Cal State LA University Auxiliary Services, Inc.

Made by and for BIPOC women, the LEEAF Business Accelerator builds equity - both justice and wealth - one entrepreneur at a time. Our business Leaders join a lifelong network with tailored support enabling them to tackle financial, social, and personal barriers, seeding community revitalization as they rise to economic leadership. LEEAF Leaders bond during an intensive training year, matched with a dedicated Cal State LA student Fellow, and work through our alumni network to create jobs, opportunities, and equity throughout LA County.

LA BioSpace, a Cal State LA initiative, provides entrepreneurs with state-of-the-art facilities and resources to launch startups and spur regional economic development. LA BioStart, a signature program of LA BioSpace, has trained and mentored more than 100 culturally diverse bioentrepreneurs over the last 3 years. LA BioSpace is looking to create a dedicated workspace for LA BioStart, including 2 state-of-the-art conferencing facilities, maximizing the cross-pollination of ideas and allows LA BioStart to reach bioentrepreneurs across LA County.

We propose the CaSIG Rooted Innovation Incubator (RII) as the vehicle to equip Cal State LA students to spark social enterprises and nonprofits throughout LA that facilitate economic opportunity and promote progress in a number of issues. The RII changes the game of social innovation for students who are intimately aware of their communities’ needs and opens doors for brilliant students who are under-resourced to develop their ideas and climb the economic ladder as they serve their communities.