The Bill Imada Leadership Fund in Entrepreneurship is designed to assist CSUN students in bringing their business ideas to market. Grants are intended to help students progress to the next level of development with their new venture, which may include prototyping, customer discovery, and/or securing seed funding.
Award: Up to $5,000
Deadline: Awarded on a rolling basis.
Process: Finalist students will be required to interview with the selection committee. All grant recipients will provide a formal presentation within 6 to 8 months of receiving the grant on the impact the grant has had on their business and entrepreneurial progress. Funds may not be used for personal expenses, salary/wages for team members, etc.
Eligibility: Applicants must: (1) be a current full-time matriculated student in any CSUN program, (2) have an overall minimum GPA of 2.0 at CSUN, and (3) be able to provide additional details including but not limited to pitch deck, progress to date, budget, academic transcripts, and most recent FAFSA or California Dream Act Application (if applicable). Students who are minorities, women, or economically disadvantaged are strongly encouraged to apply.
About the Donor
Bill Imada, co-founder and chairman of IW Group, has worked alongside some of the top companies in the U.S., including Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Southern California Edison, Walmart Stores, Walt Disney Imagineering, Warner Bros., Wells Fargo and many others. As a specialist in multicultural and generational marketing, Bill is one of the leading experts in reaching diverse consumer and B2B markets. He’s active in civic and community affairs and serves on more than seven boards and advisory councils. Bill remains committed to all that he pursues and believes that the best work comes from people who care about what they are doing. A coffee fanatic, he spends his spare time searching for coffee roasters wherever he travels. While a student at the University, he served as Associated Students President in 1979 and Vice President in 1980. He is a Lifetime Member of the CSUN Alumni Association and a member of the President's Associates. He serves on the Public Relations Advisory Committee at CSUN. Mr. Imada was honored with a distinguished Alumni Award in 2014.
