In October of 2025, the UC Irvine ANTrepreneur Center welcomed Ricianne “Chi” Rey as the new Program Lead. In this role, Chi supports student founders through the creation and management of entrepreneurship programs and community partnerships.
Chi holds a Master’s in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from UC Irvine and is a certified yoga instructor and a co-founder of a women’s wellness platform focused on PCOS. Chi brings over eight years of experience across startups, wellness, and higher education, and a passion for building inclusive, impact-driven solutions at the intersection of health, entrepreneurship, and community.
To welcome Chi and introduce her to the ANTrepreneur Center family, Director Ryan Foland sat down with her to discuss her experience as a founder, what it means to return to campus in her new role, and what she hopes to accomplish at the Center.
Ryan: Ahoy, Chi! I’m so excited to finally sit down with you and introduce you to the ANTrepreneur family. To start things off, can you share a bit about your journey and what ultimately led you to the ANTrepreneur Center?
Chi: Thanks, Ryan; I’m happy to be here! My journey started when I became a Master of Innovation and Entrepreneurship graduate student at the Paul Merage School of Business, and my friends and I decided to enter the Stella Zhang New Venture Competition. While preparing our concept paper and pitch, we found ourselves frequently checking out the ANTrepreneur Center as we searched for resources and guidance. At the time, I wasn’t very familiar with the technical side of building what eventually became my startup PCOSitive Buddy, and one of the Center’s graduate fellows, Rany Tith, played a key role in guiding us through that process. His mentorship was instrumental in shaping our product, and it ultimately helped us win our track in the competition. That experience stayed with me and is a big part of what led me back to the ANTrepreneur Center. I’m excited to serve as Program Lead, where I get to support student founders in the same way I was once supported.
Ryan: As a co-founder of multiple startups, including the venture that won the Stella Zhang New Venture Competition, what were some of the most formative lessons you learned as a founder?
Chi: As a founder, it’s important to stay open to feedback, to not be afraid to get started, and to be willing to pivot when needed. There’s often this pressure to come up with a “big idea” that impacts everyone, but what I’ve learned is there’s real value in going back to the basics, finding the right customer, and having real conversations with them early on.
As founders, we can become attached to our ideas and, at times, unintentionally ignore feedback or try to justify our original assumptions. One of the most formative lessons for me has been realizing that, if you’re trying to build something for everyone, you often end up building it for no one. That mindset continues to guide how I approach entrepreneurship, and it’s something I consistently share with our students and future founders at the ANTrepreneur Center.
Ryan: You’ve worked across branding, HR, wellness, and startups. How do those experiences shape how you think about entrepreneurship and program design?
Chi: Having experience across branding, HR, wellness, and startups has given me a well-rounded perspective on how ideas move from concept to execution, and how people, systems, and strategy all intersect in the entrepreneurial journey.
Just as importantly, my experience as an Innovation and Entrepreneurship (MIE) student helps me understand the challenges students face and the kind of support they truly need. That perspective allows me to design programs that are both thoughtful and actionable, ensuring the resources and opportunities we offer at the ANTrepreneur Center are genuinely valuable and accessible to students.
Ryan: You also have a background in marketing and product strategy influence. How does this influence your ability to help students turn ideas into real ventures?
Chi: My background in marketing and product strategy comes into play when it comes to helping students deeply understand their customers. I encourage them to start by identifying the real pain points they’re trying to solve and being clear about the specific problem their idea addresses. From there, we focus on defining the “job to be done,” essentially figuring out what value the product or service truly provides and learning how to communicate that clearly and simply. Before building anything, it’s about spending time talking to customers and getting to know them well enough to design solutions that can genuinely improve their lives. That customer-first mindset is something I consistently bring into how I mentor students and guide them as they turn ideas into viable ventures.
Ryan: You’ve worked in wellness and are a certified yoga instructor. How do you think wellness and entrepreneurship intersect, especially for students?
Chi: Wellness is especially important for students because it serves as the foundation for entrepreneurship. Building something new can be exciting, but it can also be overwhelming. I’ve seen how burnout can show up early if students don’t take care of themselves along the way. As a certified yoga instructor, I often encourage students to think of wellness as a practice. It’s just like building a venture, where small, consistent habits matter. Simple mindfulness or breathing techniques can help students manage stress, stay focused, and make clearer decisions without needing to overhaul their routines. When these practices are introduced early, they not only support the individual student but also influence the kind of culture and values they carry into the teams and companies they build.
Ryan: How do you balance creativity, execution, and sustainability when building programs or startups?
Chi: For me, it always starts with listening to students. The programs we build should be rooted in what students truly value and need. Similar to how a startup operates, we treat students as our target audience. We listen closely, gather feedback, and stay open to iteration. From there, creativity comes into play as we think outside the box about how to address those needs in meaningful ways. Sustainability comes from making sure what we create is not only exciting but also practical, scalable, and impactful in the long run. That balance is something I’m always mindful of as we design and execute programs at the ANTrepreneur Center.
