Lavin Entrepreneurship Center

?Lavin Spotlight? Meet Sam Skinner, co-founder of LayUp & a Data Science major, as he credits the Lavin Program for providing invaluable mentorship opportunities that have been crucial for his personal and professional growth. Through the program, Sam has built a strong mentor relationship that’s been instrumental in shaping the business development of LayUp. With Lavin’s support, he’s now positioned to scale his machine learning startup to new heights. We're excited to see where this journey takes you! ?? #LavinEntrepreneur #Entrepreneurship #Mentorship #Startup #LayUp #SDSU

Thank you to everyone who attended Trish Clifford’s Startup Story, founder of It's My Leche! ?? Stay tuned and RSVP here: https://lnkd.in/eFsmkcyZ for our next Startup Story featuring Marc Barron on 4/9!??? #StartupStories #Entrepreneurship SDSU ZIP Launchpad The SDSU Entrepreneur Society

Attention SDSU ZIP Launchpad & Lavin participants and interns! ?? A $5,000 scholarship is now open! The Prebys Entrepreneurship Endowed Scholarship is available for students actively participating in the ZIP Launchpad, Lavin Entrepreneurship Center, or serving as an intern in these programs during the Fall 2025 semester. Apply now for your chance to secure funding for your entrepreneurial journey! ?? Applications are due by 4/4—don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity! #SDSU #Scholarship #Entrepreneurship #ZIPLaunchpad #LavinEntrepreneurship

We had a fantastic turnout for Trish Clifford’s Startup Story! ?? As the founder of It's My Leche, she shared incredible insights about perseverance, innovation, and building a purpose-driven brand. ??? Up next, we’re excited to welcome Marc Barron the co-founder of CourseKey, on April 9! Get ready for another inspiring session filled with entrepreneurial wisdom. RSVP here: https://lnkd.in/eFsmkcyZ #StartupStory #Entrepreneurship #SDSU #ItsMyLeche

Have you ever used CourseKey in a class? Come meet the co-founder, Marc Barron, a ZIP Launchpad alumni and learn how he launched his business at this Startup Series talk! ?? Discover how his brand improved attendance accuracy and student success! RSVP to this event on April 9 from 6-7PM in EIS 103 here: https://lnkd.in/eFsmkcyZ ? #CourseKey #ZIPLaunchpad #entrepreneurship #SDSU #SanDiegoStateUniversity

The Countdown begins! ONE week until the Social Venture Challenge! ??? ?? First 100 attendees get a Sprouts snack bag! ?? ?? RSVP now to secure your spot: https://lnkd.in/g54qsmu9 ?? Watch students pitch innovative solutions to tackle food insecurity. ?? Be inspired by the next wave of changemakers. Don't miss this exciting and impactful event! #SDSU #Socialventurechallenge #pitchcompetition #sandiegostateuniversity #entrepreneurship

Fueling ambitions over coffee and bagels! ??? Last Friday, Lavins had another great opportunity to sit down, connect, and gain valuable insights from our amazing mentors! #Mentorship #SDSU #Networking #sandiegostateuniversity SDSU Research Foundation Jila T'Kanchi Shirley Yager Tim Hance Jim Meyerott Max Wenneker Benjamin Eisenstein, MBA Arash Adami Valeria Vizcarra Qudsi . Aquilles Nava Kaylee Benting Isaac Youngclarke

?? 2025 Social Venture Challenge ?? First 100 attendees get a gift from Sprouts! ?? ?? Date: March 21st ?? Time: 3:00 - 6:00 PM ?? Location: Conrad Prebys Student Union Theatre ?? RSVP: https://lnkd.in/epwgH3Ei Join us for an exciting evening where students from 5 universities will pitch their innovative solutions to tackle food security. Witness the next wave of change-makers in action as they compete for prizes totaling up to $35K! Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to support impactful ideas and learn from the leaders of tomorrow. The SDSU Entrepreneur Society, SDSU ZIP Launchpad, Fowler College of Business at San Diego State University Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation #SocialVentureChallenge #FoodSecurity #Innovation #SanDiegoStateUniversity #PitchCompetition #SDSU

? LAST CHANCE! Early Bird Pricing Ends TODAY for CEEC 2025! ? Entrepreneurship educators and scholars—this is your final reminder! Today, March 7th, is the LAST day to take advantage of early bird pricing for the California Entrepreneurship Educators Conference (CEEC)! ?? Register NOW for just $495 before the price increases to $550! Don’t miss out on this opportunity to connect, collaborate, and innovate with top minds in entrepreneurship education. ?? Conference Highlights: ?? April 23 – Opening Reception at San Diego State University's Lavin Center ?? April 24 – Pre-Conference Excursion to Temecula Valley ?? April 25-26 – Main Conference at SDSU's Student Union Secure your spot NOW and be part of this incredible experience! ?? ?? https://lnkd.in/gvfMSWxH #CEEC2025 #EntrepreneurshipEducation #LastChance #Innovation #Networking #SDSU #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship

Reflecting on My First Year in the Lavin Entrepreneurship Center Program A lot of people ask me: How did you get into Lavin? What do you even do in Lavin? Well, let me take you back for a second. At 17, I resigned from my job at Chick-fil-A and started a car detailing business. No roadmap, no playbook—just word-of-mouth growth and a relentless curiosity to figure things out. Fast forward to my first-year orientation at SDSU, I met Alex DeNoble, who encouraged me to dive into the entrepreneurial ecosystem. That conversation sparked something in me—I wanted to be part of something bigger. So, I set my sights on joining the Lavin Entrepreneurship Program as a sophomore. Looking back on my first year in the program, I can confidently say it’s been a game-changer. Here’s why: The Network: I’ve had the privilege of surrounding myself with hardworking SDSU students, founders, and business professionals—all pushing each other to think bigger. Their insights have opened my eyes to new career paths and potential startups ideas within SDSU ZIP Launchpad. The Knowledge & Resources: Lavin has given me the confidence to tap into SDSU’s entrepreneurial resources, from competitions to clubs. The program is what you make of it—and if you put in the effort, you’ll realize just how much opportunity is within reach. Guest Speakers & Events: Nothing beats firsthand advice from founders navigating the rapidly changing business world. Their insights, lessons, and real-world experiences are invaluable. Special shoutout to Jennifer Patel for all your support! So, what’s next? I’ll leave you with a quote from Matthew McConaughey’s Oscar speech that stuck with me: "Every day, every week, every month, and every year of my life, my hero is always 10 years away. I'm never gonna be my hero. I know I'm not, and that’s just fine with me because that keeps me with somebody to keep on chasing". Excited for what’s ahead. Here’s to the chase.