Overview

The first annual Fresno State Innovation & Entrepreneurship Summit is encouraging and stimulating collaboration within the university community.

This event will be held at the University Business Center and intends to support the campus initiative to promote an entrepreneurial mindset among its students, faculty and staff and to facilitate the formation of innovative ideas by connecting people.

The Summit is presented by the ABE (Agriculture, Business, Engineering) Academy, a cohort of faculty who are part of The President's Commission on the Role of Fresno State in Economic Development, Societal Impact, and Entrepreneurship. You can find more information on the full schedule and particulars by scrolling down.

Registration

Registration for the Summit is free of charge. However, we kindly request that you complete the registration process to help us accurately estimate the amount of food required for the event.
Register for the Summit

Ways to Participate

In addition to attending the summit, students and faculty have the opportunity to be featured at some of the sessions: 

Student Options:

1. Apply (alone or with a team) to be part of the Student Showcase and create a poster to share about your innovative or entrepreneurial activity. And we’ll print your poster! Application deadline April 9.
   Apply to Student Showcase
   
   
2. Apply to be part of the Student Entrepreneurship Pitch Competition.
   
   The Student Entrepreneurship Pitch Competition consists of 10-minute pitches explaining a problem your business idea addresses and how it helps to solve it. The pitch should include a short description of your idea/business (including its uniqueness), the problem you are solving for the customers/society, your target market, competitors, business and revenue model and future potential. The competition is open to all students who are enrolled at Fresno State at this time.
   
   To apply, register for the Student Showcase and click "yes" at the end of the form. Application deadline March 26.

Faculty Options

1. Apply to be part of the Faculty Lightning Round. Application deadline April 9.
   
   This is a fast-paced, lightning round focused on innovation and entrepreneurship. Ten faculty will be selected to give a 5-minute presentation, with 2 minutes for questions, on a project/program/research that is innovative and/or entrepreneurial. The event is open to all disciplines at Fresno State as long as innovation and/or entrepreneurship can be demonstrated.
   Apply for Faculty Lightning Round
   
   
2. Encourage your students to apply for the Student Showcase and/or Pitch Competition. Share with your students this application link: https://forms.gle/jLnKWpZBszKeFZFM8. Application deadline April 9.

Agenda

9:30 a.m.–10 a.m. Networking Continental Breakfast

10 a.m.–11:15 a.m. Faculty Lightning Round (PB 191)

• 10 faculty will present their projects based on innovation and/or entrepreneurship

11:15 a.m.–11:30 a.m. Break & Networking

11:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m. High School Pitch Competition by Patino High School students (PB 191)

12:15 p.m.–12:45 p.m. Lunch & Networking

12:45 p.m.–1:30 p.m. Student Project & Campus/Community Resource Showcase (PB 194/Foyer)

• Student entrepreneurship/innovation projects on display
• Campus/Community Resource tables

1:30 p.m.–2:15 p.m. Local Stars in Entrepreneurship & Innovation (PB 191)

2:15 p.m.–2:30 p.m. Break & Networking

2:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m. Bulldog Entrepreneurship Pitch Competition (PB 191)

• Coordinated by the CEO Club and ABE Academy
• 5 students/student teams will present their entrepreneurial idea to a panel of judges that will include venture capitalists, angel investors and faculty

3:30 p.m.–4 p.m. Awards & Remarks by President Jiménez-Sandoval (PB 191)

4 p.m.–5 p.m. Reception with Victor E. Bulldog IV