Providing a center for students to engage in entrepreneurial ventures

The Moxie Center is seeking to become the primary resource for education, support, facilities and connections needed for University of California, San Diego students to learn to become effective entrepreneurs. The Center provides experiential entrepreneurship education through classes and the teaching incubator program.  

They also contribute entrepreneurship content to a variety of courses in the Jacobs School of Engineering, as well as non-engineering classes as requested. Student teams have learned what it takes to go from idea to sustainable enterprise, whether they achieve commercial success or not. A team that learns early that their idea isn't worth pursuing has succeeded, and knows how to validate their next idea. 

  • Aqua Design Innovations, a Moxie Center Team, has raised more than double its $38K Kickstarter campaign to launch their EcoQube aquaponics filter.
  • TriD-Dynamics started at the Moxie Center and has successfully built and fired the first 3D-printed rocket engine, with NASA support, and is engaged in sponsored development with several commercial launch vehicle companies.  
  • Another team, Collegetickr, started as a campus-based membership support, coupon and advertising service, and has pivoted to a social network currently operating on 15+ university campuses.

The Moxie Center was established just over a year ago. In that time the center has had 27 student startups in the Teaching Incubator. Of those companies six have incorporated, several have launched products, over eight have filed provisional patent applications, and two are currently applying to San Diego incubators.

The Moxie Center is trying to increase collaboration among various programs on campus to create a central platform for resources in entrepreneurship education and practice. 

The Moxie Center is based at the Jacobs School of Engineering and is open to students from across the campus. They work with other programs at University of California, San Diego to provide experiential educational and networking opportunities to all students. 

The Moxie Center holds mixers with the Rady School of Management, pitchfests, workshops, seminars and open houses for students on campus, to encourage idea generation, to create a community of entrepreneurs, and to find teammates and mentors. 

In collaboration with Career Services and Alumni Affairs The Moxie Center founded the Entrepreneur's Academy to teach experiential entrepreneurship classes to all students, staff and faculty. In addition, they host and participate in events with industry to introduce students to professionals who are interested in mentoring, advising, and potentially investing. 

Partner organizations have included the Jacobs School of Engineering Corporate Affiliates Program, the San Diego Venture Group, San Diego Tech Coast Angels, EvoNexus incubator,  Startup Circle, CONNECT, and others.

The Jacobs School of Engineering at the University of California, San Diego announced that Jay Kunin has joined the Jacobs School as the inaugural director of the new Moxie Center for undergraduate entrepreneurship

Need to plug in at an outdoor cafe? A team of mechanical engineering students may be able to help you out eventually

Incubators on two local college campuses are booming thanks to generous gifts from entrepreneur Irwin Zahn and his family's Moxie Foundation

The Moxie Center's Start-up Ventures

Showcasing th Moxie Center Incubator Startup Teams