SACRAMENTO STATE
Carlsen Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Nestled in Sacramento State ’ s campus library , the Carlsen Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship provides a space for the region ’ s thought leaders , creators and innovators .
Since 2018 , the Carlsen Center has served as a hub to support entrepreneurs both on and off campus , offering access to a myriad of resources including informational speaker series , advisors , workshops , employment and grant application assistance .
Sacramento native Cameron Law , executive director of the Carlsen Center , says he is very passionate about the Center ’ s mission , which is to “ make innovation and entrepreneurship pervasive throughout the Sacramento region ,” he says . “ Entrepreneurs are risking their livelihoods in starting a business . They are building the physical and virtual worlds we work in . In order for an entrepreneur to succeed , they need a dense amount of resources .”
This November , the Carlsen Center will participate in Global Entrepreneurship Week — the world ’ s largest celebration of innovators and job creators that brings together 30,000 partners from more than 180 countries — as part of its focus on encouraging everyone to be thought leaders , not just those in the engineering and technology sectors . In fact , the Center was purposefully housed in the middle of the Sac State campus so all majors and disciplines could access it , says Lisa Cardoza , vice president for University Advancement .
Dale Carlsen , former owner of Sleep Train , now CEO of Bunker Wilson and donor of funds for the Carlsen Center , says the Center will continue the “ solid ecosystem ” of innovation the Sacramento region currently offers as a place to develop ideas . He says a primary focus of the Center is to bring equity to the table and create a space for opportunities for everyone , including women .
FourthWave , an accelerator for women-led technology businesses , partnered with the Center last year to great effect . Co-founder Cheryl Beninga says 13 female tech entrepreneurs in and out of Sacramento used FourthWave and Carlsen Center services in 2020 . “ Ten years from now , we hope to have 100 ,” Beninga says .
Nancy Perlman , co-founder of FourthWave , echoes Beninga . “ My great desire would be to continue expanding the economic landscape with more women-led businesses ,” she says .
Amy Wister , co-founder of RevShopp , a “ shape intelligence ” software that assists women in shopping for their body type , says FourthWave accelerated the creation of her concept . “ FourthWave pushed the gas ,” she says . “ They prepare you for funding and take you on a dive into understanding who you are as a leader .”
— Jessica Hice
Harris ’ title — more commonly found at a chamber of commerce than a state college campus — reflects Sac State ’ s view of itself as a business partner . This new focus is partly motivated by the need to recover from a recession and cutbacks in state funding . “ We had to think in new ways , reinvent ourselves and create new revenue streams ,” Harris says .
But beyond that , Harris stresses that Sac State also had to address a broader , more philosophical question of its identity beyond being a teaching institution . Spurred by research that underscored the inequity in the region ’ s economy , the school committed itself to economic development as its contribution toward closing the wealth gap , reducing generational poverty and improving the quality of the workforce .
“ If we want to prosper , we need Sac State ,” says Barry Broome , president and CEO of the Greater Sacramento Economic Council . Broome credits Sac State President Robert S . Nelsen , who joined the board of GSEC when he came to Sac State from Texas in 2015 , for understanding the relationship between the college and the economy .
Kevin Nagle , president of The Nagle Companies , whose venture funds support new business development in the region , contends that Nelsen “ really has the ability to determine where Sac State fits in the region and is both pragmatic and visionary .”
Sac State ’ s influence extends into the local nonprofit world as well . Melissa Kelley , director of community engagement and philanthropy for Stanford Sierra Youth and Families , notes that
26 comstocksmag . com | 2021