UC Berkeley Haas School of Business Launches Innovative Entrepreneurship Hub
In the historic Julia Morgan-designed building just steps from the main campus, something remarkable is happening at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. Students gather in renovated spaces where century-old architectural details meet cutting-edge entrepreneurial programming, transforming ambitious ideas into viable startups. This is the UC Berkeley Haas Entrepreneurship Hub (eHub), and it represents a bold reimagining of what entrepreneurship education can achieve.
Navigating UC Berkeley’s Complex Startup Ecosystem
The Challenge of Over 100 Entrepreneurship Resources
Since opening in February 2025, the eHub has rapidly become the connective tissue binding together UC Berkeley’s sprawling innovation ecosystem. With approximately 100 separate entities devoted to entrepreneurship across campus, from incubators and accelerators to competitions and hackathons, students have long faced a daunting challenge: simply finding the right resources at the right time.
The eHub tackles this head-on, serving as both a physical home and a strategic guide for aspiring entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey.
Creating a “Brave Space” for Student Entrepreneurs
Why Entrepreneurship Should Be Accessible to Everyone
At the heart of this transformation is a philosophy that challenges traditional assumptions about who belongs in entrepreneurship. Executive Director Dawn McGee describes the eHub as creating a “brave space” where students can take risks without the pressure to present polished, performance-ready ideas.
This cultural shift acknowledges a fundamental truth: UC Berkeley students, trained to achieve and excel, often struggle with the messy, uncertain early stages of building something new. By intentionally fostering an environment where experimentation and failure are valued learning tools, the eHub is democratizing access to entrepreneurship.
Over 500 UC Berkeley Haas Students Building the Future
The numbers tell a compelling story. In less than a year, the eHub has attracted 510 student members pursuing ventures across the full spectrum of innovation. From InstaTrain’s AI-powered hotel staff training to Quilly’s platform supporting women in college, from FeatureBox AI’s inventory forecasting to Cata Tools’ manufacturing decision support, these startups reflect the diversity and ambition of the UC Berkeley entrepreneurial spirit.
Three-Track System: SEARCH, TEST, and BUILD
How the eHub Meets Students Where They Are
What makes the eHub particularly innovative is its structured yet flexible approach to supporting different student needs. The three-track system: SEARCH, TEST, and BUILD, meets students wherever they are in their entrepreneurial journey.
SEARCH Track: Finding Problems Worth Solving
The SEARCH track addresses one of entrepreneurship’s greatest barriers: students often lack a viable problem to solve. Rather than turning these curious beginners away, the eHub helps them discover opportunities worth pursuing.
TEST and BUILD Tracks: Validation and Growth
The TEST track supports students in validating their ideas through customer interviews and evidence gathering, while the BUILD track provides advanced support for ventures ready to scale.
The Human Touch: Meet Your eHub Navigator
Personalized Guidance Beyond AI Algorithms
The presence of eHub Navigator Karenna Rehorn adds a distinctly human touch to an ecosystem that could easily feel overwhelming. Unlike an algorithmic recommendation system, Karenna takes time to understand each student’s unique interests, skills, and time constraints before mapping out personalized pathways through UC Berkeley Haas’s entrepreneurial resources. Students report finding programs and competitions they never knew existed, saving crucial time and reducing stress in an already demanding environment.
Real Success Stories from UC Berkeley Haas Entrepreneurs
From Idea to Funding: FeatureBox AI’s Journey
Mentorship remains a cornerstone of the eHub’s value proposition. When evening & weekend MBA student Bharath Kurapati joined the BUILD track, he connected with mentor Pancrazio Auteri, who helped refine his pitch for FeatureBox AI. Within weeks, Kurapati secured second place at UC LAUNCH Demo Day, winning US$15,000 in seed funding and subsequently acquiring 10 paying customers.
This trajectory exemplifies how strategic guidance and community support can accelerate startup development for UC Berkeley Haas graduates.
UC Berkeley Haas: World Leader in Entrepreneurship Education
Ranked #1 for Undergraduate Alumni Founders
The eHub’s significance extends beyond its immediate impact on individual ventures. UC Berkeley Haas already holds impressive credentials in entrepreneurship. PitchBook ranked UC Berkeley the world’s top university for undergraduate alumni founders in 2025. The school’s location in the Bay Area, combined with its public university mission and values-based culture, creates what Dean Jennifer Chatman describes as a distinctive kind of entrepreneur: one dedicated to solving the world’s most pressing challenges rather than simply pursuing financial returns.
The Next Decade of Innovation at Haas
Faculty Director Saikat Chaudhuri sees the eHub as instrumental to UC Berkeley Haas’s next decade of entrepreneurial excellence. By strengthening the pipeline and enhancing ecosystem productivity, the school aims to generate even more startups that create positive disruption and social change. Recent ventures tackling challenges from plastic waste reduction to healthcare access improvements to cleantech solutions demonstrate this mission in action.
The Historic Julia Morgan Building: Where Past Meets Future
A Space That Inspires Innovation
The physical space itself carries symbolic weight. Housed in a beautifully restored Julia Morgan building from 1909, the eHub bridges past and present, honoring UC Berkeley’s architectural heritage. All while equipping students with modern tools for innovation. Made possible through significant donor support, including gifts from dozens of alumni, the facility represents a community investment in the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders.
As Luis Torrealba, MBA 26, founder of Cata Tools, reflects on his BUILD track experience: “It’s a great way to build community and have a supportive group of peers that are going through the same things as you when trying to start a company.” This sentiment captures the eHub’s essential achievement: transforming entrepreneurship from a solitary struggle into a collaborative journey, where ambition meets support, and bold ideas find the resources to become ground-breaking ventures.
Want to study at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business? Take our eligibility quiz to see if you qualify!
