Center for Entrepreneurship

 Entrepreneurship in Chico goes back to its founding by the visionary pioneer John Bidwell in 1860. The Chico State Center for Entrepreneurship is dedicated to keeping that same entrepreneurial spirit alive in Chico and throughout the North State. Since its founding in 2005, the Center has strived to connect students with the community and a wide range of entrepreneurs from around the country.

Today, the Center works hand-in-hand with the College of Business and our thriving academic program in Entrepreneurship to help introduce students to a place beyond “getting a job” and into a world of creating their own future. Our growing number of success stories, to which you’ll find reference throughout this web site, are but the tip of the iceberg. We believe entrepreneurship is a gateway for young people to better understand themselves for whatever they end up doing.

We are under no illusions that the entrepreneurial skills learned here at CSUC will immediately result in a new business; it’s hard enough for anyone to start up a new business, let alone a newly minted graduate. Nevertheless, we are convinced the skills learned in our entrepreneurship program and in the Center will carry forward in a student’s life and can be used in a wide variety of ways.

In the meantime, of course, there is, as previously stated, a growing number of students and recent graduates who have started businesses. Some are already thriving. Most are wonderful learning experiences. All are exciting. So, what are you waiting for?

We invite you to dive in.

Welcome!

Peter Straus
Director