The Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute – a top-10 ranked division of the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah – welcomed the second group of Lassonde Founders for the 2021-22 academic year. Thirty-eight students, including some students returning to the program for the second year, were admitted into the new residential entrepreneur program for undergraduate students. They moved into Lassonde Studios in August for the 2021-22 academic year. Find a complete listing of the admitted students below.
“The students in this program have an incredible opportunity to live and launch together at the best university for entrepreneurship,” said Troy D’Ambrosio, executive director of the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute and an assistant dean at the Eccles School. “We look forward to seeing what these students accomplish this year, during their time at the University of Utah, and beyond.”
The students admitted into the program applied by explaining their business idea and why they wanted to learn about entrepreneurship. In the program, they receive a scholarship to live at Lassonde Studios, a nationally recognized innovation center and dorm. They also receive personalized support for their startup ideas from the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute.
Lassonde Founders get the opportunity to live with other student entrepreneurs, so they can learn from each other. They join entrepreneurship classes and complete the three-course Lassonde+X academic program, where they will learn the entrepreneurial mindset. The Lassonde+X program is provided in partnership with the Department of Entrepreneurship & Strategy at the Eccles School. Lassonde Founders also have access to grants, workshops, mentor opportunities, makerspace, and much more provided by the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute.
The Lassonde Founders admitted this year come from across the country and are studying many different majors. Many are interested in studying entrepreneurship. Their business ideas are even more diverse. In the program, they will have the opportunity to hone their ideas, develop a business model, build prototypes, and much more. They will be working toward creating a sustainable business.
Sadie Bowler is one of the first-year students in the Lassonde Founders program this year. She is from Salt Lake City and studying entrepreneurship.
“I was drawn to Lassonde Founders because I knew it would help me launch my business,” she said. “I’m currently at a point where we’re getting close to a launch. The Lassonde Institute has a lot of great resources for launching a company, and I knew I wanted to do this through them. I wanted to use their mentors and resources, and also connect with other entrepreneurs to build a team and get more people involved.”
Barry Carta is another first-year student in the program this year. He is from Elmhurst, Illinois, and also studying entrepreneurship.
“The most unique thing to me about the Lassonde Founders program is the flexibility that it offers each individual person,” he said. “They really take the time to understand what you’re trying to do and what your passionate about and then tailor the program to your needs.”
The other Lassonde Founders have similar stories and passions.
Learn more about the program here: lassonde.utah.edu/founders. All incoming and current undergraduate students at the University of Utah are welcome to apply.
2021-22 Lassonde Founders
Here are the students accepted into the Lassonde Founders program for the 2021-22 academic year (in alphabetical order):
- Sophia Adrian – Park City, UT (hometown) – Management (subject studying)
- Ellie Snow – Jackson, WY – Psychology
- Dylanne Becker – Las Vegas, NV – Human development and family studies
- Austin Birch – Erda, UT – Entrepreneurship
- James Boora – Hoquaim, WA – Entrepreneurship
- Sadie Bowen – Salt Lake City, UT – Computer engineering
- Sadie Bowler – Severn, MD – Entrepreneurship
- Houston Brackett – Lebanon, MO – Management
- Collin Brown – Salt Lake City, UT – Computer science
- Brighton Brown – Flower Mound, TX – Computer science
- Nicholas Burum – Boise, ID – Games
- Barry Carta – Elmhurst, IL – Entrepreneurship
- Jackson Chambers – Redondo Beach, CA – Mechanical engineering
- Gabriel DeAngelis – Salt Lake City, UT – Finance
- Natalie Dingman – Tacoma, WA – Entrepreneurship
- Tila Dulal – Salt Lake City, UT – Quantitative analysis of markets and organizations
- Ethan Flynn – Spokane , WA – Games
- Ty Greacen – Lopez Island, WA – Games
- Daisy Hall – Ogden, UT – Design
- Alina Hatch – Phrakanong, Bangkok – Psychology
- David Kale – Sandy, UT – Entrepreneurship
- Aiden Lee – Fort Collins, CO – Entrepreneurship
- Alex Liston – Boulder, CO – Entrepreneurship
- Gage Lloyd – Kamas, UT – Management
- Kaden Meza – North Hollywood, CA – Entrepreneurship
- Joseph Montgomery – Salt Lake City, UT – Undecided
- Madeline Morgan – Orem, UT – Finance
- Emma Moulton – Bountiful, UT – Music
- Eric Palmquist – Geneva, IL – Entrepreneurship
- Steffan Perez-Velez Solis – West Jordan, UT – Music
- Thomas Rash – Moon Township, PA – Entrepreneurship
- Keyvan Riley – Riverton, UT – Art
- Samantha Roach – Taylorsville, UT – Computer science
- Robert Rudzik – Salt Lake City, UT – Entrepreneurship
- Sydney Smith – Sandy, UT – International studies
- Kaeden Warnberg-Lemm – St. Paul, MN – Entrepreneurship
- Isaac White – Lawrence, KS – Games
- Laney Zito – Willard, UT – Film and media arts
About the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute
The Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute is a nationally ranked hub for student entrepreneurship and innovation at the University of Utah and an interdisciplinary division of the David Eccles School of Business. The first programs were offered in 2001, through the vision and support of Pierre Lassonde, an alumnus of the Eccles School and successful mining entrepreneur. The institute now provides opportunities for thousands of students to learn about entrepreneurship and innovation. Programs include workshops, networking events, business-plan competitions, startup support, innovation programs, graduate seminars, scholarships, community outreach and more. All programs are open to students from any academic major or background. The Lassonde Institute also manages Lassonde Studios, a five-story innovation space and housing facility for all students. Learn more at lassonde.utah.edu.
