Innovation Center Highlights
Here are some highlights of recent activities hosted by the De Anza College Innovation Center.
Click the yellow buttons to watch video recordings of the events.
Winter 2025: Practical Small Business Hub
Expert speakers from several business disciplines discussed topics that are critical to successfully launching and operating a small business. These talks are open to everyone – especially students who currently run a small business or are planning to start one (whether online or brick-and-mortar).
Click each red bar for details about each session. Learn more about the speakers below.
Tuesday, Jan. 28: Getting Started – Business Formation
- Date: Tuesday, Jan. 28
- Time: 3-4:30 p.m.
- Location: AT 202 (Business and Finance Village)
- Speaker: Steven Jackman
Learn about different business structures, registration and compliance. This session will cover LLCs, S corporations, sole proprietorships, and the legal aspects of purchasing a business and franchising.
Tuesday, Feb. 11: Contracts and Negotiation Techniques
- Date: Tuesday, Feb. 11
- Time: 3-4:30 p.m.
- Location: AT 202 (Business and Finance Village)
- Speaker: Steven Jackman
Master the art of contracts and negotiations. This session will cover the basics of commercial contracting – customer-facing and vendor-facing – and expert negotiation techniques to help you seal the deal.
Tuesday, Feb. 25: Accounting Essentials for Small Business
- Date: Tuesday, Feb. 25
- Time: 4-5:30 p.m.
- Location: AT 202 (Business and Finance Village)
- Speaker: Yacoub Moussa
Learn essential accounting tips from an experienced CPA. This session will explore tax considerations and strategies for using financial data to make smarter business decisions.
Tuesday, March 4: Effective Online Marketing
- Date: Tuesday, March 4
- Time: 3-4:30 p.m.
- Location: AT 202 (Business and Finance Village)
- Speaker: John Francis
Unlock the secrets of effective online marketing. This session will cover strategies for small businesses to grow – through search engine optimization (SEO), social media, content marketing and more.
Steven Jackman
Steven Jackman is general counsel at Salute Mission Critical, a data center service provider with
over 1,500 employees. With more than 25 years of experience as a commercial and M&A
attorney, Steven has an extensive background in the manufacturing and data center
industries.
After a clerkship with William H. Stafford, then-chief U.S. judge of the Northern District of Florida, Jackman spent five years in private practice before moving in-house. He has held senior legal roles at Benchmark Electronics, Sanmina Corporation, Flex and Digital Realty Trust. Jackman's expertise includes commercial transactions, M&A, compliance, and dispute resolution. He earned his law degree from the University of California Hastings School of Law (now UC Law San Francisco) and graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree in Economics and French from the University of California, Berkeley.
John Francis
De Anza Business instructor John Francis is a seasoned marketing and communications executive with an MBA from Drexel University.
He brings over 25 years of experience in the dynamic entertainment and consumer packaged
goods sectors, including leadership roles in the movie, video game and toy industries.
Professor Francis possesses a proven track record of success in driving business growth. He excels in retail marketing, category management, and business analytics, having led teams, developed impactful retailer strategies, and implemented programs that have significantly increased sales and market share. As a dedicated educator, Professor Francis leverages his industry expertise to create engaging and relevant learning experiences for his students.
Yacoub Moussa
Yacoub Moussa graduated from UC Santa Cruz in 2013 and began his career as an auditor at Deloitte
& Touche LLP, the world’s largest accounting firm. A licensed CPA in California since
2014, he earned his MBA from San Jose State University in 2020. Moussa has held various
roles in corporate accounting and finance, notably at Stryker, a Fortune 500 med-tech
company, and Stanford University.
He managed global financial reporting, partnered across departments, and presented financial insights to executive leadership. Moussa currently runs his own CPA firm, specializing in small business accounting, tax, and consulting. He has also owned multiple small businesses, giving him first-hand entrepreneurial experience.
Fall 2024: Startup Boot Camp
The free, noncredit Boot Camp was led by Rowland Chen, Business instructor and CEO of Silicon Valley Laboratory Inc.
- Eight teams were selected from across the campus, including CSIS, BUS, ECON, and COMM majors.
- All ventures selected had an element of technology and innovation, with an emphasis on social and environmental benefits.
- Six mandatory in-person workshops were held in October, focusing on value proposition, business modeling, funding, team building and pitching.
- $750 in prize money was awarded. Congratulations to the winning teams!
Video: Nathan Gold's Tips
During the Boot Camp, renowned "pitch coach" Nathan Gold gave a talk on mastering the art of storytelling and pitching.
We thank our esteemed judges who joined us for the pitch event, and our generous sponsors for the prize money. For more information, contact Rowland Chen, chenrowland@deanza.edu
Faculty Spotlight: Rowland Chen
Business instructor Rowland Chen gave a special presentation on "Ethical Innovation
in AI" to students and faculty members in November 2024.
Past Speakers
Speaker: Catherine Lin
Catherine Lin has more than a decade of experience in advertising, specializing in online marketing of products and working with clients such as Apple and Cadillac. She is currently the associate design director at Leo Burnett, a leading global ad agency. She was formerly art director at Kettle, a premier ad agency that integrates technology and creativity.
Speaker: Kevin McClelland
Kevin McClelland is a financial adviser with over 30 years of experience. He is on the Board of the San Jose Chamber of Commerce and chairs the Small Business Committee. He has been honored as Business Advocate of the Year by the San Jose Chamber of Commerce and received a Star Award from the Cupertino Chamber of Commerce.
Business Model Canvas Competition: Spring 2024