Ryan: What excites you most about working with undergraduate entrepreneurs at UC Irvine?
Chi: Watching students evolve their ideas from early concepts into something tangible and impactful is the most exciting part of my job. Seeing students practice their pitches, gain confidence, and eventually take the stage to share their stories is incredibly fulfilling. Having once been in their position myself, it brings me a lot of joy to share what I’ve learned and help guide them through their own journeys.
I’m equally excited when I see their ventures begin to flourish and when they go on to succeed in their careers more broadly. One of the most rewarding moments is seeing alumni return to share their experiences with current students, creating a full-circle sense of community that continues to inspire the next generation of ANTrepreneurs.
Ryan: From your perspective, what are some common mistakes early-stage founders make, and how can students avoid them?
Chi: One of the most common mistakes I see early-stage founders make, and something I definitely did myself, is starting with an idea and trying to make it work for everyone. A lot of students come to the Center excited about a business idea, but when we dig a little deeper and ask if they’ve talked to potential customers or clearly identified who they’re building for, that’s often the missing piece.
I usually encourage students to think about entrepreneurship like an experiment; observe first, identify a real problem, and then hypothesize that’s where the idea comes in. Starting this way gives them a much stronger foundation as they move forward, whether they’re joining competitions, pitching to investors, or taking the first real steps toward building a business. More often than not, this is usually a lightbulb moment for them, and gives them a better sense of direction on how to move forward as well.
Ryan: What’s your approach to community-building, and what kind of culture do you hope to foster at the ANTrepreneur Center?
Chi: When it comes to community-building, we really try to keep the culture of the Center as open and welcoming as possible. One of the things we always encourage students to do is simply show up, because you never know who you’ll meet or what kind of opportunity might come from it. We want students to feel comfortable coming by to work, study, or just spend time in the space. Our goal is to make the ANTrepreneur Center feel like a second home, a place where students can explore new ideas, meet new people, and not be afraid to make mistakes.
We also offer hands-on resources like our podcast room and makerspace, so students can experiment, create, and bring their ideas to life in a low-pressure, supportive environment. We encourage them to step outside their comfort zones, whether that means learning a new skill or exploring something that may not be directly related to their major but can still be incredibly valuable long after graduation.
Ryan: What advice would you give students who feel intimidated by entrepreneurship or don’t see themselves as “traditional” founders?
Chi: This is something I hear often. For students who feel intimidated by entrepreneurship or don’t see themselves as “traditional” founders, I always remind them that entrepreneurial skills are valuable no matter what path they choose. Whether they go into corporate, nonprofit, or another field entirely, skills like problem-solving, adaptability, communication, and creative thinking are incredibly transferable. That’s why we offer workshops not only for startup founders, but also for professional development. We’re here to help students build confidence and practical skills they can carry with them well beyond graduation.
Ryan: What are you most excited to build or evolve in your role as Program Lead over the next year?
Chi: I’m really excited to continue building programs and workshops that help students grow, gain confidence, and reach their full potential. I’m especially energized by the opportunity to deepen collaborations across the startup ecosystem, connecting students to the right people, resources, and opportunities at the moments they matter most. Just as importantly, I’m passionate about fostering a strong, tight-knit community of ANTrepreneurs and creating a space where students feel supported, inspired, and excited to learn, build, and grow together.
Ryan: Chi, it’s been great getting to pick your brain. Thank you for sitting down with me and sharing your insights. Let’s close this out with some advice for students. What’s one thing students can do today to move closer to becoming an ANTrepreneur?
Chi: I would say just start by taking one small step. It doesn’t have to be anything big or intimidating. That first step could be as simple as talking to a potential customer, posting a quick poll on social media, or writing down the problems you notice around you. Entrepreneurship doesn’t have to feel overwhelming; it should feel curious, creative, and even fun. And if you’re not sure where to begin, we at the ANTrepreneur Center are always ready to help and support you along the way. You’re always welcome to stop by, ask questions, and explore. The Center is a place to start, learn, and grow together. You don’t have to figure it all out all at once and on your own.
Stop by the ANTrepreneur Center to meet with Chi and see how she can support your entrepreneurial journey. Interested in other startup resources? Visit the UC Irvine ANTrepreneur Center website to learn more about scholarships, funding, programming, speaker series, Micro-Internships, and more. You can also learn more about the Center’s collaborations with Blackstone LaunchPad, Tech Coast Angels, Tech Coast Venture Network, the OC Startup Council, and SoCal Celebrates Entrepreneurship. Keep up with the Center’s latest news by following them on Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn.