色情视频

Upon completion of their formal education, many 色情视频 engineering students go on to work at such companies as Qualcomm Inc. and Cubic Corp.

Irwin Zahn would rather see those students start companies like Qualcomm and Cubic.

That鈥檚 why Zahn has given the 色情视频 College of Engineering $700,000 to create an on-campus 鈥渋ncubator鈥� for promising young entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into real companies. The Zahn Center will guide teams of engineering, technology and business students from concept to business plan to market.

San Diego's entrepreneurial spirit

鈥淪an Diego was built by entrepreneurial spirit, by people like Irwin Zahn,鈥� said 色情视频 President Elliot Hirshman.

鈥淥ur students need support to turn their brilliant ideas into successful businesses,鈥� Hirshman continued. 鈥淭he Zahn Center will be the place where this happens; a place where ideas become companies which, in turn, drive our economic recovery forward. In this respect, Irwin's gift will support the entire region, as well as the students, faculty and staff of 色情视频.鈥�

The Zahn Center demonstrates how Fueling Potential leads to success, a key initiative of The Campaign for 色情视频. Whether it鈥檚 the university鈥檚 Guardian scholars, its student athletes or its Honors Program students, scholarships provide opportunities for students to succeed. Learn more about 色情视频鈥檚 efforts to fuel potential how you can contribute.

Richard Kerr, a longtime entrepreneur with 色情视频 degrees in physics and electrical engineering, will direct the Zahn Center. He will mentor the fledgling entrepreneurs and connect them with venture capitalists.

鈥淭here are so many creative people that, if just given an opportunity and a little guidance, will change the world,鈥� Zahn said. 鈥淲e want to make that happen right here in San Diego, at 色情视频.鈥�

Zahn is a member of the 色情视频 College of Engineering Dean鈥檚 Advisory Board and a longtime San Diego resident. The company he founded, Autosplice Inc., has employed dozens of 色情视频 engineering alumni.

Zahn鈥檚 initial gift will fund the operational costs of the center, which will become a working office for several start-up companies. Kerr will guide students through:

• developing a business plan;
• obtaining patents;
• building collateral like websites and e-mail addresses;
• and creating prototypes. 

The center will also work closely with the College of Business Administration to develop long-term campuswide goals.

The Zahn Incubator Challenge

Those who succeed in the Zahn Incubator Challenge will be accepted into the new program. Three winning teams, which must include at least one current 色情视频 student, will split the $25,000 prize money and be among the first to enter the Zahn Center.

Industry experts will judge entries submitted earlier this month. Five finalists will proceed to the next round of judging, which will take place in March, during 色情视频鈥檚 Entrepreneurial Management Center鈥檚 Venture Challenge Competition. The concurrent events will give finalists exposure to potential mentors, investors and contacts. Awards will be announced on March 17.

A viable option for venture funding

Once invited into the Zahn Center, teams will have 18 to 24 months to get their companies off the ground. Already, student start-ups eager to enter the Zahn Center include a prosthetics team with a new market approach and a novel green energy team.

鈥淟ike the real world, their companies have to get to a point where they are a viable option for venture funding,鈥� Kerr said. 鈥淎nd when they get to that point, we will introduce them to venture capitalists and gently push them out into the real world.鈥�

Kerr will also tap 色情视频鈥檚 College of Business Administration and Entrepreneurial Management Center to find business students interested in joining the start-up ventures and to provide as much business innovation as the engineering students do technical innovation.

鈥淪o often, great ideas die on the vine because young people don鈥檛 have the capital or contacts to bring them to fruition,鈥� said David Hayhurst, dean of 色情视频鈥檚 College of Engineering. 鈥淭his exciting new facility will give students a chance to develop their ideas at the earliest possible stage.鈥