The University of San Francisco School of Management Launches CityRise Business Initiative for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

UPBI is a program founded by Professor Michael Morris at the University of Notre Dame’s McKenna Center for Human Development and Global Business in the Keough School of Global Affairs. Support from the Coca-Cola Company in North America to UPBI led to the initiative’s expansion to the School of Management and the establishment of the CityRise Business Initiative.

Through this partnership, the CityRise Business Initiative provides skills-building workshops, expands access to educational resources, hosts community leadership events, and builds a mentoring program to inspire and equip San Francisco’s community-based entrepreneurs with the tools they need to unlock their potential and create meaningful, lasting change in the Bay Area.

“USF CityRise was built on the belief that talent exists in every neighborhood, but opportunity does not,” said June Y. Lee, faculty director of the school’s CityRise Business Initiative and associate professor of entrepreneurship. “This partnership with Notre Dame and Coca-Cola allows us to expand access to training, mentorship, and resources so that community-based entrepreneurs have the support they need to transform their ideas into thriving, sustainable ventures.”

Coca-Cola’s support reflects its broader mission to empower local economies and inspire the next generation through targeted investments in communities, colleges, and youth leadership programs, inspired by the upcoming FIFA World Cup 26^TM. By focusing on economic mobility, inclusion, and community-driven opportunity, Coca-Cola is building a legacy of connection that extends beyond the tournament.

Located in the heart of San Francisco, the School of Management at the University of San Francisco offers undergraduate, graduate, and executive education programs.