The Future of Entrepreneurship? Cal State East Bay Says It’s Shared

Cal State East Bay is betting that the future of entrepreneurship isn’t just about starting companies — it’s about sharing them.

On Thursday, March 5, the university will officially launch its Employee Ownership Initiative from 4:00–5:30 p.m. at the Acosta Innovation Hub in the CORE.

The event marks the public introduction of a new effort to embed shared ownership models into entrepreneurship education, student ventures and innovation programs. Anchored by the Joseph Cabral ’70 Endowed Chair for Employee Ownership Studies, the initiative positions Cal State East Bay as a leader in values-driven, inclusive entrepreneurship.

“Employee ownership isn’t just a business structure — It’s a mindset,” said Dr. Gangaram Singh, Joseph Cabral Chair for Employee Ownership Studies. “We want our students to understand how ownership can create opportunity not only for founders, but for employees and communities.”

The program encourages students to look beyond traditional founder-focused models and consider structures that broaden ownership among employees — approaches supporters say can strengthen workplace culture, improve retention and build long-term community wealth.

The kickoff will outline the initiative’s goals, highlight student leadership opportunities and formally launch the Employee Ownership Student Club. Attendees will also learn about upcoming innovation challenges and campus collaborations. The program will partner with the Up Club, the Acosta Innovation Hub and other campus groups to integrate employee ownership into entrepreneurship programming.