Many ambitious graduates tend to rush into their careers, and years later, they may view their time on campus as a fond but distant memory. But for many of his UCI alumni, the campus is a place where their entrepreneurial spirit is awakened and nurtured in a way that allows them to pursue their career and business dreams even after graduation.
Perhaps what they remember most is UCI's ANTrepreneur Center, founded in 2014 and now an inclusive hub for innovation, where entrepreneurship is not only encouraged, but also a model for success. It is also a research institute that forms the Under the leadership of Director Ryan Folland, the center is a catalyst for turning ambitious ideas into concrete business ventures.
A core part of its mission is to provide tutoring to students and graduates, giving them personal guidance on career and project planning, according to Folland. With a wealth of diverse experiences and backgrounds, her ANTrepreneur Center mentors provide valuable insight and help current and former students hone concepts and develop effective strategies to survive the competitive environment. Masu.
“We go beyond just ideas and give our students and graduates the practical skills they need to tackle real-world challenges,” says Forland. “A comprehensive free resource for all UCI undergraduates, regardless of their major, including one-on-one coaching, teaching Lean Startup methodologies, a professional development speaker series, engaging hackathons and design challenges, and more. We provide a support system.”
Brett Weir is the founder and CEO of BrettOps Inc., a cloud consulting company. He graduated from UCI in 2011 and has over 12 years of experience in software engineering and architecture, specializing in open source projects and cloud. While majoring in electrical engineering at his UCI, Weir invented his own game console and jokingly named it “LameStation.” After graduating, Weir worked at Panasonic and then at Syntiant before founding BrettOps with support from the ANTrepreneur Center a year ago. “For a long time, the ANTrepreneur Center was the only thing keeping me going,” he recalls. “I was meeting with them every three weeks or a month. It was a place you could go and they understood what you were doing.”
Another veteran of the ANTrepreneur Center is Zarina Bahadur, MIE ’20, CEO of 123 Baby Box, a monthly subscription box for parents of infants and toddlers. She founded this company while completing her master's degree in Innovation and Entrepreneurship at UCI's Paul Hermes School of Business, and so far she has won five national pitch competitions and We have expanded the company into international markets. Bahadur says the ANTrepreneur Center helped her start her entrepreneurial journey through resources and guidance. “Through the workshop, I gained valuable insight into building and bringing a product to market,” she says. “They also connected me with industry mentors and guided me throughout the process. It's a great starting point for a student entrepreneur.”
Shelby Anderson ’18, MAT ’19 is a full-time social studies teacher at Laguna Beach High School and the founder of ExtremelyRetro, a website that sells nostalgic stickers, magnets, keychains, and pins themed around classic American daily life. I am the founder of com. 1940s to 1970s. “UCI, especially her ANTrepreneur Center, has been a springboard for me to discover and achieve my goals,” she says. Anderson, who had an undergraduate double major in Educational Sciences and Social Policy and Public Service, started her first company, her UV-protective clothing, cosmetics and accessories offering for sun-sensitive women, in collaboration with the ANTrepreneur Center. Founded Sol Sisters, an online retailer focused on. .
“The support, guidance, and opportunities provided by the ANTrepreneur Center gave me the confidence and resources I needed to begin this venture,” Anderson says of ExtremelyRetro.com. “Although my career path has taken me in a different direction, I use the skills I learned at the center every day. I have become a stronger speaker, an organized and effective worker, an advanced analyst, and I have applied all of that to my career.”
Jennifer Keel and her sister Cindy Keel, a UCI English major who graduated in 2013, founded 70 Degrees. The company is an archival service that works with museums and other institutions to preserve, organize, and ultimately curate documents. Jennifer Kael credits the ANTrepreneur Center with giving her and her sister the direction they needed to make their business vision a success.
“We are grateful for the passion and knowledge that Ryan Folland has provided us over the years,” says Kail. “He had solutions and contacts for all of our questions as female entrepreneurs. I highly recommend making an appointment with the center's amazing team of experts. To inquire about the ANTrepreneur Center That stop changed the direction of my career from being an employee to being an employer.”
These accolades demonstrate UCI's strong commitment to fostering the entrepreneurial talent of its students and alumni. In a competitive business world that demands bold vision and creative thinking, the ANTrepreneur Center serves as a springboard for young people who want to make a difference.
“Our graduates are a testament to our commitment to providing students with the tools to develop confidence and inspire others,” says Forand. “At ANTrepreneur Center, we believe in developing tomorrow's entrepreneurial leaders today.”
If you would like to learn more about supporting this and other activities at UCI, please visit the Brilliant Future website. https://brilliantfuture.uci.edu. The Brilliant Future campaign, which was launched to the public on October 4, 2019, aims to raise awareness and support for the UCI. By joining 75,000 alumni, With $2 billion in philanthropic investments, UCI aims to reach new heights of excellence in student success, health, research and more..
