in the University Union. We asked students what they wanted and worked with designers Giovanni Castillo (Advanced Media Lab) and Don Carter (Educational Technology) to craft a student hub that was equal parts lounge, venue, and workshop. The result a modular, fun, inviting space visited by over 1500 students during the year.

CERTIFICATE & NEW CURRICULUM

During 2021 22 the first cohort of students completed the Certificate in Innovative Thinking & Problem Solving Each completed certificate involved the creation of real products, services, and ventures with students selling their products at a year end pop up sale. Enrollment for certificate coursework topped 150 students and grew from 0 to 12 students officially declaring the certificate

Starting fall 2023 the Certificate will become the "Certificate in Applied Innovation & Entrepreneurship," and new opportunities will be added to the core coursework, including the "entrepreneurialized elective" course that allows students to convert any of their major upper division courses to an entrepreneurial experience and gain credit toward the Certificate in the process.

PROJECT MENTORSHIP AND DIRECT SUPPORT

Throughout the year we met with hundreds of students and supported dozens of their projects and ventures everything from artists in CAL to CEIAS students converting their capstone into a product and exploring market fit. Students from any major or background can walk in receive tailored feedback and support. Beyond the direct mentorship and connections we provide, the following pages outline some of the broader initiatives at Boundaryless.

04 | Boundaryless Annual Report

bg photo: Students present their final project in a certificate course

Students and President Cruz Rivera gather in to kick off Jacks Big IDEA, the weekend long

Students engaging in discussion with instructor Chad Williamson in Boundaryless, fall 2021

INNOVATION & ENTREPRENEURSHIP

We strive to catalyze, coordinate, amplify, and to make innovation and entrepreneurship accessible across the entire NAU community.

JACKS BIG IDEA - WEEKEND DESIGN CHALLENGE

Boundaryless in the Union design challenge event

For one weekend in February students from all across campus, including both undergad and grads, unite to tackle the pressing challenges of our day They meet for the first time Friday and by Sunday afternoon they have formed teams, ideated, created a prototype, and pitched their solution to a panel of judges For those who participate students, mentors, and alumni alike it's an intense, valuable, and unforgettable part of the NAU experience.

LA GRAN IDEA/THE BIG IDEA

Boundaryless joined forces with the NAU Center for International Education and secured a grant funded by a the US State Department and Partners of the Americas Out of this grant grew "La Gran IDEA," a cross border program where NAU and Univ. de Sonora (UNISON) came together to devise innovative solutions to challenges of food insecurity and financial inclusion in the Arizona/Sonora Megaregion. The program involved a virtual workshop/research phase, NAU students traveling south to Hermosillo, MX, and UNISON students traveling north to Flagstaff. In the end, ties between NAU and UNISON were renewed and strengthened and 4 teams presented their project findings to a panel, including representatives from NAU, UNISON, US Dept of State, and Partners of the Americas.

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bg photo: Students learning about traditional facial art in Bahia de Kino, Mexico

NAU President Cruz Rivera and CIE director Cezar Flores join students, faculty, and staff for La Gran IDEA at NAU, Spring 2022

...MORE STUDENT

THE BOUNDARYLESS SPEAKER & LUNCH SERIES

Once a month we held an informal lunch with guest entrepreneurs from the Flagstaff community. The goal was to showcase everyday entrepreneurs with a diverse background who are making an impact through their ventures One of our first lunches of the 2021 Fall semester was with Chelsea Thomas, founder and owner of Plantae Flagstaff (below). Chelsea started her business at the heigh of the COVID 19 pandemic and the students got an insider's look at the challenges.

Additionally, once a month Boundaryless features a guest with an entrepreneurial background as part of the Boundaryless Speaker Series. Guests come from varied walks of life and their presentations and and Q&A sessions are excellent learning and networking opportunities

FIRST FRIDAY FREE PIZZA & TOPICS

Every first Friday of the month we ordered pizza, hung out, and discussed a topic entrepreneurship, leadership, careers, crypto currencies and decentralization, you name it. These informal Fridays were part of the new Boundaryless space initiative, designed to create an inviting and interdisciplinary atmosphere. Students often ended up forming groups and continuing after the event. First Fridays also folded into larger events, like the student popup sale (right).

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bg photo: Students enjoying a Boundaryless Lunch

Students browse products and munch on pizza as part of the Student Entrepreneur Popup Sale in Boundaryless, Spring 2022

Students attend a lunch with local entrepreneur, Chelsea Thomas founder and owner of Plantae Flagstaff), spring 2022

& ENTREPRENEURSHIP

INNOVATE WASTE COMPETITION

Partnering with the City of Flagstaff Northern Arizona Center for Entrepre and Technology (NACET), we launch annual Innovate Waste (Student) Co This competition coordinated with th wide competition and provided stud opportunity to develop innovative so addressing the problem of waste an opportunities for CO2 sequestration

The competition was further integrat Boundaryless and NAU ecosystem by the ITG 201 spring 2022 coursework competition timeline giving students opportunity to compete while earnin toward the Certificate in Innovative and Problem Solving.

In the end, there were 9 student team comprised of majors from across cam winners proposing an asphalt alterna from pyrolyzed ordure (pig manure)!

