Introduction to the UCI ANTrepreneur Center
The UCI ANTrepreneur Center is dedicated to fostering entrepreneurial spirit and innovation among UC Irvine students. By providing resources, mentorship, and a collaborative environment, the Center supports students in transforming their ideas into viable business ventures. It offers a range of programs, workshops, and events designed to equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in the competitive business landscape.
What is SCORE Orange County?
SCORE Orange County is a chapter of the national SCORE organization, which is a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration. SCORE provides free and confidential mentoring services to small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. With a team of experienced business professionals, SCORE Orange County offers personalized guidance through one-on-one mentoring sessions, workshops, and a wealth of online resources. The organization is committed to helping small businesses start, grow, and achieve their goals.
History of the Relationship
The collaboration between the UCI ANTrepreneur Center and SCORE Orange County began when Ryan Foland, Director of the ANTrepreneur Center, was invited to deliver a keynote at SCORE Orange County’s yearly awards ceremony. This initial interaction sparked conversations about how to better connect UC Irvine student entrepreneurs with SCORE’s valuable resources.
Recognizing that many students were unaware of SCORE’s offerings, the ANTrepreneur Center conducted a pilot program where a few students, along with Director Foland, tested SCORE’s mentoring services. To further test the collaboration’s value, nine SCORE members visited the ANTrepreneur Center during the last three weeks of the Spring quarter 2024. They held open office hours, meeting with student entrepreneurs to offer personalized advice and mentorship. These interactions proved beneficial for both students and mentors. The overwhelmingly positive feedback led to SCORE mentors Bart Moran and Thomas Markel, both highly successful entrepreneurs, taking the lead to explore other ways to work with the ANTrepreneur Center.
About Bart Moran and Thomas Markel
Bart Moran is the retired co-founder of Digital Networks Group, a company he successfully built, sold, and later repurchased. His extensive experience in the technology sector and his practical business acumen have made him a valuable mentor.
Reflecting on his mentorship experience, Moran said:
“It was refreshing to experience the energy and passion UC Irvine students have for problem-solving. I was impressed with their desire to start their own business on top of their school responsibilities.”
Thomas Markel has been an investor, interim executive, and serial entrepreneur across various industries, including nutraceuticals, hospitality, beverage, sporting goods, agriculture, manufacturing, real estate, electronic hardware, software, and e-commerce. He describes his business experience in baseball terms: “I’ve had nine base hits, one triple play, two out-of-the-park home runs, and three strikeouts.” His home run came when he helped form the largest mortgage REIT on the AMEX, which grew to over $2 billion in assets.
Markel’s experience as a mentor was also overwhelmingly positive, and he was happy to make an impact on the student entrepreneurs he worked with:
“The ANTrepreneur Center was bustling with students, and it was inspiring to hear the various ideas they were working on. For early-stage startups, having a chance to bounce ideas and challenges off someone with multiple exits seemed to help give them perspective and see how their ideas can succeed.”
Student Feedback:
“Hearing stories from SCORE mentors helped me better understand business principles and gain new perspectives.”
Meeting with SCORE mentors helped answer specific questions I had. They gave me great ideas without telling me what to do. I appreciated their real-world business experience.”
Future Plans
Following the successful pilot program, the ANTrepreneur Center and SCORE Orange County agreed to establish ongoing in-person office hours at the ANTrepreneur Center for the upcoming school year. These sessions will provide a direct channel for student entrepreneurs to access professional and experienced mentors who are passionate about giving back. Office hours will be held every Tuesday from 1:00-4:00 pm during the Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters, except for Weeks 5 and 10 to accommodate midterms and finals.
“Good things take time, and I’m glad we stepped through a few trial periods to ensure a good match,’ said Director Foland. “This new office hours will bring a direct channel for our student entrepreneurs to gain access to experienced mentors. This collaboration is more than just guest speaking appearances or judging business competitions; it creates a high-touch and high-value channel to experienced entrepreneurs with decades of domain expertise.”
Learn more about the new SCORE Office Hours
The collaboration between the UCI ANTrepreneur Center and SCORE represents a significant step forward in providing UC Irvine students with the resources and mentorship needed to thrive in their entrepreneurial endeavors. This partnership highlights the Center’s commitment to supporting students and enhancing their chances of success in the business world.
For more details about the upcoming SCORE office hours and other opportunities, visit the UCI ANTrepreneur Center’s website.