Founder Stories
Every founder here started with an idea and a first step at the Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship. These are their stories, in their own words.
Unwind Wellness
To say the Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship changed my life would be an understatement.
Arthur Varin, founder of Unwind Wellness
Apostle Incubator · Sunstone Innovation Challenge, 2nd place
Turned a class project into the largest anxiety disorder healing coaching platform in France, with 330,000 followers.
AuraScan
The Institute had helped prepare me not just with the pitch, but with the belief that I could stand there in the first place.
Christopher Carrillo, founder of AuraScan
CSULB MBA graduate · Sunstone Innovation Challenge winner
Went from asking “Who am I to be here?” to taking the winner’s stage.
Speek
We believe communication is a fundamental human right, not a logistical hurdle.
Elizabeth Gallegos and Brendan Nelson, founders of Speek
Apostle Incubator · Sunstone Innovation Challenge, 1st place
Building hands-free eye-gaze glasses that give people with severe speech and motor impairments a voice, now moving from concept to hands-on prototyping.
ankr
The Institute has provided much more than educational resources.
Veronica Ruston, co-founder of ankr
CSULB MBA graduate · IIE incubator program · Tech Week
A mother-daughter team turning Kaylee’s firsthand experience as a competitive dancer into a performance apparel brand.
Help write the next story
Prizes, workshops and mentors helped every founder on this page get started. Your support helps the next student take that first step.
