How UCLA Anderson Is Building Its Startup Community

Startups are booming in Los Angeles. Droves of venture capitalist from Northern California are now heading down south in search of better deals and new technology. According to CB Insights, around $3.5 billion in funding was poured into the LA area in 2016, a 25 percent increase from 2015. In fact, The Economist reveals that Los Angeles is now the third-most-prominent outpost for startups in America. So, it’s no wonder that Los Angeles universities are crafting their education with an eye toward entrepreneurship and the startup culture.

The UCLA Anderson School of Management is a great example of what it means to create a startup culture on campus. Entrepreneurship is intricately woven into the curriculum and opportunities on campus in such a way that it’s a vital part of the school. So, it’s no wonder that UCLA alumni are responsible for companies like Crazy Cart XL, Neural Analytics, BodySpec, Sugarfina, and more. And at the epicenter is the Price Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation.

Price Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation

The Price Center is the recognized leader in entrepreneurial education and research at the Anderson School. It’s a place where students, professors, and budding entrepreneurs can collaborate, practice entrepreneurship, and delve into business innovation. The Center provides a challenging interdisciplinary curriculum for students alongside real-world business experience to encourage new ideas and embrace the entrepreneurial vision. It’s also home to not only one of the largest clubs on campus (Entrepreneur Association), but the 10,000 square foot Anderson Venture Accelerator.

Anderson Venture Accelerator

The Anderson Venture Accelerator is a state-of-the-art facility that encourages students, faculty, and alumni to develop new business concepts together. It’s a multidisciplinary collaboration between students, entrepreneurs, campus researchers, alumni and the business community. It’s part living room, part laboratory and part conference center.

“The UCLA Anderson Venture Accelerator offers students and researchers an environment that triggers innovation and breakthrough ventures,” explained UCLA Anderson Dean Judy Olian. “It brings together students and faculty from across UCLA, including the health and computer sciences, engineering and the humanities to develop new ventures.”

Entrepreneur Association

As for the Entrepreneur Association, it has more than 600 members, making it among the largest student organizations on campus. Members can attend more than 100 events each year, averaging three per week, including networking events, hands-on workshops, world-class business plan competitions, conferences and more. As an example:

• Dinners for Eight: This program brings eight students into an intimate setting so they can get to know accomplished entrepreneurs and fellow students over dinner.
• Entrepreneurial Leaders Roundtable: This event welcomes a group of successful leaders below the age of 40, and allows students to network and get the inside track on running a company.

And for students who want to take the entrepreneurial track in a more competitive direction, there’s the Knapp Venture Competition.

Knapp Venture Competition

Now in its 36th year, the Knapp Venture Competition is one of the premier business plan competitions in Southern California. Students from across UCLA Anderson attend to showcase their talents and to participate in a unique venture creation experience that has been instrumental in launching numerous businesses. It’s a competition that is not just about gaining funding, but also about gaining advice and insight from successful entrepreneurs and business executives.

But it’s not just the co-curricular activities that make UCLA Anderson an entrepreneurial gold mine; it’s also the curriculum. For example, the MBA program offers students a chance to specialize in entrepreneurship by completing four courses.

Entrepreneurship Curriculum

At UCLA Anderson, classes dedicated to entrepreneurship can be specialized or general, depending on the student’s needs and wants. The various entrepreneurial course offerings at UCLA Anderson provide students with knowledge and perspective about the entrepreneurial process. Students will develop strategies to generate market interest, and simultaneously learn how to manage organization operations, transitions, and growth. Some courses include:

• Business Plan Development
• Business Law for Managers & Entrepreneurs
• Entrepreneurship & Venture Initiation
• Financing and Emerging Enterprise
• Managing Entrepreneurial Organizations
• Venture Capital & Private Equity

And these classes are all taught by area specialists and faculty who have distinguished themselves as business professionals. As an example, Daniel A. Nathanson is a Visiting Assistant Professor who teaches Business Plan Development. His background includes being the founder and CEO of Computerized Retail Systems (CRS), a turnkey, point-of-sale computer company that became a leader in its field. He’s also the founder and CEO of Washington Square Capital Fund (WSCF), a formalized angel group that invests in early-stage companies. Both of these experiences make him an invaluable resource for students, and he is just one example of the quality faculty at UCLA Anderson.

No matter you’re entrepreneurial interest at UCLA Anderson, there’s sure to be an opportunity, a class, a professor, or a business that fits your needs and wants.

regions: Los Angeles

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