Student Organization Spotlight: Entrepreneur Society
Nolan Matura, President of the Entrepreneur Society.
In honor of National Entrepreneurship Month, the Fowler College of Business is highlighting the SDSU Entrepreneur Society, a student organization that is making a difference both on campus and in the local community. After a virtual 2020-21 academic year, the SDSU Entrepreneur Society is transitioning back to in-person meetings. This year they are planning events with guest speakers and hosting competitions where students can pitch new ideas. Nolan Matura (Junior, Finance), President of the SDSU Entrepreneur Society, describes the importance of getting involved on campus, how the organization helps students find internship opportunities, and more!
About The SDSU Entrepreneur Society
Q: What are the goals of your organization?
We want our members to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset so they are able to apply it to whatever industry they end up working in after college. Most of us do not have our own business but we have speakers come in and speak about what it takes to be successful. We bring in entrepreneurs from all types of industries to allow our members to understand and open their minds to new opportunities.
Q: Why should students join your organization?
SDSU students should join our organization because we go over every aspect of a business, not just one specific part. We bring in founders of successful businesses who graduated from SDSUnot that long ago, so it shows that you can do it too! CEOs, Presidents, Founders, and Co-founders who are experts in marketing, finance, accounting, technology, sales, and creative genius all come out to our meetings. We are also a unique organization that brings in majors from all colleges at SDSU (not just students in business). We have several events throughout the year such as competitions where you can win hundreds of dollars while learning real life skills!
Q: What events, gatherings, and activities does your organization host?
For the majority of our meetings, we have speakers come in and speak about their journey as an entrepreneur and our members are able to ask questions. We also have competitions where students join a group of their peers and pitch an idea with a chance of winning money. In addition, there are many internship opportunities through our organization because startups want creative and innovative thinkers!
Q: When does your organization meet?
We meet from 7-8 pm on Wednesdays in EIS 103.
Q: How does your organization connect with the community outside of SDSU?
We are joint with the ZIP Launchpad where we can help our members find a paid internship at a startup company. This is an amazing opportunity to watch how a startup runs and operates plus you’re getting experience related to your major!
One of the Entrepreneur Society's general body meetings.
Q: How can a student get involved with your organization?
Attend our weekly meetings on Wednesdays to stay up to date with competitions and internship opportunities. Also, if you are a sophomore, then we can help you prepare for the Lavin Program which is the best two-year program on our campus to truly experience becoming an entrepreneur.
Q: What are your organization’s social media handles?
LinkedIn: The SDSU Entrepreneur Society
Newsletter: on the bottom of our website
Q: Anything else you’d like to add about your organization.
Look up the Lavin Center and you will find all the organizations on our campus regarding becoming an entrepreneur. We offer so much more than being only a business organization.
Q & A with Entrepreneur Society President, Nolan Matura
Name: Nolan Matura
Major: Finance
Q: As a student leader involved with an organization at SDSU, can you share why you got involved and what your experience has been like so far?
I got involved because I knew I was lucky enough to find an organization that I liked early on during my time at SDSU. I know people want to get involved but they do not understand how and helping students find what they enjoy is rewarding to me even if it has nothing to do with my organization. I also wanted to get connected with more organizations and people who were experts in parts of business that I struggled with, which has really helped me grow.
Q: Are you involved in any other organizations on campus?
I am in the Lavin Entrepreneur Program, which has been the most rewarding program during my time here at SDSU. It is a two-year program for juniors and seniors (tryouts are sophomore year in the spring) where you are paired with a mentor who has had success as an entrepreneur. Our class splits off into groups, and we get to build products and companies and implement them into the real world. It is truly an unbelievable experience. Finally, I am a part of the Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC) where I learn about being a VC and breaking down term sheets and startup companies.
Q: What experience with your organization has been the most impactful so far?
Listening to the speakers come in and speak about their successes and seeing relatively the same message each time. I want to be successful and hearing from entrepreneurs who have done it themselves helps me better understand how to do it myself.
Entrepreneur Society's Venture Capital Event.
Q: What has been your favorite event you’ve attended at SDSU? Why?
We had a venture pitch competition this year with the Cyber Defense Team when I was able to meet students who were not business majors. Also, we were able to come up with a problem and pitch it to the judges and won $1,000!
Q: Why is getting involved on campus important to you?
We all have strengths and weaknesses in life, and business, so meeting students who excel at things I struggle at has made me a more intelligent entrepreneur. It also brings me joy to help younger students because there were many people in my life who have helped me succeed at SDSU.
Q: What is the best advice you have received during your time at SDSU?
Create your daily habits early and stick to them. It’s easy to get distracted and lost at college but once I started implementing the same morning routine, life got a lot less complicated.
Q: What is the best advice you have for future Fowler College of Business students?
Get involved early and often. Showing up leads to opportunities. For example, I never would have joined anything else if I didn’t show up to the Entrepreneur Society meetings. I was elected on the executive board, which led to the Lavin Program, which led me to VCIC. It really does come full circle. You have got to show up to find out what you like.
Q: Are you involved in any internship opportunities?
I am currently looking for one for the upcoming summer. IF you are looking for an internship, we offer a bunch of great opportunities at the Lavin Center.
Q: What career aspirations do you have following your time at SDSU?
Either starting my own company or working for a startup where I can learn the ropes. I am still trying to figure out my exact career goals right now. I would like to one day have a career where I am in control of my time and not locked down to a 9-5 type environment. I want to look back at my life and have as few regrets as possible.
Q: Anything else you’d like to add about your time at SDSU/experience in your organization.
If anyone is reading this and wants to know how to succeed in college, 90% of it is showing up on time and proving that you care. There is nothing special about the people who hold executive positions or those who are on the board of the school. They all showed up and showed interest which led to their success.
Q: Pancakes or waffles? Pancakes
Q: Favorite band? Social Distortion
Q: Instagram or TikTok? Instagram
Q: Horror or comedy movie? Comedy
Q: Sunset Cliffs or La Jolla? La Jolla
Q: Pancho’s or Trujillo’s? Trujillo’s
