Entrepreneurs are risk-takers, but the risks associated with pursuing the American dream through building a business should be the same for everyone. It is well documented that access to capital, C-suite mentorship, resources and networking opportunities continue to be limited or non-existent for communities underrepresented in entrepreneurship. Failing to level the playing field for all aspiring entrepreneurs means we will fail to realize the full potential of American innovation, and deprive some in our communities of the means to design their own future, including building their own business.
Entrepreneurship and innovation serve as vital paths to creating stronger communities and closing the opportunity gap. UCI Beall Applied Innovation is unleashing the collective power of the university and community to build the modern and inclusive American dream where UCI innovation meets industry, and where humanity is changed for the better by the brilliant ideas and work produced by students, faculty, alumni and staff.
Recognizing that we needed to do more for underrepresented communities, UCI Beall Applied Innovation began building the Opportunity, Wayfinding and Networking (OWN) Initiative in 2018 to enhance outreach, engagement, access, programming, mentoring, networks and outcomes for our large and growing number of low-income, first-generation and underrepresented students (LI/FG/UR). The vision for OWN is that UCI and its partners lead Orange County and Southern California to being the model for LI/FG/UR student success in scalable entrepreneurship.
The OWN Initiative includes and partners with programming such as the Student Startup Fund (providing micro-grants to low-income student entrepreneurs), the Growth Accelerator Fund Competition grant which supports federal grants applications for women entrepreneurs, the ANTrepreneur Center (UCI’s campus-based hub for beginning entrepreneurs), UCI’s Student Success Initiative for LI/FG/UR students, UCI’s Creativity & Entrepreneurship Scholarship, the Wayfinder incubator and our Small Business Development Center providing low-cost resources for budding entrepreneurs. If you are an entrepreneur, from any background, we are committed to your success, not on your own, but with a full community of mentors and investors supporting you at every stage of your entrepreneurial journey.
Entrepreneurship and the entrepreneurial mindset is critical for individuals, inventions and companies that will create growth and opportunity for themselves and others. We are committed to the constant work of self-evaluation and learning to help eliminate inequities for underrepresented entrepreneurs.
Our communities continue to call out for change. They are fearless in demanding what should have always been accessible and abundant for anyone desiring to turn their brilliant idea into a successful venture. We join with those calling for rooting out the impacts of racism and inequity, relegating them to the dustbin of history, and recommit ourselves to making the American dream a reality for all. How is UCI Beall Applied Innovation helping to change the world? By giving all entrepreneurs access to everything so they can go anywhere and do anything to create the next big thing.
Kind regards,
Richard Sudek
Chief innovation officer, UCI and executive director, Beall Applied Innovation
Learn more about how we are committed to Inclusive Entrepreneurism.