Spark believes that everyone has the potential to take initiative and change the status quo. Whether students don’t know their interests (yet!) or need help turning their interests into a vision, the interactive events will provide students guidance and the opportunity to learn from each other. Additionally, talks given by those who have started successful companies or projects will give students insight and perspective into how to turn that vision into reality.

This committee will be a sprint towards a clear and instantly rewarding goal. Skills learned to include research and marketing, logistics, and fundraising. Members will execute what we know needs to be done, as well as envision and voice their own ideas to make our events more successful or complement our overall mission. You will get to interact with curious students with a journey or entrepreneurship ahead of them, and founders with journeys of entrepreneurship behind them.

Project Launch originated from Spark’s mission to spread entrepreneurial spirit to people at and around USC. Last semester, we employed design thinking to re-evaluate the foundations of the initiative alongside students and faculty at USC Hybrid High and past participants in the program. Now, with a renewed take on curriculum and a clear basis of evidence for decision making, we will be building out the program in preparation for spring 2023.

Being part of PL will feel like a mix between:

As a member of PL, you will play an active role in how we set goals and make an impact.

I care deeply for the growth of committee members. Working on PL, you will have plenty of opportunities to sharpen creative problem-solving skills and make a tangible impact with contributions.

50% of this initiative is focused on promoting entrepreneurial thinking to the pure arts community, which directly serves Spark’s mission. The other 50% is dedicated to understanding that the status quo of entrepreneurship culture might not be perfect.

Rather than constantly pushing our way of thinking outwards to other communities, there may be an opportunity for us to grow by learning from the communities that feel disconnected from us, particularly that of pure arts.

Through this collaboration, each group gets to experience, learn from, and influence each other's creative processes and ways of thinking:

There's a significant potential for impact when we push artists and entrepreneurs to work together directly. And there's a lot to learn about how to catalyze the mindsets of both worlds to evolve into more empathetic, healthy, and authentic versions of themselves.

Any new from-scratch initiative invites many question marks. This semester will be research-, ideation-, and planning-heavy, with time dedicated to speaking with students, brainstorming and discussing as a team, and fleshing out the logistics of the program so we are ready to pilot it next semester!

I value open-mindedness in every team—towards each other and our ideas without judgment. I believe in establishing systems proactively for clear communication, and prioritizing mutual trust between teammates. Acknowledging each teammate’s “why” behind being on the team is incredibly important to me, to develop individual and shared north stars that allow us to explore varying questions without straying from our mission.

You should join this committee if you share the following:

We strongly believe in providing our members the opportunity to work on and create projects that they are not only proud of, but ultimately advance the ecosystem of entrepreneurship and action within Spark and through Spark’s outward initiatives. If Spark were a startup, we’d be its in-house creative agency, aiming to reinforce Spark’s brand and generate the organization’s outward content.

Spark Studio works in a range of mediums, from digital marketing content to web design to physical materials. You’ll learn important design skills and tools while generating a range of portfolio-ready work. And the best part? You’ll be part of a supportive community that prizes your work and empowers you to gain confidence as a designer.

We are creating this fair to empower students to launch their entrepreneurial journeys through immersion in an innovative and fast-paced environment, and to help startups grow by helping them hire driven young talent. Leading up to the fair we will hold panels designed to be office hours and Q&A with the founders and the leadership of the companies we’re hosting.

SCF is a committee for people wanting to explore and make lasting connections across the USC and LA entrepreneurial world. The work is fast-paced, rewarding, engaging, and is fundamentally about working with and talking to people.

Join this committee if you want to strengthen your network with amazing entrepreneurs at top companies. SCF will develop your problem-solving, networking, and organizational skills, and work with a fun, social group of students.

SCF is also one of Spark’s most social committees and hosts weekly trips, activities, games, or dinners in line with its core value of helping members build lasting relationships.

After SCF you find yourself with plenty of opportunities and with multiple members from previous semesters being hired by these start-ups.