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Chase Pion, a Jefferson Scholar from Los Angeles, is a graduate of UVA’s McIntire School of Commerce. He says his experience at the Commerce School provided him with a strong foundation for his professional career. (Contributed photo)

All In Good Time: UVA Alum’s Startup Restores Trust to the Watch Market

Chase Pion says preparation, passion and people define his path from investment banker to entrepreneur. Today, the University of Virginia graduate is leading Bezel, a fast-growing startup connecting buyers and sellers of high-end, pre-owned watches. He credits his mix of financial discipline and team-first leadership to his time at the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce.
news.virginia.edu
AstraZeneca plans to build a factory in Albemarle County at a site near UVA’s North Fork, a research park with numerous biotechnology firms as tenants, including the nonprofit Cville Bio Hub’s Commonwealth BioAccelerator, which supports emerging biotechnology startups. (Contributed photo)

UVA Poised to Benefit from AstraZeneca’s New Albemarle Manufacturing Site

AstraZeneca’s decision to build a manufacturing plant in Albemarle County will accelerate research collaborations, bolster the area’s biotech industry and increase employment opportunities for University of Virginia graduates while enhancing the region’s growing reputation as a life science hub, University officials said.
news.virginia.edu
Two scientists in lab coats working in a laboratory with shelves of supplies and a central window in the background. Text reads: "UVA Innovates Annual Impact Report 2024–2025. Empowering Innovators for the Greater Good. UVA Innovates is a platform to catalyze innovation and entrepreneurship at the University of Virginia."

UVA Innovates Impact Report 2024-2025

The 2024-2025 Impact Report highlights a transformative year for UVA Innovates, marking a bold new chapter in the University of Virginia’s commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship. Over the past year, we launched three Signature Initiatives—The Foundry, Enterprise Studio, and Commonwealth BioAccelerator—designed to support students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community partners. In collaboration with Ecosystem Partners across UVA and Commonwealth Partnerships, these efforts are amplifying resources, fostering technological leadership, and driving economic growth across Virginia.
UVA fourth-year student Hunter Hicks is a numismatist, or a coin collector, a passion he picked up at just 10 years old. (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)

Meet the UVA Student Building a Rare Coin Empire

University of Virginia fourth-year student Hunter Hicks is turning a childhood passion into a thriving business. Founder of Hicks Coins, Hicks has built a rare coin empire generating over $960,000 in revenue in 2024, all while studying at UVA’s Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy and majoring in economics.
news.virginia.edu
Paul Cherukuri (Photo Credit: Rice University)

UVA Names Paul Cherukuri as Institution’s First Chief Innovation Officer

After a national search, the University of Virginia has named Paul Cherukuri its first chief innovation officer and the Donna and Richard Tadler University Professor of Entrepreneurship, pending approval by the Board of Visitors. He will begin on October 1. He will also hold faculty appointments in the School of Engineering and Applied Science and the McIntire School of Commerce.
Circle of paper cut-out figures holding hands

Rethinking Startup Funding: What Entrepreneurs Should Do Before Raising Cash

The University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business challenges conventional startup wisdom with insights from Professor Saras Sarasvathy, a global authority on entrepreneurial thinking. In her article, Sarasvathy emphasizes that formal funding isn’t essential to launch a successful business. Instead, she advocates for effectuation, a mindset where entrepreneurs build ventures using available resources, relationships, and stakeholder collaboration.
ideas.darden.virginia.edu