Overview

The Fresno State Innovation & Entrepreneurship Summit is designed to inspire the campus community and foster collaboration. The event will continue the university's efforts to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset among students, faculty and staff and connect people together to create even more innovation. Scroll down for the full agenda and details.

Registration

Attending the Summit is free, but please register so we have the right amount of food. Thank you!
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 is Wednesday, April 10, 11:59 p.m.
   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 is Wednesday, April 10, 11:59 p.m.

Faculty Options

1. Apply to be part of the Faculty Lightning Round. Application deadline is Wednesday, April 17, 11:59 p.m.
   
   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: bit.ly/student-showcase-2024. Application deadline is Wednesday, April 10, 11:59 p.m.

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.–1:00 p.m. High School Pitch Competition Awards

1:00 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 Entrepreneurship 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