De Anza Innovation Center
Fostering Creativity to Develop Social and Environmental Solutions
- Led by the Business, Computer Science and Applied Technologies Division
- Open to all currently registered De Anza students, in all majors
- Supported by generous donors via the Foothill-De Anza Foundation.
Unless otherwise noted, all events will be held on campus in the Business and Finance Village Center (AT 202).
Winter 2025: Practical Small Business Hub
Speakers from various business disciplines provide an overview of several areas that are critical to successfully launching and operating a small business. The speakers will identify issues, discuss "best practices" and suggest practical solutions. Students who currently have a small business or are planning to start a small business, either online or brick-and-mortar, are strongly encouraged to attend.
- Tuesday, Jan. 21 – Legal: business formation and contracts
- Tuesday, Feb. 4 – Negotiation techniques
- Tuesday, Feb. 11 – Effective online marketing
- Tuesday, Feb. 25 – Accounting essentials for small business
For questions, please contact Dean Karia at kariamanisha@deanza.edu
Fall 2024: Startup Boot Camp
The free, noncredit Boot Camp was led by Rowland Chen, Business instructor and CEO of Silicon Valley Laboratory Inc.
- Eight teams were selected from across the campus, including CSIS, BUS, ECON, and COMM majors.
- All ventures selected had an element of technology and innovation, with an emphasis on social and environmental benefits.
- Six mandatory in-person workshops were held in October, focusing on value proposition, business modeling, funding, team building and pitching.
- $750 in prize money was awarded. Congratulations to the winning teams!
Video: Nathan Gold's Tips
During the Boot Camp, renowned "pitch coach" Nathan Gold gave a talk on mastering the art of storytelling and pitching.
We thank our esteemed judges who joined us for the pitch event, and our generous sponsors for the prize money. For more information, contact Rowland Chen, chenrowland@deanza.edu
Faculty Spotlight: Rowland Chen
Business instructor Rowland Chen gave a special presentation on "Ethical Innovation
in AI" to students and faculty members in November 2024.
Business Model Canvas Competition
This annual business model competition (BMC) 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.
Our next BMC event will be held in winter 2025.
(BMC participants, spring 2024)
Past Speakers
Speaker: 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.
For information, contact Emily Garbe, PhD, garbeemily@fhda.edu
Speaker: 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. For information, contact Emily Garbe, PhD, garbeemily@fhda.edu.
Artificial Intelligence: Powers and Pitfalls
(Postponed to Spring 2025)
Speaker: 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)