NW Valley Times

Grand Canyon University (GCU) is working to dispel the notion that its business incubator, Canyon Ventures, is exclusively for students of the Colangelo College of Business. Caleb McCandliss, president of the IDEA Club and an engineering major, aims to encourage students from all GCU colleges to create products and start businesses.

“We’re going to have students collaborating,” McCandliss said. “If they want to start a clothing company, we’ll give them all the resources they need to start a clothing company. We want to provide these opportunities and paths for students this year to the point where we’re not talking about creating a business but saying, ‘Hey, go make the product. Go sell it.’ Or, if you’re selling a service, go actually do it, and we’ll help you get there."

McCandliss also emphasized the importance of growth and inclusivity within IDEA Club. “We believe in inviting all the different colleges on campus because we want a diverse mindset within IDEA Club.”

College of Engineering and Technology Dean Paul Lambertson supports this collaborative approach. “Engineering and tech go hand in hand with business, and arts and media have a solid backbone in tech. We all work together," he said.

The IDEA Club Marketplace saw significant success last year with over $300,000 in merchandise and food sales across six events. The club now seeks more vendors from other colleges at GCU.

Tim Kelley, Chair of Entrepreneurship at Colangelo College of Business, highlighted how innovation extends beyond traditional business disciplines. “Engineering and technology are intricately tied to an entrepreneurial mindedness,” Lambertson added.

This semester marks a new initiative where business majors will join engineering capstone teams for their projects. Lambertson noted that his college is also working on organizing capstones with the College of Arts and Media.

“This is all part of how we (GCU) come together to produce graduates of excellence and character steeped in an entrepreneurial mindset,” Lambertson stated.

Kelley pointed out that GCU has integrated entrepreneurship into various degree programs such as engineering management and computer science. He mentioned that building interconnectedness between colleges took five years with Provost Dr. Randy Gibb’s support.

“I love it,” Kelley said about student involvement in these initiatives. “The kids have all the spirit in the world. They’re the ones who make it so amazing.”

For further information or inquiries, contact Mark Gonzales at [email protected].