Entrepreneurship and Innovation
2026 Seawolf Makeathon
The SSU Makeathon is a 48-hour event held over the course of the weekend of October 23 - October 25, 2026. Participating student teams receive instructions and have 48 hours to create a minimum viable product for their idea. At the end of the 48 hours, students present their work and a brief presentation to judges who then vote to determine the winning projects and provide feedback to student teams.
Learning-by-doing Builds Confidence
The mission of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program is to promote the entrepreneurial spirit across the Sonoma State University campus and the North Bay region. Through our experiential learning entrepreneurship programs and events we provide students with training and experience and engage community business and civic leaders.
Alumni Venture Spotlight
Old Caz Beer was founded in 2018 by Tom Edwards and Bryan Rengel, who met in 2007 while attending Sonoma State University. As teammates on the SSU Rowing Team, much of their relationship involved getting abysmally small amounts of sleep and grunting at each other as they rowed up and down the Petaluma River in the predawn hours. This resourcefulness and hands-on effort has shaped Old Caz into what it is today—a multi-location, award-winning brewery with amazing people and supporters.
Upcoming Highlights
| October 6, 2026 | First Tuesday: Makeathon Info Session |
| October 23-25, 2026 | 2026 Seawolf Makeathon Competition |
| December 1, 2026 | First Tuesday: End of Semester Celebration |
Quotes from Previous Participants
"I really enjoyed being part of the Makeathon. My teammates made sure I understood their goals and I gave some pointers on presenting a new product. We had a really fun time with this project!"
"I wasn't expecting how well the event was planned, organized, and executed. Thank you to everyone involved in this Makeathon! I hope to participate in more events like this in the future!”
Experiential Learning Programs
Through our experiential entrepreneurship programs and events we seek to promote entrepreneurship on campus, provide students with training and experience, and engage community business and civic leaders. Our entrepreneurship curriculum allow students to gain a deeper understanding of each phase of the entrepreneurship process. In addition, the entrepreneurship mentors program connects current SSU students with community professionals and business leaders with experience and expertise in multiple industries and functions.