Director's Message
Welcome to Ciocca Center at Santa Clara University! Ciocca Center is an interdisciplinary center with a mission to encourage and teach an entrepreneurial mindset.
This inaugural issue of The Mindset highlights the importance of empathy, one of the basic tenets of an entrepreneurial mindset. We offer faculty and student viewpoints on the role of empathy in our Perspectives section. In our alumni section, entitled Broncos, Actually, we showcase two alumni who have achieved a level of self-actualization to which we should all aspire! Student Stories brings forward some of the great work being done by our students and introduces our student advisors. Finally, we close with A Well Lighted Place, where we introduce the faculty who direct our efforts and unveil some recent research projects.
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We are excited to bring you these stories and we welcome your feedback.
Keep reading,
Chris Norris, Executive Director
Ciocca Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship |
 | As an engineer, Mariah Manzano '20 Web Design & Computer Engineering is accustomed to creating solutions. She has realized that to ideate, design, and implement a solution effectively, each step must be linked to real needs and not assumptions. Read the article here. |
Broncos, Actually  | While attending Santa Clara University and living on campus, double Bronco Aleisha Nelson '17 CS, '19 MSE loved to decorate her dorm room with her own artwork. Her friends began asking her to create customized pieces for them, and Art by Aleisha became an official business. Watch the interview here. |
 | After winning the Crossfit Games in 2008, Jason Khalipa '08 Management saw an opportunity to improve his community through fitness. Jason turned his passion into NCFIT, a global fitness business. Watch the interview here. |
Student Stories  | Ciocca Center recently launched Club Navigator, a platform that helps students find a club or RSO on campus. The platform came out of Ciocca Center's "You Are Here" initiative, where students collaborate on creating meaningful resources for SCU students. Graduate student, and Ciocca Center intern Elita Liu '21 M.S. Engineering Management, manages this project. |
 | Ciocca Center relies on the perspectives of students to ensure our programs and initiatives reflect interdisciplinary interests. Our Student Advisory Board consists of over 20 students from diverse disciplines and backgrounds. This year's board is co-chaired by Sameehah Hussain '21 MIS and Steven Bucher '21 COEN. Learn more here. |
A Well Lighted Place  | Ciocca Center is guided by a diverse faculty advisory board, chaired by our Faculty Director Professor Christopher Kitts, Associate Dean in the School of Engineering. Members of the board come from the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Engineering, the School of Law, the School of Education & Counseling Psychology, and Leavey School of Business. Learn more here. |
Upcoming Events
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March BVA Café + Prep School Kick-Off
4 p.m., Charney Hall Atrium, Santa Clara University
Bronco Ventures is bringing our community together - the March BVA Café will double as the kick-off for the 2026 Bronco Ventures Accelerator Prep School cohort!
Join founders, investors, mentors, students, alumni, and friends of the Silicon Valley startup ecosystem for an evening of networking, conversation, and community. Come meet and support the newest Prep School founders as they begin refining their ventures and preparing for top accelerators. Let’s welcome the next generation of innovators!
Thursday, March 12, 2026
4:00 – 7:00 PM
Charney Hall Atrium, Santa Clara University
Food & drinks provided
RSVP here!
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BVA Cafe
6:30 p.m., Lucas Hall, 738 Franklin Street Welcome to BVA Cafe, Bronco Ventures Accelerator’s Monthly Meetup where you can 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.
Lucas Hall, 738 Franklin Street
Terrace on the Third Floor if the weather is sunny
Lobby if rainy and cold |
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May BVA Café + Prep School Graduation Celebration
4 - 7 p.m., Lucas Hall 126, Santa Clara University
We are excited to share that our May BVA Café will be combined with a special celebration - the graduation of the 2026 Bronco Ventures Accelerator Prep School cohort!
Join us for an evening of networking, community, and inspiration as we recognize the founders who have spent the past months refining their ventures and building traction. Meet the graduating teams, connect with fellow founders, investors, mentors, alumni, faculty, staff, and students, and celebrate the next wave of innovation emerging from Santa Clara University.
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Business Pitch Competition
All Day
Ciocca Center’s Business Pitch Competition takes place each spring. We use a virtual portal called Pitchtape, an asynchronous online platform where companies can record their pitches.
SCU students of all majors are encouraged to apply for a spot in the competition!
Sign up here!
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CANCELED: BVA Cafe
6:30 p.m., Lucas Hall, 738 Franklin Street
Welcome to BVA Cafe, Bronco Ventures Accelerator’s Monthly Meetup where you can 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.
Lucas Hall, 738 Franklin Street
Terrace on the Third Floor if the weather is sunny
Lobby if rainy and cold
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Ugrad and Grad Commencement Weekend
All Day
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Ugrad and Grad Commencement Weekend
Midnight
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BVA Cafe
6:30 p.m., Lucas Hall, 738 Franklin Street Welcome to BVA Cafe, Bronco Ventures Accelerator’s Monthly Meetup where you can 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.
Lucas Hall, 738 Franklin Street
Terrace on the Third Floor if the weather is sunny
Lobby if rainy and cold |
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BVA Cafe
6:30 p.m., Lucas Hall, 738 Franklin Street Welcome to BVA Cafe, Bronco Ventures Accelerator’s Monthly Meetup where you can 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.
Lucas Hall, 738 Franklin Street
Terrace on the Third Floor if the weather is sunny
Lobby if rainy and cold |
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BVA Cafe
6:30 p.m., Lucas Hall, 738 Franklin Street Welcome to BVA Cafe, Bronco Ventures Accelerator’s Monthly Meetup where you can 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.
Lucas Hall, 738 Franklin Street
Terrace on the Third Floor if the weather is sunny
Lobby if rainy and cold |
Follow us on social media!
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Ciocca Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Santa Clara University
Lucas Hall Suite 109
cioccacenter@scu.edu
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