Organizers:
- Christopher Stewart, Co-founder of Pocket Radar Inc. and Invention Planet LLC, Lead Entrepreneur-in-residence, School of Business, Lead industry advisor/volunteer professor, School of Engineering, Sonoma State University
- Nadiya Parekh, Assistant Professor, School of Business, Sonoma State University
The world is witnessing a major tectonic upheaval with the emergence of companies with Trillion Dollar valuations. These companies span several industries and business lines and are redefining the opportunity space for entrepreneurs. With the tech-domain spawning unicorns and beyond, it is very likely that strategy and entrepreneurship theory, research, and practice will focus on such phenomenon. There is no doubt that the actions of the ultra-behemoths and the unicorns have a great impact on how the business landscape will evolve. The idea of pursuing stakeholder orientation and purpose with progress is being heavily debated around the world in the context of large established firms as there are likely “trade-offs” between these goals.
Entrepreneurship encompasses several firms which are beyond the most eye-catching and media-attention garnering firms. Nascent firms emerge which are unencumbered by the “trade-offs” encountered by established firms. Just as ‘born global’ firms, there are firms that are ‘born to impact,’ beyond focusing only on financial growth. Some may essentially be ‘niche’ firms, incredibly innovative, and be under the radar in the competitive space. However, they compete for customers and capital alongside high financial returns-oriented firms and face unique challenges in the process.
The North Bay region is a cradle for such innovative firms (in wine and non-wine industries) right in the backyard of the heavy and high-tech firms. Several of these firms have unique business models that involve multiple stakeholders in the process of creating broader societal impact. Such ventures need a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem with venture capitalists, angel investors, private capital, banking, and other institutions to support their existence and growth.
This extension is focused on building conversations and dialogue among scholars and practitioners interested in topics of stakeholder engagement, impact/purpose-driven/social enterprises, responsible, mindful, and mission-driven capitalism, sustainability, and venture capital. The program involves practitioner and academic panels providing opportunities for participants to engage in rich discussions and cultivate meaningful connections and partnerships. The extension is expected to advance theory, research, and practice in the pursuit of responsible and balanced business models that enrich the world we live in.
Key Takeaways:
- Not all firms are born equal— How do entrepreneurial firms find their place amidst giant competitors? What strategies do they use to entice and retain their customers?
- What attributes do investors (venture capitalists, banks, angel investors) look for in entrepreneurial pitches/ventures? Have the attributes changed over time?
- How should you strategize to capture investor attention and commitment?
- Is sustainability orientation a fashion or a fad OR is it a deeper commitment for some firms?
- What are some of the business models that have sustainability at the core and how do they gain competitive advantage?
- What are some unique business models that involve multiple stakeholders in the process of creating broader societal impact?
- How do you design organizations for pursuing purposeful progress?
Date and Time: Wednesday, October 15, 2025, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. PDT
Host Institution: The School of Business, Sonoma State University (Student Center Ballroom)
Registration Fees:
- SMS Members: $150 USD
- Non-Members: $175 USD
Tentative Program and Schedule:
08:30 to 09:00 – Registration & Coffee
09:00 to 09:20 – Welcome speeches
Provost of SSU and the Dean of the Business School
Plenary speech/Key note address (9.30 a.m. to 10.15 a.m.)
Panel One (10.15 a.m. to 11.15 a.m.): Competing for customers
Speakers: Professor Elizabeth Pontikes (UC Davis), Mr. Zachary Kushel (Marin Sonoma Impact Ventures, Founder and Managing Partner), and one/two entrepreneur(s)
11.15 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. – Coffee break
Panel Two (11.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.): Competing for capital
Speakers: Professor Yong Li (University of Nevada, Las Vegas), Mr. Tony Magee (Founder, Lagunitas Brewing Company) and Mr. Lance Cottrell (President & Chair of Board of Directors, North Bay Angels)
12.30 p.m. to 1.30 p.m.– Lunch
Panel Three (1.30 p.m. to 3.00 p.m.)
Purposeful innovations, stakeholder orientation, and sustainability—Tech & non-Tech/wine
Moderator: Professor Damien Wilson (Faculty Director, Wine Business Institute, SSU) and Ms. Aishwarya Kancharla (Founder AmmammaTati and Sandy Loam)
Speakers: Professor Oana Branzei (Ivey Business School, Canada), Mr. Brent Bauer, Co-founder, President and CEO, Resynergi), other practitioners from Tech & non-tech/Wine
3.10 p.m. to 3.30 p.m.— Coffee break and disperse
Sonoma State University Walking Tour (3.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m.): Optional
Participants to have time to visit wineries/Bodega Bay/Downtown Santa Rosa/Healdsburg and organize dinners on their own.
EXPERIENCE SONOMA
Logistics:
A. Transportation
Airports
- STS (Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport, ~30 mins from SSU)
- SFO (San Francisco International Airport, ~1 hr 45 mins from SSU)
From conference location: (Ideally arrive previous evening in Sonoma County)
- Drive down the Scenic Sonoma route on US 101 (BEST TRAVEL OPTION)
- Car-pooling or sharing UBER rides
- Average Travel time: 1 hr 10 minutes
- By Smart Train:
- Take Uber until Larkspur Station
- Smart Train Schedule: https://www.sonomamarintrain.org/schedules-fares
- Check timings for evening train connections in the schedule.
- If arriving in the morning:
- Departs Larkspur—7.12 a.m. ; 7.44 a.m.
- Reaches Cotati —8.05 a.m.; 8.37 a.m.
- Distance from Cotati station to SSU—1.1 miles
- Take Uber to Sonoma State University—less than 5 min
- or walk down 20 minutes.
- UBER+Ferry+Smart Train/UBER (for the adventurous and those with time on hand)
- Take Uber to Ferry point
- Get on to Ferry from San Francisco to Larkspur (previous evening to watch beautiful sunset and lights or early morning for a peaceful sunrise) https://www.goldengate.org/ferry/route-schedule/larkspur-san-francisco/?backurl=%2Fferry%2Fschedules-maps%2F
- Take Smart Train (allow enough time to walk from Ferry) or Take UBER
- Definitely plan for more time because of lags between Ferry arrival and Smart Train departure timings (check for coordinated schedules on Golden Gate Ferry website that will be updated periodically).
B. Accommodation
Hotels nearby SSU:
- *DoubleTree hotel, Rohnert Park, Sonoma County https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/rlsc-dt-doubletree-sonoma-wine-country/
- *Oxford Suites, Rohnert Park, Sonoma County https://www.oxfordcollection.com/hotels/suites-sonoma-county?utm_source=gmb&utm_medium=yext
C. Explore the area
Sonoma is a heaven for those interested in nature and natural. Walk, hike, bike, stroll around the vineyards, coastal stretches, thick redwoods, lakes, and beautiful small downtown areas. Explore Green Music Center events, Wineries, breweries, local gourmet/family-owned restaurants, ice-cream/desserts, Oliver’s market, among others
Culinary delights are created from mostly locally sourced and organic ingredients.
- Check the links below
Recommended geographic spots/hikes/trails
- Bodega Bay, Sonoma Mountain, Taylor Mountain, Treks/Parks (Sonoma State Regional Park, Sonoma Lake, Armstrong regional park etc.,)