De Anza Innovation Center

Fostering Creativity to Develop Social and Environmental Solutions

Unless otherwise noted, all events will be held on campus in the Business and Finance Village Center (AT 202).


Fall 2024: Startup Boot Camp

Do You …

  • Have an idea for a new product, service, business, or a customer to serve?
  • Feel you are missing the knowledge and skills to turn your idea into a new business?
  • Have a team that needs to move rapidly to seize a market opportunity?
  • Wonder if your new idea is worth pursuing?

Then the De Anza Innovation Boot Camp is right for you!

The Bootcamp is led by Rowland Chen, instructor at De Anza College and Chief Executive Officer of The Silicon Valley Laboratory Inc.

  • Oct. 8 - 24, 2024, meets Tuesdays and Thursdays
  • Six mandatory in-person workshops, 3-4:30 p.m.
  • Value proposition, business modeling, funding, team building, pitching
  • Held in the Business & Finance Village (room AT202)
  • Plus a mandatory pitch event on Tuesday, Oct. 29 from 3-5 p.m. Pacific Time
  • Certificate of completion for those who complete the Boot Camp. The Boot Camp is not for credit.
  • Cost of the Boot Camp to you: zero (free)
  • Small Boot Camp size (limited to eight teams with a maximum of two people per team)
  • Admission into the Boot Camp by application only
  • Open to all registered De Anza College students in Fall quarter, 2024, including all majors, affinities, clubs, and learning communities

How to Apply

  • Applications are accepted until 11:59 p.m., Sept. 20.
  • A select few applicants are to be interviewed beginning Sept. 21.
  • Preference is given to new ideas and new ventures that emphasize social responsibility and sustainability.
  • Notifications of acceptance or non-acceptance by Oct. 1.
  • Click this link to go to the online application.
  • No application fee.

For more information, contact chenrowland@deanza.edu

So, talk this over with your entrepreneurial friends. Then apply to the Fall 2024 Innovation Boot Camp by Sept. 20. We hope to see your applications soon!


Speaker Series for Academic Year 24-25 - Stay Tuned

Hear from industry experts on the latest trends in venture funding, technology innovations, and challenges and opportunities in venture development – focusing on artificial intelligence, robotics, big data, health, the environment, and social issues.

For questions, please contact Emily Garbe, Business faculty member, at garbeemily@deanza.edu 


Past Events:

Business Model Canvas Competition (BMC)

This annual business model competition is open to all De Anza students. Led by Dean Manisha Karia, the competition is a team-based event where students develop a business model within a given time based on a market opportunity identified by the judge. Next BMC event Spring 2025.

BMC2024group


Past speaker series:

Catherine LinSpeaker: Catherine Lin

Catherine Lin has more than a decade of experience in advertising, specializing in online marketing of products and working with clients such as Apple and Cadillac. She is currently the associate design director at Leo Burnett, a leading global ad agency. She was formerly art director at Kettle, a premier ad agency that integrates technology and creativity.


Kevin McClellandSpeaker: Kevin McClelland

Kevin McClelland is a financial adviser with over 30 years of experience. He is on the Board of the San Jose Chamber of Commerce and chairs the Small Business Committee. He has been honored as Business Advocate of the Year by the San Jose Chamber of Commerce and received a Star Award from the Cupertino Chamber of Commerce


Artificial Intelligence: Powers and Pitfalls (Postponed Until Fall 2024)

futuristic image of bald humanoid smilingSpeaker: Rowland Chen

Rowland Chen is the CEO of the Silicon Valley Laboratory and a Business instructor at De Anza. He has more than 40 years of experience as a scientist, engineer, management consultant, and educator who has worked with some of the largest and smallest companies in the world. Formerly a visiting scientist at Carnegie Mellon University's School of Computer Science, he brings a unique perspective to the AI ecosystem.

(Image credit: prompt engineered by R. Chen, rendered by OpenAI's Dall-E)


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