Tag:

Startup

A New Class of StartR Entrepreneurs

The StartR Fall 2018 Cohort is Ready to Innovate

Rady School of Management has a number of programs and services available to students looking to break into the startup scene. Among the most popular programs is the StartR accelerator — a six-month program designed to support budding entrepreneurs and their startups through workshops, mentorship, access to funding and more.

The newest class of student-led startups includes innovative ideas ranging from streamlined parking mobile applications to novel gene therapies.

SurfUp is an automated surfboard rental station that is paired with a smartphone application to make the surfboard rental process convenient for beginner surfers and tourists on the beach, in-front of stores, resorts, restaurants, and much more.

AngioX Therapeutics is an early stage biopharmaceutical company that develops novel therapies for patients with rare Cerebral Cavernous Malformations (CCMs).

Visionful

Visionful created a parking and traffic intelligence system for efficient transportation.

Bou is a small device that can save, transfer, and emit smells instantly in various circumstances to enhance consumers’ daily experiences in different settings like while watching movies, playing video games, shopping, online shopping, relaxing, etc.

Freightracker

Frieghtracker brings IOT solutions to the transportation industry in order to streamline operations and reduce costs.

February 6, 2019 0 comment

Alumni MBA MSBA Startup

Rady Team Wins Triton Innovation Challenge

written by Rady School

When I first stepped onto the Rady School of Management campus last year, the innovation and entrepreneurship was obvious – I could feel and see it happening around me. I was very excited with the conversations I had with students and faculty, and after attending the class “Research for Marketing Decisions” with Professor Anand Bodapati, I decided to apply to the Master of Science in Business Analytics program.

At the beginning of this year I was invited to join the third cohort of the MSBA program that started classes in August. I found it very demanding, but at the same time very fulfilling, because I could further develop my critical thinking skills and dive deeper into complex business issues.

However, I felt that just attending classes and completing my assignments wouldn’t be enough to be successful in my career. In fact, I quickly realized that the Rady School and University of California, San Diego had so much to offer that I had to take advantage of every possible opportunity!

On October 3, I attended StartR Demo Day. StartR is a free, six month-long acceleration program held twice a year on the Rady School’s campus, and at the conclusion of the program, StartR teams are given an opportunity to pitch to investors and industry experts during Demo Day.

This was an amazing experience and I learned so much about different innovative business models! At the end I connected with each of the startups representatives and because of my networking ability, I was able to start working with Kabir Gambhir (MBA ’10), a Rady alum who launched a business called Bevea.

Bevea, is a startup in the consumer and packaged goods industry that created a new drink made from the coffee fruit, also known as cascara. Unfortunately, cascara is often dumped into rivers or just left to rot in reaps which both brings harmful environmental impacts. Bevea is currently buying cascara from Costa Rica and producing a drink that is both healthy and delicious, while also preventing pollution and generating extra income to cascara farmers and their communities.

Encouraged by our advisor Lada Rasochova, we decided to join the Triton Innovation Challenge — a business competition focused on fostering creativity and bringing commercially promising, environmentally focused technologies generated by the finest minds at UC San Diego to the spotlight. Supported through the generosity of The William and Kathryn Scripps Family Foundation Inc., the program is presented through a partnership between the Rady School of Management, Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Jacobs School of Engineering.

This was indeed a great challenge for me because I had to create a new pitch from scratch to properly address the competition’s criteria and connect to the audience to convey our company’s message. I had support from the organization because they provided us with the workshop “Art of the Pitch” led by Silvia Mah (MBA ’12), a successful Rady School alum and startup expert. Attending this workshop was a game-changer for me and Bevea.

We progressed through the Triton Innovation Challenge, competing in the initial pitch competition and making our way through the semifinals. I represented Bevea at the finals, competing against five other extraordinary startups: The BioEnergy project, Ocean Motion Tech, FreeGen Technologies, Khepra and CleanCoast – The Water Quality Sticker.

