De Anza Innovation Center

De Anza College Innovation Center logoFostering Creativity to Develop Social and Environmental Solutions

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

For more information, please contact Dean Manisha Karia at kariamanisha@deanza.edu

Winter/Spring Virtual Speaker Series

Rowland Chen

Join us for a series of talks by Rowland Chen, business instructor and CEO of The Silicon Valley Laboratory, who has worked with innovative start-up companies for more than a decade.

Topics will include diversity, equity, and inclusion; ethical innovation; pivots for start-ups; and funding innovation. 

Chen, who is also founder of the Center for Ethical Innovation, has an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management and spent two years as a visiting scientist with the Carnegie Mellon University School of Computer Science, developing novel approaches to artificial intelligence. He is a published writer whose work has appeared in Harvard Business Review and the New York Times.

These talks will be held on the first Friday of each month, online via Zoom. You can also sign up to receive reminders about upcoming events.

March 14: Innovation, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Innovation, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Learn about innovation and the impacts of diversity, equity, and inclusion. The subject is timely and critical given recent changes in the United States at the federal level of government.

April 4: Ethical Innovation

Ethical Innovation

What makes a company innovative? What makes a company ethical? Let's talk about the answers to these questions and others. We will look at some companies at the intersection - ethical innovation.

May 2: To Pivot or Not to Pivot?

To Pivot or Not to Pivot?

Every company experiences setbacks, some bigger than others. Failure is just a large setback that can be dealt with. Pivoting, changing the direction of a firm rapidly, is one way to address a large setback. Come discuss how to know when it is time to pivot or not.

June 6: Funding Innovation

Funding Innovation

Pre-money, SAFE, angel, series A, cap table. These are only some of the terms related to funding new ventures. Learn what these and other terms mean and where they fit in the overall innovation process. We will also talk about sources of funds.

Winter 2025 Business Model Canvas Competition 

KeyPoint Credit Union logo

Thank you to our sponsor, KeyPoint Credit Union!

More than 75 students from a variety of majors had an opportunity to pitch marketing strategies and win cash prizes during a Business Model Canvas Competition hosted on Feb. 28 by the De Anza Innovation Center. The event was sponsored by KeyPoint Credit Union, which provided prizes and lunch for all participants. 

Students competed in 19 teams to present their ideas for marketing to Gen Z consumers, who may be unfamiliar with credit unions and how they compare with banks and newer, online financial services. Each team prepared a “business model canvas” or one-page template that addressed customer segments, value propositions, revenue streams, resources, partnerships and other essential elements.

Five teams won a total of $1,300 in prizes, with the winning team taking home $500. First prize was shared by team members Carine Chan, George Huang, Leo Huang and Sylvia Nghiem.

Judges included faculty members John Francis and Sukhjit (Bob) Singh, along with Mehrdad Khosravi, dean of Physical Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering, along with KeyPoint representatives Saul Coronado, LJ Grossweiler, Everardo Munoz and Doron Noyman.

large group of students and instructors

Participating students and judges

four students with poster

First-place winners!

students working in large room

Working on ideas

students working around table

Getting ready to pitch

Support the Innovation Center!

Your can make a donation to support the Innovation Center, and its activities for students, by using the Foothill-De Anza Foundation's online donation form. 

Donate Now

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