Only 3 weeks to go! Amazing job to everyone at the Funding Demo Day and a special thanks to our Weekly Nights team for hosting such amazing events this quarter. There’s not much from our side, but make sure to take a look at the opportunities this week!
In honor of Presidents’ Day, this week’s board spotlight is our Bruin Entrepreneurs President, Paolo Shamoon!
What changes have you implemented and which are you most proud of?
The most important change came within the way we recruited for the organization. Traditionally, we would do annual fall recruitment and onboarding based on a three-step interview process. This was great for some people, but I always thought that the way we should judge entrepreneurs is on their tenacity and dedication, rather than their GPA and resume. The first thing that came to mind was our general members. Through their time commitment, weekly participation, and drive, GMs have already proven that they are more than capable of making a difference on campus as a Bruin Entrepreneur. In this manner, we’ve allowed our most active general members to participate in an annual early-recruitment process during the spring, with only a single interview. I’m so proud of the work that last year’s early recruits have put into the club and I can’t wait to see what’s next!
If you were a general member, what BE resources would you be utilizing the most?
The first thing I would do as a general member would be to come out to the weekly meetings. Not only do you learn through fireside chats and workshops, but most importantly you are surrounded by 30-50 like-minded people in a single room. My favorite part of the weekly night is the networking portion after the event. I would do my best to talk with as many people as I can, grab as many Linkedins as I can, and talk with the board members about what I’m doing to see if they could direct me to the right initiative to help. One thing to remember is that Bruin Entrepreneurs is here to help YOU. Don’t be shy to ask us for help!
You can also reach out to him via email, paolo@tradeup.exchange!
BRUIN IMPACT CHALLENGE
Join us for The Bruin Impact Challenge Final Pitch Showcase! After three elimination rounds, the remaining teams in the Bruin Impact Challenge will deliver their final pitches on Thursday, March 3 from 5 pm-6:30 pm on Zoom. Join us to see the finalists pitch their innovative and inspirational ideas for positive social change ✨
UCLA NEW VENTURES & OPTUM LABS
Optum Labs is looking for early-stage startups with the power to disrupt and transform the healthcare system. Through access to UnitedHealth Group (UHG), the world’s largest payer serving 146 million people worldwide, Optum Labs works side by side with entrepreneurs to build enduring and impactful businesses.
On Thursday, February 24th, 2022, Optum Labs is seeking companies who leverage AI capabilities within these strategic areas: primary care, speciality care, imaging, virtual care delivery, mental health, health monitoring, diagnostics, and care workflow optimization.
If you would like to take advantage of this opportunity, submit your application by Monday, February 21st, 2022.
Please contact the New Ventures team at sofia.ramos@tdg.ucla.edu with any questions.
BIG IDEAS FINALISTS ANNOUNCED - UCLA STARTUP
Big Ideas Finalists! Read here to read more!