After watching six outstanding presentations from teams coming from diverse backgrounds and representing startups from different industries, the judges and the audience made their choices:

1st prize – $10,000 (Bevea)
2nd prize – $5,000 (Ocean Motion Tech)
3rd prize – $2,500 (Khepra)
Audience Choice – $2,500 (Bevea)

My pitch won first place for Bevea and was also able to capture the audience support for our sustainable cause. This was a unique moment and an extraordinary personal achievement for me! I can still barely believe that I could balance everything ranging from my personal life to work and academics in the last several weeks. I was proud to represent Bevea and the Rady School at this prestigious business competition.

I am grateful for all the inspiration my fiancé, Cintia Kussuda, gave me and the support of my family and friends. Special thanks to Emily Dayton, Rady Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions, for encouraging me throughout the MSBA program and Kabir, Bevea CEO, for believing in my unlimited potential!

My mentor, Dr. Daisaku Ikeda once said: “This lifetime will never come again; it is precious and irreplaceable. To live without regret, we must have a concrete purpose, continually setting goals and challenges for ourselves. And we need to keep moving toward those specific targets steadily and tenaciously, one step at a time.”

Bevea is now one step closer to becoming a successful product enjoyed by the masses and I look forward to the next goals and challenges that I am going to achieve during the winter quarter.

Renan Sallai Iwayama is an MSBA candidate at the Rady School of Management.

December 11, 2018 0 comment

Alumni MBA Startup

Alumni Spotlight — Robin Clough

written by Rady School

Robin Clough (MBA ’14) is the co-founder and CEO of Tequila Enemigo, a luxury tequila company that has won 5x Double Gold Awards across three continents within one year, and is now served at some of the world’s best venues, including The Ritz Hotel and Annabel’s.

“We initially launched in London in September 2017 to surprising critical acclaim — earning accolades from Forbes, Business Insider and CNN — culminating in our launch in NYC in November,” Clough said.

Enemigo’s award-winning Tequilas are now available in store in NYC at the prestigious Park Avenue Liquor and online nationwide at www.parkaveliquor.com. The company also released an exclusive first edition bottle only available in the United States.

Clough was part of the Rady Full-Time class 2014, and while at Rady he was part of the Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital clubs.

1) What impact has Rady had on your career progression?

First and foremost, I met my co-founder Sebastian Gonzalez (MBA ’14) at Rady, and together we built what Tequila Enemigo is today. For me, Rady was a slightly different experience to most. I arrived as a 23-year-old straight after graduating from college in London. I left Rady jumping straight into a product management role at Hewlett Packard leading an eight person software development team and with the foundation of a future successful luxury company already in motion.

2) Has your Rady MBA enabled you to change industries or functional areas or even achieve a promotion?

I decided to pursue an MBA at Rady because I knew that starting my own company was what I wanted to do and it felt like the best way to develop the cross-functional foundational skills needed. I quickly realized that product management at a tech company was the perfect next step toward entrepreneurship while our Tequilas would be aging. My class had other students who were directly looking for similar roles and as most were years ahead of me, I had an instant step up in knowledge seeing how they went about developing their skills.

3) What event or realization served as a ‘turning point’ for you during your Rady School and/or professional career?

The biggest moment happened a few years after graduating from Rady where I took a step back from product management and worked out what drove me. By this time Enemigo had already begun and our Tequilas were about to come out of the barrel, I quickly confirmed that Tequila Enemigo was my full next step and that I was finally ready.

4) Tell us a fun fact about you, or something people may not know about you.

I am the youngest founder of an international luxury liquor brand. I got accepted into Rady five days before term started, after completing my full GMAT prep and test in the 3 weeks prior.

5) What is the most memorable moment from your Rady School experience?

