Entrepreneurship Ecosystem
Dear Donor,
As we conclude the 2023-24 academic year at San Diego State University, I am immensely proud of our collective accomplishments in the realm of entrepreneurship. This year has been pivotal, with a strong emphasis on program collaboration and student success, showcasing the profound impact of our community's support.
I am grateful for the generosity of our donors and volunteers, whose contributions have been instrumental in these achievements. It is through their vision and commitment that we continue to advance our mission and prepare our students, staf, and faculty to be leaders of change.
As we look forward to another promising year, we are inspired by the endless possibilities brought by your support. Together, we are crafting a legacy of innovation and impact at SDSU.
Thank you for believing in our mission and investing in the future of our students and community. Let us continue to inspire, innovate, and impact the world together.
Cathy Pucher, SDSU Entrepreneurship Initiatives Executive Director Lavin Entrepreneurship Center, Techstars San Diego Powered
by SDSU and ZIP Launchpad
Qualcomm Endowed Directorship
Changing Lives through Program Support
Marylinn J. Metzke Endowment
The endowment will provide support in perpetuity for student and staf entrepreneurial initiatives in the Lavin Entrepreneurship Center, ZIP Launchpad, and Mission Valley Innovation District at San Diego State University. The gift aims to spark innovation, particularly in caregiving for the elderly.
Zahn Innovation Platform Launchpad
Corporate donations (including U.S. Bank) to the ZIP Launchpad general and educational opportunity program fund supported student fellowships. This support enables frst-generation college students to explore entrepreneurship, often experiencing it for the frst time.
H.G. Fenton Company Idea Lab Fund at the Zahn Innovation Center
The ongoing support of the H.G. Fenton Company Idea Lab continues to empower the ZIP Launchpad team to develop prototypes.
Living the Aztec Experience
Jordyn Savard, Class of 2024
Class Level: Undergraduate Student
College: Fowler College of Business
Major: Management Entrepreneurship
Coming to SDSU as an Entrepreneurship major, my goal was to be well-rounded. I wanted to take advantage of every opportunity that came my way, every chance I had to learn and absorb more knowledge both inside and outside of the classroom.
I interned for the ZIP Launchpad as the Social Innovation Intern, where I headed communications with the teams within the program in addition to planning social innovation events, including the Chinyeh Hostler Social Venture: H2O Impact Challenge. Through that internship I connected with a student team who I got to work alongside with on and of for the past four years. For that company, I’m working on communication and outreach eforts, organizing monthly emails, blog posts, PR outreach, and more.
Additionally, I joined the Lavin Entrepreneur program and competed on SDSU’s Venture Capital Investment Competition Team.
I am graduating from the Fowler College of Fowler College of Business as the well-rounded individual I aspired to be during my frst year at SDSU. So much of that is because of the scholarships I’ve received and the support of donors like all of you, and I will forever be grateful for the opportunities they have allowed me to take advantage of.
I am graduating from the Fowler College of Business as the wellrounded individual I aspired to be during my frst year at SDSU.
Celebrating Shared Success
Recent Rankings
Received the 2023 United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE): Model University Accelerator/Incubator Award.
The Lavin Entrepreneurship Program is the #11 ranked entrepreneurship program in the country.
Statistics of Interest
ZIP Launchpad:
925 total program participants
432 total teams in the program, with 41 launched teams and 43 current active teams
281 total interns hired, with 64 Interns hired in 23/24
Lavin Entrepreneur Center
25 students completed their frst year of Lavin, and 30 students completed their second year 37 Lavin Mentors
Recent Highlights
We celebrated a landmark event this fall with the debut of Techstars San Diego powered by SDSU, which provided startups an opportunity to leverage the extensive resources available at SDSU and within the wider San Diego area. This initiative not only facilitated over 15 internships for our students with these innovative companies, but also highlighted the transformative power of partnership and philanthropic support.
Another highlight was the launch of the Entrepreneurship Passport program, in collaboration with the Lavin Entrepreneurship Center and ZIP Launchpad. This initiative dramatically increased entrepreneurship event attendance across campus and enhanced our engagement with faculty. It exemplifes how strategic support can amplify our reach and deepen our impact.
The 2024 Chinyeh Hostler Social Venture Challenge was another testament to the power of collective efort, bringing together diverse campuses across Southern California to compete for $40,000 in cash prizes and fostering a spirit of social entrepreneurship within and beyond our campus.
The Lavin Entrepreneurship Program is the #11 ranked entrepreneurship program in the country.
Thank you for your generous support.