Innovation Pitch Competition 2017

The proposed Innovation initiative will feature Pitch Competitions, Entrepreneurial Conferences, Entrepreneurial Program, and more. As the top university for diversity among the largest 100 universities in the nation, the Lam Family College of Business will be paving the way for developing and training a diverse pool of talented future entrepreneurs. The Pitch Competition will provide students with an opportunity to showcase their business concepts.

Event: Innovation Pitch Competition
Date: Friday, September 29, 2017
Time: Noon–2 p.m.
Location: San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94132, Library Room 121

12:00PM - 12:15PM

Registration and Networking

12:15PM - 12:30PM

Opening Remarks & Introductions

12:30PM - 1:30PM

Pitch Competition

1:30PM - 1:45PM

Winner Announcement

1:45PM - 2:00PM

Closing Remarks

Celena Aponte

Director of Strategic Initiatives, NASDAQ Entrepreneurial Center

As Program Designer, Ms. Aponte is building interdisciplinary learning and knowledge-sharing opportunities for entrepreneurs through programs, events, and research to support their complex journey of growth. Ms. Aponte has over 10 years of international brand development experience as PR Director for some of the world’s biggest stars, and most recently as Data Strategist at Cisco for Americas Field Marketing. Teaching Creativity and Innovation at San Francisco State University keeps her constantly curious. At the dinner table, you’ll hear her talking about her love of ‘90s fashion, Italy, and design.

Chris Haroun

Udemy.com Teacher & Founder/Partner at Haroun Education Ventures - ‎Haroun Education Ventures

Chris Haroun is a venture capitalist, an award-winning business school professor, MBA graduate from Columbia University and former Goldman Sachs employee. He has raised/managed over $1billion in his career and is the CEO of Haroun Education Ventures. Haroun has work experience at hedge fund giant Citadel, consulting firm Accenture, and several firms that he has started. Chris is also the author of the #1 best-selling business course on Udemy and the book “101 Crucial Lessons They Don’t Teach You in Business School,” which in 2015 Forbes wrote is,”1 of 6 books that all entrepreneurs must read right now.” He also teaches at some of the top universities in the Bay Area, including San Francisco State University.

Timothy Yamauchi

former CFO, Pride Industries

Mr. Timothy S. Yamauchi served as the Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of PRIDE Industries, Inc. until July 18, 2016. Mr. Yamauchi joined PRIDE in 2002. Mr. Yamauchi has more than 20 years of senior and general management experience in finance, strategy, and operations with a variety of businesses. He served as Treasurer of Total Pharmaceutical Care. He served as the Chief Operations Officer of Stockpoint since July 1998. Prior to Stockpoint, he served as Chief Financial Officer at HealthDesk Corporation, where he managed the completion of an initial public offering (IPO). He serves as a Member of Client Advisory Board of Profit Recovery Partners, LLC. Mr. Yamauchi serves on the SACTO (Sacramento Area Commerce and Trade Organization) Board of Directors. He is a Certified Public Accountant, with previous experience at a "Big Four" accounting firm. He is a Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum Mountain Valley Chapter, and serves on Sacramento State's Lam Family College of Business Administration Advisory Council. Mr. Yamauchi a has B.S. in Business from California State University of Los Angeles and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Scott Simmons

COO & CFO, Tuition.io

Mr. Scott Simmons has over 20 years of experience in start up and high growth technology companies.  He joined Tuition.io as COO and CFO in August 2017.  Previously, Scott was COO and CFO at ShopRunner for 4 years and served in a variety of roles over 11 years at Nextag, including roles in finance, business development, marketing and ultimately as President and COO.  Prior to Nextag, he held various finance positions with Real Time Data and Prudential Investment Corporation.  During his career, he has led or played a key role in venture capital, private equity, bank and other debt transactions well in excess of $1 billion.  Mr. Simmons holds a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering degree from Georgia Institute of Technology with Highest Honors and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Lan Paje

Co-founder, SF Hack

Mr. Lan Paje is a student at San Francisco State University studying journalism and computer science. He raised angel investor funding for his first startup Crowdshop at the age of 16 and eventually sold its assets and intellectual property to a larger company in the industry. Lan has previously been featured on Business Insider and USA Today, and in his free time has managed to convince thousands of people to help him meet Taylor Swift, asked Mark Zuckerberg about the role of diversity in tech, and even co-founded SF State's intercollegiate hackathon now known as SF Hacks. Lan recently spent his summer working in New York at The Points Guy, a travel publication with over 5 million readers, where he travelled to seven US states and reported on breaking news in the aviation industry.