From a professional standpoint, it has to be the first term progression. Still jet-lagged, I naively walked into the class on day one surrounded by experienced, mostly mature classmates, leagues ahead of me career-wise, and left at the end of the first semester 100-times ahead of where I started. From a personal standpoint, I have worked with many of my classmates and close friends after Rady. Peter Butler (MBA ’14) and I were product managers at HP on the same team, which was run by Rady alum Aron Tremble (MBA ’07), and Sebastian is my co-founder for Enemigo. All the times we had brainstorming different projects, trips to Mexico and skiing in Tahoe enjoyed with a glass of Enemigo — those are the best moments.

6) How have you applied your studies to your career?

The biggest things I still reflect back on are the case studies — I still draw on scenarios from On Amir’s marketing class, Operations, Accounting, and Corporate Finance.

7) What advice do you have for prospective students?

Often times at business school, there is extreme pressure to be involved with every part of what’s going on, be in as many clubs etc — I would argue that your number one goal is to work out what you want to do after you graduate, and then really focus in on what the school and clubs can do to help you achieve that. There is at times a lot of class work, but also a lot of free time too — the most successful people in our class now were the ones who used their free time wisely.

November 28, 2018 0 comment

Staff Startup Students

New Position Supports Student Entrepreneurs

written by Rady School

Whether you’re looking to start a company or enhance your entrepreneurial skills, the Rady School of Management supports students eager to develop innovative companies. A new position was created to connect students and alumni to the wealth of entrepreneurial resources located at UC San Diego and in San Diego – one of the top cities in the world for startups.

Karen Jensen, the former program manager for the California Institute for Innovation and Development (CIID), recently assumed the role as the Rady School’s Entrepreneurship Advocate. Inspired by Rady students’ desire to launch and sustain businesses, the position was created to support students in every step of their entrepreneurial journeys.

“We have an ever-growing list of startups launched here at Rady,” Jensen said. “Our goal is to take these startups and get them beyond the campus environment, connect them with resources and community mentors, and continue to help them grow and flourish once they leave Rady.”

Jensen will also organize the Triton Innovation Challenge, a competition that spotlights commercially promising, environmentally focused technologies generated by UC San Diego’s students, staff and faculty. She will also coordinate mentorship breakfasts designed to connect startups with local industry leaders. She will continue to provide operational support to mystartupXX accelerator program dedicated to increasing the number of underrepresented students and alumni at UC San Diego looking to get involved with startups.

Local connections

San Diego is a hub for startups and innovation, and Jensen is leveraging her position to serve as a liaison between the Rady School and the San Diego startup community. America’s Finest City is home to a number of prestigious accelerators, clubs, conventions and events dedicated to connecting top talent with individuals eager to break into the booming startup scene.

“I’m looking forward to reaching out and connecting with leading entrepreneurs in our local community,” Jensen said. “One of the most exciting aspects of this positions for me is to identify resources for our startups so that we can connect them and watch them continue to grow. There are so many opportunities and assets here in San Diego that will be extremely useful to our students’ startups.”

In addition to connecting Rady School students with the local community, Jensen is working to get them more involved with the talented and innovative students across the UC San Diego campus. With a number of plans in place to increase collaborations with the brilliant minds of students in the Jacobs School of Engineering, Scripps Institution of Oceanography and beyond, Jensen’s priority is to ensure Rady School students have access to a diverse network of talented peers.

“There are so many intelligent and driven students here on campus with a diverse set of skills,” Jensen said. “We would be remised to not tap into the talent we have right here on campus. I’m making it a priority to work to forge more connections on campus to see what kind of partnerships and collaborative efforts we can create.”

Future goals

Since Jensen assumed the role, she has been involved in launching the new DRIvE program – Developing Rady Innovative Entrepreneurs, a mentorship initiative that connects current students with industry leaders who serve as coaches to help guide startup founders during their entrepreneurial journey. Although the program is in its infancy, DRIvE has already been able to connect six student-run companies with 25 mentors.

“The idea is that the startups participating in the DRIvE program aren’t just idea or pre-prototype — these startups are launched and have been able to secure some amount of funding,” Jensen said, “DRIvE provides mentorship opportunities to help these startups to the next level so that they can continue to grow.”

