The Price Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, UCLA Anderson School of Management

"Thank you for trying to make this easier for us. It’s rare to find people who want to step into this world and create solutions. You have no idea how much this could mean to families like mine." A mother said this to me at the end of our 45-minute Zoom meeting (originally planned for 30 minutes). The topic? How technology can be leveraged to simplify the lives of families like hers caring for loved ones with chronic conditions like cerebral palsy. Last Saturday, I reached a significant milestone at Anderson: the completion of my business creation capstone project. This program was one of the main reasons I chose to pursue my MBA at UCLA. Here are my key takeaways from this journey: 💡Build the right team Recruiting the right mix of skills and talents was a whirlwind process, but in the end, I’m so grateful to Brett Ambrose, Brendan Beroff, Ian Sequeira, and Charles(ChangJin) Liu for believing in the project, what we could do for this patient population, and trusting me to lead. Thank you for being part of this journey! 💡Get close to your customer I’ve always said this, but I’ve never truly done it until now. I spent countless hours with parents, caretakers, and patients dealing with CP, listening to their needs, understanding their challenges, and collaborating with them to ideate solutions. These conversations shaped every step of the project. 💡Solve the problems together During this project, I often felt like I was solving problems, but never fully or from all angles. This experience taught me to look at the big picture, involve the team, and ensure we address a problem in its entirety. 💡Iterate, iterate, iterate Product development was one of the most exciting parts of this journey. We designed a user interface and collaborated with our customers to refine how the product works. A few parents looked at our mockup and said, “Where can I download this app?”—a small but encouraging pre-validation of product-market fit. 💡Have fun This project was incredible. I learned so much about myself, what I want to do with my life, and what makes me truly happy: solving problems for patients and their families, alleviating their pain, and helping restore their standard of living. A big thank you to everyone who helped along the way—whether you sat with me and my team for interviews or connected us with others willing to share their experiences. The power of the LinkedIn network is remarkable, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to tap into and harness it for such a meaningful cause.

🌟 Every big dream starts with a small step and a LOT of listening. 🌟 12 years ago, while in rehab, I swapped booze for coffee and got hit with a lightbulb moment: a caffeinated yogurt called YoBuzz. Fast forward 9 years, during COVID, I finally got the courage to hit the Venice Boardwalk with dairy yogurt samples. What happened next? Customers spoke, and I listened. They wanted a plant-based version with protein, so I added almond protein. At Farmer's Markets, people kept saying it tasted like ice cream, and that inspired the pivot from YoBuzz to YoBe—a brand focused on protein and clean, healthy ingredients. Today, YoBe continues to evolve because of YOU. From Farmer’s Markets to feedback from big natural grocery store buyers, we keep improving based on what our customers want. This industry is tough, but we believe listening and adapting to your feedback will help us thrive and bring you the best alternative to protein bars and drinks.  💪 If you’re dreaming of launching a product, let this be your sign: Start small, listen big, and create something people LOVE. ❤️ What’s YOUR big idea? Let’s inspire each other in the comments! 🙌 #YoBeJourney #CustomerFeedbackMatters #HealthyLiving #Entrepreneurship

🚀 Entrepreneur's Day: George's Journey of Perseverance and Growth   It's not easy to start a new business, and for our founder, George Lang, building Apex Capital Growth Partners meant facing a ton of challenges. In the early days, it often felt like there was an endless amount of work with never enough time or helping hands to get it all done. When facing difficulties, George drew strength from a deeply personal motivation: taking more control of his destiny. He sought to align his professional and personal aspirations, creating space to balance his ambitions and values across all areas of life. Today, his determination continues to drive Apex's growth, and George takes pride in all that the company has achieved. Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs: 1️⃣ Clarify Your Purpose: Take time to understand why you want to start your business and how it aligns with your current and future goals. 2️⃣ Be Ready for Challenges: Building a business is tough, but every milestone you achieve brings immense fulfillment. 3️⃣ Stay Committed to Growth: Perseverance and focus will help you overcome challenges and continue evolving. Below are photos of George: from day one at the office to hosting a real estate entrepreneurs' conference one year later. #EntrepreneursDay #PerseveranceAndGrowth #ApexCapitalGrowth #LeadershipStory #BusinessGrowth