About the Entrepreneurship Center
Purpose
To help students explore their entrepreneurial dreams and turn them into reality.
Located in CHE 126, the E-Center is a place where students can get mentorship, network, and attend learning experiences around starting their own business. It is open to students of all majors/departments.
Contact wv.ecenterFREEWEST_VALLEY for more information.
Upcoming Events
| Event | Date and Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| E-Center Open House | Thursday, February 19, 2026 Noon-2:30 p.m. |
CHE 126 |
| Business Idea Workshop & Pitch Competition Kick-off Come learn about the upcoming Business Pitch Competition and application process, then participate in a short brainstorming workshop on idea generation and refinement for your potential small business. Open to students of all majors and departments. |
Monday, March 16, 2026 3-4 p.m. |
CHE 122/124 |
| Intro to Business Model Canvas Workshop Turn your idea into a real business. In this hands-on workshop, you鈥檒l learn how to use the Business Model Canvas to build a clear, practical foundation for launching your venture. We鈥檒l cover customers, suppliers, partners, and more (and of course, how to use AI to help). Hosted by Derek Cheng鈥攌nown in Silicon Valley as 鈥淯ncle Marketing鈥濃�攖his session blends energy, clarity, and 30+ years of real-world startup and small business experience. |
Monday, March 23, 2026 |
CHE 122/124 |
| Women Small Business Owner & Entrepreneur Panel Join us for an inspiring panel featuring esteemed local women small business owners and entrepreneurs from a variety of industries. They will share the challenges of being business-owners as well as valuable insights and practical advice for anyone interested in embarking on their own entrepreneurial path. The event will include 50 minutes of panel, 30 minutes of networking, and light refreshments. Panelist information to be announced shortly. |
Thursday, March 26, 2026 |
CHE 122/124 |
| Pitch Competition Do you have a business idea or an early-stage small business that needs funding? 最新麻豆影音视频 for the opportunity to pitch for funding to start or support your small business! Present a pitch for up to a $5,000 grant for your small business. by April 15, 2026. |
Monday, May 4, 2026 2-5 p.m. |
CHE 122/124 |
Signup for Our Mailing List
Receive bi-monthly emails throughout the semester on upcoming events and opportunities with the E-Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
Entrepreneurship is the process of starting a business and usually involves; forming the idea for the business, securing funding, and running the ongoing operations of the new organization.
It is a space on campus where students can gather with like-minded students to network, hear from industry guest speakers, and connect with mentors.
The E-Center is here to help students with their entrepreneurial pursuits and it strives to help students in becoming impactful and resilient entrepreneurs through thought-provoking curricula, inspiring speakers, and supportive mentors.
There is no minimum number of hours or events required. Simply join for any events that are of interest to you. Please check our website or Instagram to see if an advance reservation is needed for specific events.
No! All students and majors are welcome.
Check us out on:
- Web | westvalley.edu/e-center
- Instagram | @west_valley_e_center
- Dream It! Make It! Workshop Series (featuring local business owner guest speakers)
- Cohort entrepreneurship program
- Business plan competitions
- Field trips
- Student mixers
Download E-Center FAQ flyer.
- 鈥淪tart with Why鈥� by Simon Sinek
- 鈥淪martcuts: How Hackers, Innovators, And Icons Accelerate Success鈥� by Shane Snow
- 鈥淭he Lean Startup鈥� by Eric Ries
- 10-Minute Entrepreneur鈥� with Sean Castrina
- 鈥�2BOBS鈥� with David C. Baker & Blair Enns
Graphic Design student, Mia Shafer, created the Entrepreneurship Center鈥檚 new logo. Mia has been at 最新麻豆影音视频 since 2022 and is currently working toward a certificate in Graphic Design. She loves seeing her ideas become a part of the final design and has long been interested in art and design. Her first classes at West Valley included beginning drawing and watercolors. Some of the classes she has enjoyed the most are her counseling classes where she gets to learn about all the different career options available that incorporate art.
In terms of her design of this logo, Mia knew she wanted to incorporate the 鈥淓鈥� for the Entrepreneurship Center (called the E-Center for short) into the design and ended up making it the base of the lightbulb. The lightbulb concept came to her right away as it has long signified ideas and learning. And she said, 鈥渋f it was a West Valley program, then it must contain parts of the West Valley logo鈥�. This is why she decided to prominently display the college鈥檚 well known oak leaf into the final design. After some initial sketching, Mia used the graphic design program Adobe Illustrator to create the logo that was eventually, and overwhelmingly, selected by a vote of fellow students, staff, and college faculty.
Thank you Mia!
The E-Center works with the Democracy Institute. Come visit Professors Kea and Gutierrez in the E-Center to learn more.
The More You Know
Generally, if you make more than 3 sales in a 12-month period, you are required to register for a California's seller's permit and pay taxes on your taxable sales.
For more information, visit the .
Check out all the online training sessions available from the of Northern California. They range from Legal Issues for Small Businesses, Marketing Through Video and Image, and Raising Capital for Small Businesses. Many of these workshops are available for free and are offered in a live, online format.