As Jensen settles into her new position, she looks forward to supporting students and helping them achieve their goals.

“My favorite aspect of this position is that I have the opportunity to work with students one-on-one,” Jensen said. “I admire their ambition and dedication and I am constantly impressed with their innovations. It’s an honor to be able to help them out during their journey, and I am so excited to be a part of their mission.”

October 1, 2018 0 comment

Alumni Startup

Alumni Spotlight — Christopher Russow

written by Rady School

Christopher Russow graduated from the Rady School of Management’s FlexMBA in 2014.

“I actually started in the FlexEvening program, and during my second year at Rady I ended up switching to the FlexWeekend program for greater flexibility,” he said. “This is a perfect example of why the Rady FlexMBA was perfect for me, as it gave me the flexibility to manage my career, my personal life and my pursuit of an MBA degree all at the same time.”

After graduating in 2014, Russow’s MBA experience helped give him the confidence to leave his previous job to go out on his own and pursue a career as an independent consultant. After consulting for a few years both domestically and in Europe, an opportunity came his way in 2017 to start a business with a former boss and mentor Sean Marsh, who is now his business partner.

“Our startup, Tangello, is disrupting the mortgage industry by creating a mortgage-less solution to affordably finance and buy a home that you love,” Russow said. “Starting your own business isn’t what it looks like on TV, and the skills I learned at Rady, as well as the support of the Rady School and my cohort, have really been invaluable.”

Outside of his current role with Tangello, Russow enjoys spending time with his wife Gabi, investing in real estate and other startups, and tinkering with classic German cars.

Why did you decide to come to the Rady School?

I had been thinking about getting my MBA for several years, and shortly after moving to San Diego to start a new job, the desire to get my MBA bubbled to the surface once again. I weighed the options available to me locally, as well as what I could commute to (either by car or plane) and decided that the Rady School of Management FlexMBA program was the right one for me.

The first thing I thought about was the fact that UC San Diego is part of the California Public School System, and as a lifelong supporter of public education, this was very important to me. Second, there are a bunch of great aspects to Rady’s program offering; the faculty are outstanding, the program is flexible and perfect for people who are working full-time, and it’s centered around entrepreneurship and the idea of cultivating startups and helping its alumni to enter the startup world. Finally, you just can’t beat the location, both of the school (you can see the ocean from campus) and of San Diego itself.

What was the most valuable thing you learned while at the Rady School?

It’s hard to really pick one thing as the “Most Valuable” thing that I learned while at Rady. I could talk about the Business Model Canvas, which is an incredible tool that anyone starting a company should utilize. I could also talk about the Lab to Market program, which isn’t really “one thing” but was a critical part of my Rady education. But even more than what I mentioned above, the thing that really stood out to me was the overall shift in the way that I evaluated business opportunities before my MBA and how I evaluate them now.

Before Rady, any time one of my friends mentioned their “new innovative startup idea” I would share in their excitement and enthusiasm, but not really understand if that idea had strong potential or how it could become a real business. After Rady, I feel like I can comfortably evaluate (on the back of a napkin sometimes) the potential of new business ideas and can quickly assess the value of those ideas in real time. This skill, of being able to evaluate opportunities, is what eventually drove me to start a company, based on what I felt was an incredible opportunity in a market I had a competitive advantage in.

What advice do you have for prospective students?

Take your MBA program seriously. I know that should go without saying, but it’s easy to get caught up in work, life, etc. and let some of the deliverables from your MBA program fall by the wayside. The reality is that what you get out of your MBA program will be directly correlated with what you put into it. Attend events, lectures and social gatherings. Take classes that are outside of your comfort zone and that challenge you. The MBA experience is about filling any gaps in your skill-set, forging lifelong bonds with your cohort, and creating a solid foundation from which you can pursue your post-MBA goals, whatever they may be.

