Brandman Speaker Series: How to Find Funding for Entrepreneurial Ventures

How to Find Funding 

for Entrepreneurial Ventures 

Critical Mass Radio Speaker Series with Brandman University

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2015 from 5:30pm-7:30pm

Meet the Panel hosted by Richard Franzi

Michael Sawitz, FastStart.studio

Founder

Michael Sawitz is a serial entrepreneur; keynote speaker; adjunct professor at Cal State Fullerton; and founder of FastStart.studio, a mixed use business incubator in Irvine. He has held founder of C-level positions for over forty years in the apparel industry, equipment distribution, and retail arenas. Michael's work has been published nationally, and he’s appeared on several print and radio talk shows.

His charity work includes: President of the National Alliance of Ship Centers, Board of Directors for the Tech Coast Venture Network, The Center of Entrepreneurship for Cal State Fullerton, Professional Mentors Advisors & Coaches, and Charter Member of TiE, the World’s Largest Entrepreneurial Education Organization.

Monica Shukla, Brandman University

Associate Dean for Curriculum, Assurance of Learning & Tutorial Faculty Affairs

Monica Shukla is a full time faculty member in Brandman’s School of Business and Professional Studies. Previously, she worked with Chapman University’s Student Affairs Department and University Advancement as the Alumni Networks & Outreach Manager.

In addition to her experience in higher education, Monica has also worked in the fields of human resources, special events management, and business operations with companies including

Capital Group Companies; M S International, Inc.; and the Disneyland Resort. She has been published in the Journal of Business Case Studies and received a Best Paper Award Certificate at the Association for Global Business Conference.

On top of everything, Monica is also a Brandman U alum, on the founding Board of Directors for the Brandman University Alumni Association.

Dr. Shan Steinmark, Chapman University

Director of Chapman University's Leatherby Center; Angel Investor

Dr. Shan Steinmark is an Angel investor, board advisor, the Director of Chapman University’s Leatherby Center for Entrepreneurship & Business Ethics; and Clinical Assistant Professor for the Argyros (Ar-jew-us) School of Business & Economics.

With experience as a clinician, researcher, serial entrepreneur & Tech Coast Angel, he has a rich and diverse history dating back 40 years.  This panelist co-founded several companies including

Strategic Transitions Research; Team One-Ten-One Hundred LLC; and Eye on Business Institute.  

Chapman University appointed Dr. Steinmark as the director for the Leatherby Center in 2015.  Before that, he served as a lead mentor with the center of Entrepreneurship and Business Ethics for two years. In addition to leading Leatherby, he works closely with Gene Alexander, the director of Chapman’s LaunchLab Incubator.  Launch Labs house approximately 30 student entrepreneur teams who develop start-up businesses.

Dr. Steinmark continues his role as host of a regular cable television segment called Eye on Business Innovation, dedicated to educating the Southern California community, often including leaders and entrepreneurs from Chapman.

Bill Waldo, Tech Coast Angels

Investor, Membership Chairman, Board Representative, & Co-screening Director