The Lassonde Family Foundation has had a profound impact on the University of Utah for decades. Led by Pierre Lassonde MBA’73 and his children, Julie and Christian, the foundation has generously contributed over $25 million in support of student entrepreneurship throughout the years. Last spring, the foundation announced a new $25 million gift, setting the stage for the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute’s 25th anniversary in 2026.
The institute—ranked among the top 10 in the nation—has grown from a single program in 2001 into a powerhouse of student innovation. An interdisciplinary division of the David Eccles School of Business, it reaches more than 6,000 students each year and supports over 500 startup teams annually.
“The institute has become the destination for student entrepreneurs over the past 25 years,” says Pierre Lassonde, who founded it in memory of his late wife, Claudette MacKay-Lassonde MS’73. “[The new gift] will allow the institute to continue to dream big and do incredible things for young entrepreneurs over the next 25 years and beyond.”
A key symbol of that growth is Lassonde Studios, the award-winning live-work space where students build companies alongside classmates. “The student community at Lassonde Studios is beyond anything we could have imagined,” says Julie Lassonde. “We are changing the world through student experiences.”
U President Taylor Randall HBA’90 says the Lassonde family’s support has been transformative. “They have challenged us to focus on students and their ideas, offer hands-on learning, and provide entrepreneurship education at a scale not available anywhere else,” he notes.
From prototyping labs and seed grants to a master’s degree designed for startup founders, the institute blends real-world experience with academic rigor. This new donation will help it grow for decades to come.
“We know we have the best entrepreneur program,” says Pierre Lassonde. “We hope this gift allows the University of Utah to continue thinking big about engaging student entrepreneurs.”
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