September 21, 2018 0 comment

StartR Startup Students

StartR Spring 18 Teams Showcase Innovation

written by Rady School

Each year, the Rady School of Management taps the business potential of students by offering StartR — a non-profit accelerator program for Rady School of Management students and alumni designed to provide entrepreneurs the tools needed to start and grow their businesses.

The spring Class of 2018 will culminate their efforts with the accelerator at StartR Demo Day, which takes place on Wednesday, Oct. 3.

STARTR TEAMS – CLASS OF SPRING 2018

Analytix Hub provides big data and analytics services to corporations, startups, and research institutes using a unique platform of scientists and researchers across the nation.

Beggy gives women convenience and connectivity with a highly functional and stylish Smart Bag.

Bevea makes refreshing superfruit tonics made from organic coffee fruit, ginger, and botanicals.

Hylite is an accurate and effective indoor navigation and position-based marketing solution provider.

Tryspree offers “One Click Free Samples” – the fastest easiest way to find and try free product samples.

August 22, 2018 0 comment

Startup Students

People of Rady: Jaden Risner

written by Rady School

To say that Jaden Risner (MBA ’19) has a lot on his plate would be an understatement. When he’s not in class pursuing his MBA degree, he works as a Naval Officer and pilot, and also is working on developing Family Proud, a startup launched with his fellow Rady School of Management classmates.

“I chose Rady largely because I believe in the Rady School’s mission to develop ethical and entrepreneurial leaders who make a positive impact in the world,” he said. “Coming to Rady has afforded me the greatest opportunity to meet my co-founder of Family Proud. My story is not unique in anyway, however it has had its own set of challenges and tribulations over the years. Each and every one of us have stories and experiences that define who we are.”

1) Why did you choose to pursue an MBA?

I chose to pursue an MBA at Rady to give myself a foundation of business acumen and use the available resources to act as a catalyst for my startup.

2) Why did you choose the Rady School?

The Rady School is well known in Southern California for having a strong entrepreneurial program and with part of Rady’s mission demanding us to have a positive impact through innovation, I felt that it was the best place to be.

3) What do you feel makes Rady unique? How do you benefit from these aspects?

Rady is unique because it brings together such a wide variety of people and backgrounds, which enables us as students to learn so much more through the people you engage with in program.

4) What classes are you looking forward to taking this year?

I am looking forward to Negotiations and Topics in Innovation of Healthcare Tech.

5) How has your perspective on your career or your life changed since you came to Rady?

I have enjoyed interacting with my classmates from different backgrounds as it has helped me learn about other fields that I have no experience in.

6) What are your goals after graduation?

My goal after graduation is to successfully transition to the Navy Reserves and be working on my startup full time.

7) What advice do you have for prospective students?

Take advantage of the resources available through both Rady and UC San Diego at large. Don’t just wait for that next seminar, plug yourself into the communities and networks you are interested in and go after it.

8) Anything else you would like to share?

Your time in any program will be short, build meaningful relationships with the people you are around and balance your learning with growth. Don’t forget to enjoy the La Jolla sunsets, albeit it might be from the study room.

August 15, 2018 0 comment

Alumni Faculty MBA MSBA Staff StartR Startup Students

Rady School Celebrates Top 15 Accomplishments in 15 Years

written by Rady School

It has been 15 years since the Rady School of Management opened its doors to welcome a premier group of students and inspire the next generation of business leaders. Graduates have gone on to lead top companies, and have even launched companies that are leading in their respective industries. Despite less than two decades of operation, the school has reached many remarkable milestones, including earning spots on top ranking lists, launching more than 150 operating student and alumni led startups and graduating students who are now leading global organizations.

Since its founding in 2003, the Rady School MBA program has expanded its curriculum to include additional graduate programs designed to meet the needs of the business world. The Master of Finance, Master of Science in Business Analytics and Master of Professional Accountancy programs joined the stellar MBA programs offered at the Rady School to ensure a holistic and comprehensive approach to tackling important issues in all facets of the vast network of global industries.

