The Emily Serebryany 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
Emily Serebryany is an alumna of the Department of Accounting in the David Nazarian College of Business having graduated in 1994. She arrived in the United States as an immigrant from the former Soviet Union in 1988. She was married with a young child, but she had promised her father she would continue her education when she left the Soviet Union. CSUN provided the best opportunity for her to do so. Although she majored in Accounting, she never practiced as an accountant, however the instruction she received in her classes in business law, marketing, finance and accounting provided her with an education in American business. Emily’s education in the Nazarian College of Business enabled her and her husband to create and build Mediscan, a very successful medical staffing agency, where she served as President from 1995 until it was sold in 2015. Emily is now an investor and advisor for start-ups. She has also participated as a judge for several student pitch competitions in the Nazarian College. As an immigrant, a woman and successful entrepreneur, Emily understands the challenges many CSUN students face when trying to create and launch a business and she wants to assist by providing them with the support and resources needed to succeed. She understands that success lies in trying new ideas and failure is the risk of trying. Emily also has two children, both of whom are successful entrepreneurs.
