Entrepreneurship For Life Initiative
The University of San Francisco is on the cusp of a transformative journey, which has the vision to empower every student with entrepreneurial skills and opportunities so they can translate their ideas into impact across any discipline, industry, or sector of society.
Combining USF Values with San Francisco's Competitive Advantages
Why USF?
By residing in the center of San Francisco, USF is the only educational institution capable of integrating the abundant local resources in entrepreneurship with strong Jesuit, Catholic values to introduce a radically new approach for developing entrepreneurs.
Inverting the Paradigm
Rather than focusing on the 1% to disrupt society, we will elevate the 99% to sustain society. Applying this perspective leads us to focus on activities such as: implementing entrepreneurial skills in courses across campus to reach 100% of students, and building custom AI tools to help students learn and apply these skills.
Entrepreneurship for Life
Once students are ready to take their project ideas out of the classroom and into the real world, they can join our campus incubator to receive additional support, including access to micro-grant funding so they can convert ideas into tangible outcomes and participation in pitch competitions so they can make real progress toward milestones while gaining meaningful mentoring.
The E4L Initiative
Leveraging our deep roots in San Francisco and Silicon Valley, our goal is to position USF to be among the foremost institutions in the world for developing skills that prepare students and alumni for success in their careers and in life. We will accomplish this by following these values:
Impact
Enhancing the condition of others and driving positive change.
Developmental
Expanding our reach and rising the tide for all.
Entrepreneurship
Solving problems creatively with lasting effects.
Action
Delivering tangible outcomes, whether big or small.
Our Stories
-
April 11, 2025 -
February 5, 2025 -
Opportunities for Support
- Volunteers to serve as speakers, panelists, and mentors for student projects and events.
- Connections to entrepreneurs who are interested in supporting our long-term vision.
- Seed donations to bolster our operations in the first 3 years.
- Major donations to endow and expand our operations over the next 10 years.
Shawn P. Calhoun
E4L Initiative Co-Lead
University Library Dean
calhouns@usfca.edu
Chris Ehrlich
E4L Initiative Co-Lead
Adjunct Professor & Senior Advisor to the Provost
cehrlich@usfca.edu
Johnathan Cromwell
Faculty Director of the E4L Initiative
Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship & Innovation
jcromwell@usfca.edu