If you’re a University of Utah alum and have any interest in entrepreneurship – whether you are a serial entrepreneur or just curious – the university has a program for you.
The Lassonde for Life program welcomes all University of Utah alumni, regardless of graduation year or major, to an exclusive entrepreneurial resource and support hub. The program is managed by the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute and launched in 2022 in partnership with the university’s Technology Licensing Office, and the university’s Office of Alumni Relations.
Want to learn more? Here are some of the best reasons you should get involved in this alumni entrepreneur program:
Simple registration process (and no cost!)
If you’re an alum, you’re in. Registering for Lassonde for Life is free – all you need to know is your university ID and what you hope to get out of the experience. Aspiring, early-stage, serial entrepreneurs, and everything in between are encouraged to participate.
For alumni, by alumni
Everyone involved in Lassonde for Life is either a University of Utah employee or an alum – or both. Each workshop host graduated from the U and intentionally chose to speak and work with Lassonde for Life in an effort to boost and connect with other entrepreneurial alumni. For these reasons, the program is built with you in mind, and can be flexible to your needs. Lassonde for Life also hosts networking events, both virtually and in-person in Salt Lake City.
Worldwide access
No matter what time zone you’re in, you can explore entrepreneurship, get help starting a company, grow an existing company, make connections, and more. Nearly every event is offered virtually, and recordings are posted on a dedicated Canvas course for long-term access. Through Lassonde for Life, it’s easier than ever to stay connected to campus.
Workshops
Workshops are held monthly, live, and virtually online. Through the Canvas course, these workshops are recordings and grouped into specific topics in the order of the typical entrepreneurial journey. Previous workshops include business and marketing research and identify a customer profile, both hosted by successful alumni.
However, how to use the workshops is up to you. Everything is self-paced: there’s no curriculum or grades. If you’re looking for a topic or a speaker that isn’t listed, reach out to the Lassonde for Life team who can look into making your workshop happen.
Canvas course
The Canvas course is more than just a hub for workshop recordings. You can have group discussions or private chats with other members, get access to the Technology Licensing Office and other Lassonde for Life partners, and find links to our alumni’s favorite books, articles, and other recommended content. It’s a knowledge base for everything Lassonde for Life members can offer.
Entrepreneur coaches
Members of the Lassonde for Life program also have access to entrepreneur coaches for hour-long virtual visits. Various entrepreneurial alumni volunteered their time and expertise to the coaching program, from Taylor Bench of Summit Venture Studio to Dylan Turner of Doxy.me. Once you’ve joined Lassonde for Life, you can request a meeting with any coach to discuss your startup idea, get answers to your most urgent business questions, or discuss any other entrepreneurial topic on your mind. If the person you’d like to meet with isn’t on the list, you can request a new coach through the same link.
Dovetails into the Master of Business Creation Master of Business Creation (MBC)
If you’re inspired through the Lassonde for Life program and find yourself identifying a problem and proposing a product or service solution, the Master of Business Creation (MBC) is the next step. While Lassonde for Life is committed to helping entrepreneurs work through the opportunity recognition and idea phase, the MBC can help you launch and scale your startup into something bigger.
Ready to join the alumni community?
Learn more about Lassonde for Life and register now here: lassonde.utah.edu/life
