Director's Message
Welcome to Our Spring 2025 Issue!
At Ciocca Center, we believe the entrepreneurial mindset isn’t about being fearless—it’s about becoming comfortable with risk and building the confidence to navigate uncertainty. In this issue, we explore how students, alumni, faculty and staff are developing that mindset in real and practical ways. Whether launching a new venture or planning their next step in life, the ability to manage risk thoughtfully is a skill that can be learned and practiced.
One of the tools we often introduce in our programs is Odyssey Planning, an approach rooted in the Life Design framework developed at Stanford. The concept is simple: instead of mapping out just one five-year plan, you create three. The first is your primary plan based on your current goals. The second—your “Plan B”—is intentionally different, offering an alternative if your initial direction doesn’t work out. The third plan is your “wild card”—what you’d pursue if there were no limits. By articulating these three paths, students learn to embrace ambiguity and adapt with purpose, rather than fear.
You’ll see reflections of this mindset throughout the stories in this issue—from student innovators taking bold leaps, to mentors sharing lessons learned from experience. As always, thank you for being part of our growing community of builders, dreamers, and doers.
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We hope you enjoy!
Keep reading,
Chris Norris, Executive Director
Ciocca Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship |
Bronco Ventures Summer Accelerator  | The Bronco Ventures Accelerator (BVA) empowers Santa Clara University entrepreneurs with the tools and community needed to grow for-profit businesses with competence, conscience, and compassion, as well as guides and prepares founders to receive investment. Be a part of our BVA7 Cohort, Apply Today! |
 | Learn about Studygenie, a Prep School company that uses AI technology to create a studying platform that can convert course materials to high-quality study materials. Study with flashcards, practices quizzes, or even chat with an AI tutor. Congratulations for placing 2nd in the Annual Business Pitch Competition! |
 | Check out our Monthly Entrepreneurs' Meetup! The BVA Cafe takes place every Third Thursday of the month at the BVA House (3230 The Alameda). This is where entrepreneurs, mentors, advisors and entrepreneurship curious gather. Click here to register! |
Perspectives  | Eve Idusuyi '25 reflects on how risk isn’t about recklessness—it’s about having the courage to act before you feel ready. From launching Women In Investment to pitching a startup on a national stage, she shows how taking initiative can create lasting impact. Read her powerful reminder that the greatest risk often lies in standing still. |
 | Abhilash Harish Srivathsa '22 explores how embracing discomfort can lead to meaningful growth. Read his reflection here, as he reminds us that risk isn’t something to fear, but something to understand, embrace, and grow through. |
 | Through deeply personal experience, Senior Program Manager for CGLP and PIJD, Hallie Bodey '12 '23, redefines what it means to pursue the “impossible” as she draws parallels between her story and the entrepreneurial mindset of risk, resilience, and bold ambition. Read this moving reflection on how moonshot thinking can lead to extraordinary outcomes—both personally and professionally. |
 | The entrepreneurial mindset is one defined by a willingness to engage with risk. In this piece, learn from Professor Brian Thomas how to cultivate risk tolerance, embracing it with preparation, humility, and the courage to leap into the unknown. |
Ciocca Center Presents...  | In June 2025, Ciocca Center will lead a delegation to Plug and Play’s Silicon Valley Summit, aligning with the university’s Impact 2030 Strategic Plan to foster solutions for universal good. Plug and Play is a global innovation platform supporting over 10,000 startups, across 30+ locations worldwide. Learn how Ciocca Center is forging connections with Silicon Valley’s tech ecosystem. |
 | Ciocca Center Student Advisory Board hosted a lively afternoon event celebrating entrepreneurship, technology, and innovation with networking, Kona Ice and Live Music! Attendees explored topics like the AI revolution, startup fundamentals, and investor insights while connecting with students, entrepreneurs, and VCs in an interdisciplinary setting. |
Broncos, Actually  | From playing college basketball to building brands and creating impactful content, learn from Anthony Yu '24 how taking risks is the real game-changer. Every pivot, every leap, started with a choice. If you're not willing to take the shot, you'll never know what you're capable of. |
Student Stories  | Congratulations Santa Clara Women in Investment on the 3rd Annual WIN Dinner! WIN is a professional student-run organization that focuses on empowering women to learn about investing.
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 | Broncos Entrepreneurs' Applied Collaboration Hub (BEACH) is crafted as an experiential program that has business and law students working together with mentors to help companies while furthering their own education and experience. If you're interested in joining our Fall Cohort, click here to find out more! |
A Well-Lighted Place  | Do you have a paper accepted for publication/presentation at a conference/symposia or publication in a journal? Is It focused on an Entrepreneurial Topic? If so, consider applying for travel or publication support! Ciocca Center's travel or publication grant includes airfare, hotel, rental car and conference registration up to $3,000/project. Apply Now! |
 | Ciocca Center accepts Curricular Development Proposals on a rolling basis. The objective of this program is to support the development of new courses, modules, and programs that address themes that broadly relate to the topics of innovation and the entrepreneurial mindset. Learn more. |
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Upcoming Events
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BVA Cafe
6:30 p.m., B of A Commons, Lucas Hall 1st Floor, 738 Franklin St, Santa Clara, CA 95050
WHAT: We call it “BVA Cafe” where CAFE stands for: Calling All Founders & Entrepreneurs
Meet and mingle with fellow BVA entrepreneurs, mentors, advisors and entrepreneurship-curious. Enjoy small bites while hearing updates from BVA Alumni and meeting new startup founders.
WHEN: The third Thursday of each month (except November and December when it is on the second Thursday), at 6:30 PM
WHERE: B of A Commons, Lucas Hall 1st Floor, 738 Franklin St, Santa Clara, CA 95050
BVA CAFE is open to all and free of charge; but, Registration is required.
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BVA Cafe
6:30 p.m., 3230 The Alameda, Santa Clara, CA 95053
WHAT: We call it “BVA Cafe” where CAFE stands for: Calling All Founders & Entrepreneurs
Meet and mingle with fellow BVA entrepreneurs, mentors, advisors and entrepreneurship-curious. Enjoy small bites while hearing updates from BVA Alumni and meeting new startup founders.
WHEN: The third Thursday of each month (except November and December when it is on the second Thursday), at 6:30 PM
WHERE: BVA House, 3230 The Alameda (2 doors North of the Hut, across from 7-11). We frequently adjourn to the Hut for adult beverages afterward.
BVA CAFE is open to all and free of charge; but, Registration is required.
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BVA Cafe
6:30 p.m., 3230 The Alameda, Santa Clara, CA 95053
WHAT: We call it “BVA Cafe” where CAFE stands for: Calling All Founders & Entrepreneurs
Meet and mingle with fellow BVA entrepreneurs, mentors, advisors and entrepreneurship-curious. Enjoy small bites while hearing updates from BVA Alumni and meeting new startup founders.
WHEN: The third Thursday of each month (except November and December when it is on the second Thursday), at 6:30 PM
WHERE: BVA House, 3230 The Alameda (2 doors North of the Hut, across from 7-11). We frequently adjourn to the Hut for adult beverages afterward.
BVA CAFE is open to all and free of charge; but, Registration is required.
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