Through the generous support of the business community, the school has grown exponentially in its 15 years, expanding the ranks of its world-renowned faculty, encouraging entrepreneurship and innovative thinking and significantly contributing to our economy. Here’s a look at the top 15 accomplishments the Rady School has achieved in its first 15 years.

Over 150 operational startup companies have been started by Rady School alumni and students. These startups have revolutionized industries, led to breakthrough medical devices, drastically enhanced the lives of the visually impaired, improved personal wellness monitoring and have forever transformed our world for the better. Many of the startups are a product of the Rady School’s unique Lab to Market core sequence and accelerators.
The Rady School community is driving local, national and global economic impact. Rady School start-ups have raised over $1.1 billion in the last 15 years.
Founded with the intention to provide quality business education to leaders in innovative industries, the Rady School has launched distinguished graduate programs to serve the needs of the business community, including the school’s flagship Full-Time MBA and FlexMBA programs, which are already recognized among the best.
In addition to the MBA programs, three specialty graduate programs have been launched: a Master of Finance, a Master of Science in Business Analytics and a Master of Professional Accountancy.
The school also has three robust undergraduate programs, a business minor, an accounting minor, and a entrepreneurship and innovation minor, all of which are among the most popular minors on the UC San Diego campus.
Rady School faculty are recognized as leaders for the quality of their research. Over the past 15 years, the school’s faculty have been ranked #1 in the U.S. for intellectual capital by Bloomberg Businessweek, 14^th globally for faculty research by the Financial Times and 12^th globally in student rating of teaching quality by The Economist.
Since its inception, the school has received strong support from the business community. The school’s many supporters have been generous with their time and with gifts to support the mission of the school. Notable gifts include: a $100 million gift from Ernest and Evelyn Rady to fund strategic priorities and recruit faculty; a $4 million legacy gift and endowed chair from Nobel Laureate and Rady School Professor Harry Markowitz and his wife Barbara, a $30 million naming gift from Ernest and Evelyn Rady, a $7 million gift from Pauline and Stanley Foster for fellowships and an endowed chair, and a $5 million gift from Carol and William Stensrud for program development and faculty recruitment.
The Rady School has established five Centers of Excellence: the California Institute for Innovation and Development (CIID), the Beyster Institute, the Center for Business Analytics, the Center for Social Innovation and Impact, the Institute for Supply Excellence and Innovation, and the U.S. Israel Center on Innovation and Economic Sustainability. Each of the school’s centers focuses on a different topic of importance and provides additional learning opportunities and experience for students.
Launched in 2013, the StartR Accelerator at the Rady School is a non-profit program for Rady School students and alumni designed to provide entrepreneurs the tools needed to start and grow their businesses. The StartR program includes workshops, mentoring, advice and access to other resources for early-stage companies. At the conclusion of the program, teams present their pitches at Demo Day, attended by investors, industry experts and the San Diego community. To date, 61 companies have participated in StartR, raising over $41 million in capital.
The Rady School’s mystartupXX program is a one-of-its-kind accelerator that was created to increase and encourage diversity in entrepreneurship. Program participants take workshops on launching startups, team building, leadership, market assessment, consumer feedback, creating a value proposition, validating business models, and understanding financing strategies needed to launch the business. Each team works with a mentor and advisors who monitor and encourage their progress.
The Rady Venture Fund, a student-assisted venture capital investment fund, was established to support the Rady School’s educational objectives in the areas of entrepreneurship, innovation and transfer of discoveries into the marketplace. Students screen investment leads, perform due diligence, make investment recommendations, and monitor portfolio companies. To date, the fund has invested in five early stage companies.
The Rady School’s Center for Executive Development (CED) offers courses and certificates that provide valuable learning experiences to meet the needs of executives and managers in the rapidly changing world of business. Popular CED courses include: leadership, team building, and interpersonal skills. Executive Development faculty are industry experts, renowned researchers, engaging teachers and authors.
The Rady School’s D. program began in 2009, attracting top doctoral candidates from around the world. Rady School Ph.D. students have gone on to teach at top schools across the U.S. and the globe.
Two state-of-the-art buildings have been constructed to house the Rady School and provide a modern and technology-forward learning space. Otterson Hall opened in 2007 and Wells Fargo Hall Opened in 2012. Wells Fargo Hall has been LEED Gold certified for its sustainable practices.
The Rady School earned accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International) in 2011. AACSB International is the premier business education accrediting body, with less than five percent of business schools worldwide achieving accreditation.

