Register for the live webinar here: https://cca.zoom.us/s/287749083

CCA Sparks is a business pitch competition and mentorship program for undergraduate and graduate students at California College of the Arts, that launched in Spring of 2020. It's designed to support students in learning about the creation of new business ventures, and foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship at CCA. CCA Sparks is presented by California College of the Arts’ Career Development Office, in partnership with Intersection for the Arts.

Register here via Zoom.

4:00 – 4:20pm

Welcome + opening remarks

The Career Development team will welcome everyone, introduce CCA Sparks, give a few brief acknowledgements, and introduce our judges and finalists.

4:20 – 6:00pm

Finalist Pitches

Each team finalist will pitch their business idea live and answer questions from the judges, to determine which winners will be announced at the conclusion of the event.

6:00 – 6:30pm

People's Choice Award

Vote for your favorite pitch live in real time to win the $250 People's Choice Award!

6:30 – 7:00pm

Awards announcements + final remarks

After the judges have made their determinations, the winning teams will be announced live and we'll conclude with a few closing remarks.

Holly Samuelsen (BFA Textiles '08)

Holly Samuelsen is a co-owner of Gravel & Gold, a shop and design company here in San Francisco. She designs and produces textiles, apparel and home goods. She graduated from CCA in 2008, where she focused on textile surface design, anthropology of textiles and clothing, and pattern drafting. She has worked with the SF Opera, Levi’s, Hearst Museum of Anthropology in various capacities. During the quarantine time Holly has been cooking a lot, improving her cursive, and making protective face masks.

Norman Shih

Norman Shih is on the board of Intersection for the Arts. He has worked in the biotech industry for the past ten years, but escapes into the world of art as a sanctuary from the tedium of logic and corporate doctrine. He does photography and appreciates film, Japanese woodblock prints, and anything that evokes a sense of wonder.

Arjo Mozumder

Arjo is an investor at Point72 Ventures, based in the Palo Alto and San Francisco offices. His work is focused on applied AI technology and robotics, spanning a broad range of industry verticals including manufacturing, construction, and agriculture. His goal to reduce every task to what makes a person most human, specifically creativity — which is why he serves on the board of Intersection for the Arts (IFTA).

✷ FIRST PLACE ✷

✷ SECOND PLACE ✷

✷ THIRD PLACE ✷

✷ PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD ✷

CCA Sparks is presented by California College of the Arts’ Career Development Office, in partnership with Intersection for the Arts.

Questions? Contact Diana Chávez or Nicole Mueller in the Office of Career Development at careers@cca.edu for questions about CCA Sparks.