STUDENT POPUP SALE

Students taking their first steps in turning an idea into value is at the heart of what we do. What better way to give students the exhilerating rush of the early stage venture than a pop up sale? Four students participated with products ranging from upcycled bespoke clothing to home cleaning services to a personal brand line product drop All students sold product and everyone who came had a lot of fun and left energized with the entrepreneurial spirit.

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bg photo: Students pose with A $1000 check for the Innovate Waste competition

A student team presents their final Innovate Waste project idea to peers and representatives from the City of Flagstaff and NACET, Spring 2022

Xavier Juniel poses by his popup shop at Boundaryless, Spring 2022

CAMPUS-WIDE

We believe that innovation and entrepreneurship will supercharge NAU’s ability deliver equitable postsecondary value in Arizona and beyond.

COLLEGE PARTNERSHIPS & INITIATIVES

W.A Franke College of Business (FCB)

The FCB becomes the formal academic home of Boundaryless. Entrepreneurship and Innovation across disciplines remain the focus while the FCB provides a springboard for broader campus wide impact FCB/HRM Alumni guests are part of the Boundaryless Lunch Series open to all NAU students Boundaryless continues Pathways programming for FCB

Office of Undergraduate Research & Creative Activities

Special relationship and shared space in Boundaryless in the Union and research to entrepreneurship integrations

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Partnership on programming between the Advanced Media Lab (Halloweek, VR Demo Day, ESports)

Student, faculty, and staff participants in The Big IDEA the NAU International Pavilion Everyone worked hard

College of Engineering, Informatics, and Applied Sciences (CEIAS)

Jacks Big IDEA, Design Challenge and Competition Boundaryless supports Engineering Entrepreneurship efforts within CEIAS Engineering classes connect with Boundaryless to support projects that wish to explore go to market strategies

Honors College

Students

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Boundaryless partners in producing Honors Explorations programming (speakers, workshops, and more) Capstone mentorship for Honors projects that align with entrepreneurship "H" Designated coursework: Boundaryless will offer honors section credit in the ITG UCRT starting 2022/23

bg photo: First gen STAR program students

a Boundaryless booth at orientation

&

Close

OFFICE AND INSTITUTION PARTNERSHIPS

Center for International Education

La Gran IDEA,

joint grant program funded by US State Dept and Partners of the

Boundaryless participates in International Career Week, leading

in entrepreneurship Boundaryless provides guests workshop experiences in

and innovation for international guests

Library

Jacks Big IDEA hosted in Cline Library with MakerLab and Creative Spaces Support Cline Creative Spaces featured in Boundaryless as part of

Printing,

Demos, and more

College of Health & Human Services

In class

support for Physical Training doctoral students Student project

in health

for student

Incoming

COMMUNITY

Through entrepreneurship we will do our part to deliver on NAU’s mission to transform lives and enrich communities.

LOCAL BUSINESS CONNECTIONS CIVIC CONNECTIONS

The best learning experiences are outside of class. Our community members are eager to give back and Boundaryless helps foster these relationships and creates ways for these entrepreneurs to serve students and have fun in the process. One way we did this during the 2021/22 school year was by launching the Boundaryless Lunch Series which brought local entrepreneurs and students together in a casual lunch setting Additionally, we engaged local business leaders as mentors, program judges, and general advisors.

This year Boundaryless has worked with the City of Flagstaff and NACET (Northern Arizona Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship). Students participated in a competition as part of the Flagstaff Innovate Waste initiative NACET partnered in the event, providing $1000 to the winning team. Along with these partnerships Boundaryless is working to develop partnerships with StartupAZ, ECoNA, the Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce, Flagstaff Family Food Center, and other civic organizations.

Boundaryless

Boundaryless Annual Report

check out

Students, including the winning team, pose with representatives first annual Flagstaff Innovate Waste Student Chellenge, hosted

Boundaryless

& ENTREPRENEURSHIP

We serve, collaborate with, and build value for, NAU, Flagstaff, and beyond.

ENGAGING ALUMNI AND BIG PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

It's an exciting time for Boundaryless at NAU, full of building, launching, and laying the foundations for future success As we do we look to our alumni network, which includes a growing list of recently graduated students as well as seasoned NAU alumni, and we encourage your involvement. All of our programs in 2021 22 included some element of alumni input, including our curricular programs Whether it's a speaker event or lunch with student, or providing council and feedback, alumni have been and will continue to be part of innovation and entrepreneurship at NAU.

As we look to the 2022 23 academic year, we have plans for a more coordinated alumni mentorship effort, an expanded speaker and lunch series, growing Jacks Big IDEA, and exploring several other high profile projects like a student marketplace and coaching program, startup grants, and more. We invite you to be part of the excitement. We invite you to be Boundaryless.

from the City of Flagstaff and NACET at the awards ceremony for the by Boundaryless and housed in the University Union, Spring 2022

Students attend a Boundaryless Lunch with local entrepreneur Michael Marquess (founder/owner, Mother Road Brewery)

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photo: Guest students from CETYS Univ., Mexico hosted at Boundaryless

Boundaryless Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center