The History of The Pierre Lassonde Entrepreneur Center
In January of 2000, the David Eccles School of Business officially opened the Utah Entrepreneur Center - UTec. Several initiatives were being considered, including the development of a student based, independently organized venture fund, a speaker series, a student based new venture development program that would work to commercialize technologies from student or faculty based research, and the creation of an undergraduate major in entrepreneurship with a focus track in the MBA program.
In less than two years UTec had achieved its goals and had involved hundreds of students in the entrepreneur program. In the following two years, UTec participated in the Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) Program (the program’s team achieved the fantastic feat of winning their first regional competition and being selected as the rookie team of the year in the national competitions) and two added additional initiatives - the Opportunity Quest, a campus business plan competition, and the creation of the Launch Pad, a new venture creation effort.
In 2006, a $13.25 million donation from David Eccles School of Business alum, Pierre Lassonde, endowed the entrepreneur center and the name was changed from the Utah Entrepreneur Center to the Pierre Lassonde Entrepreneur Center in recognition of his support. The Pierre Lassonde Entrepreneur Center programs include the Pierre & Claudette MacKay Lassonde New Venture Development Center, the Utah Entrepreneur Challenge, Opportunity Quest, and the Launch Pad.
Today, the Pierre Lassonde Entrepreneur Center represents the largest entrepreneur center of its kind in the United States. The Center provides students the ability to practice entrepreneurship and business development skills while attending the University of Utah. The Center not only provides students practical business education but creates business leaders of tomorrow.
The Pierre Lassonde Entrepreneur Center’s goal is to provide unique educational opportunity through real world business experiences and to help young entrepreneurs be better prepared to understand and assume the risks of business ownership and management.