Second Annual PIES
PIES 2019
Students, faculty and alumni demonstrated that the spirit of innovation is alive and well at Pacific during the Pacific Innovation and Entrepreneurship Summit (PIES) in April. At this second annual summit, participants showcased innovative ideas from lighted backpacks that enhance motorcycle safety to sunblock for the eyes. The event drew more than 300 attendees and featured presentations and demonstrations from 30 student teams representing nine of Pacific's schools.
Dan Wadhwani, professor of Management and Fletcher Jones Chair in Entrepreneurship in the Eberhardt School of Business, and Mehdi Khazaeli, professor of Engineering Management in the School of Engineering and Computer Science, co-created PIES in 2018 as a means to highlight and enhance the interdisciplinary approach to entrepreneurship that is widely applicable to businesses today. "Students are inherently interested in the new innovations and ideas that are going to transform their world, and they want to be part of that," says Wadhwani. During the Tiger Tradeshow portion of PIES, students showcased their concepts and had the opportunity to pitch their ideas in the Pacific Pitch competition, which was judged by alumni entrepreneurs and innovators. Wadhwani and Khazaeli also arranged a public panel discussion by leading investors and entrepreneurs highlighting emerging entrepreneurial needs and opportunities. This year's panel featured Ann Rogan, executive advisor of economic innovation for the City of Stockton Office of the Mayor; Matthew Valiollahi, co-founder and CEO of Southern Marsh Collection LLC; Aaron Anderson, principal of Impact Venture Capital; and Hasan Ali, CEO of Air Tutors. PIES supports Pacific's goal to encourage interdisciplinary education. To learn more about this event and future interdisciplinary initiatives, please contact entrepreneurship@pacific.edu.