August 2, 2018 0 comment

Alumni

Innovative Disruptions — Jimmy Wu

written by Rady School

Alumni from the Rady School of Management share how they used their degrees to disrupt their industries to bring innovative ideas, products and programs to the market.

Jimmy Wu – Foreign Exchanges Made Easy

Sending money abroad? Prepare to spend an exorbitant amount, thanks to transaction fees and exchange rates. And don’t forget to provide confidential information, such as your bank statements, addresses and phone numbers. Rady School of Management alumnus Jimmy Wu (MBA ’17) recognized the currency exchange system was broken, and was costing him and his family a fortune, when transferring money to and from his home country of China– so he set out to disrupt the industry.

Swapsy simplifies global currency exchange by connecting users who have different currencies rather than relying on banks to initiate transfers. Utilizing the free and real-time payment tools in different countries, people get the target currency they need without making costly international money transfers.

The Swapsy system is also safer and more secure than using traditional forms of currency exchange. Rather than having access to an individual’s entire bank account, the system connects others to payment tools. Swapsy does not hold the money and does not ask users to provide confidential information that banks require. All the features allow users to pay significantly less and transact much faster.

The innovative approach to currency exchange is disrupting the multibillion dollar industry, generating interest in the company. Swapsy was recently accepted into the prestigious EvoNexus accelerator – a premier tech startup incubator in Southern California.

Wu was inspired to scale Swapsy into a fully-fledged company after completing the coveted Lab to Market sequence housed in the Rady School of Management, which teaches students how to turn ideas into market opportunities. The company has also received investments from the well-known LA incubator MuckerLab.

“The extraordinary entrepreneurial atmosphere at the Rady School motivated and encouraged me to start my own business,” Wu said. “The Lab to Market courses and accelerators gave me confidence that I can make my idea happen. Without the resources and connections I have access to at Rady, it would be much more difficult to achieve today’s milestones at Swapsy.”

March 23, 2018 0 comment

Alumni Startup

Innovative Disruptions — Kian Salehizadeh

written by Rady School

Alumni from the Rady School of Management share how they used their degrees to disrupt their industries to bring innovative ideas, products and programs to the market.

Kian Salehizadeh – Bringing Sustainability to Charitable Organizations

The shift to solar energy is sweeping the nation – but for the majority of Americans, adopting the energy efficient practice is not in their budget. Although solar panels can save money in the long run, acquisition and installation can cost up to $15,000. The high cost of energy bills is especially detrimental for small businesses and community charities while working with small budgets to make big societal changes.

Noticing the lack of access to a sustainable practice, Kian Salehizadeh (MBA ’11) co-founded Everybody Solar — a company that works to protect the environment and strengthen U.S. communities through solar energy projects.

“Everybody Solar raises funds to provide solar installations to local charities, helping them reduce electricity costs and direct their limited resources to the communities they serve,” Salehizadeh said. “We are promoting clean energy and environmental sustainability by raising funds for disruptive charities that are critical to their local communities, and in some cases, involved in national efforts and causes.”

The benefit of the company is two-fold – charities are able to install solar energy systems that save money so nonprofits are able to divert funds away from utility bills and back into their programs, while the sustainable energy efficient system benefits the environment.

“I have always had a passion for entrepreneurship, and the Rady School emphasis on innovation was apparent from the start. The faculty constantly encourages thinking outside the box and the Lab to Market series serves as a foundational element of the program.”

March 21, 2018 0 comment

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