De Anza Innovation Center

De Anza College Innovation Center logoFostering Creativity to Develop Social and Environmental Solutions

Unless otherwise noted, all events will be held on campus in the Business and Finance Village Center (AT 202).

For more information, please contact Dean Manisha Karia at kariamanisha@deanza.edu 

Winter 2025: Practical Small Business Hub

Expert speakers from several business disciplines will provide an overview of topics that are critical to successfully launching and operating a small business. Everyone is welcome – especially students who currently run a small business or are planning to start one (whether online or brick-and-mortar). Please sign up to attend any or all of these sessions.

Please Register to Attend

Click each red bar for details about each session. Learn more about the speakers below. For questions, please contact Dean Manisha Karia at kariamanisha@deanza.edu  

Jan. 28: Getting Started – Business Formation

  • Date: Tuesday, Jan. 28
  • Time: 3-4:30 p.m.
  • Location: AT 202 (Business and Finance Village)
  • Speaker: Steven Jackman

Learn about different business structures, registration and compliance. This session will cover LLCs, S corporations, sole proprietorships, and the legal aspects of purchasing a business and franchising. 

Feb. 4: Effective Online Marketing

  • Date: Tuesday, Feb. 4
  • Time: 3-4:30 p.m.
  • Location: AT 202 (Business and Finance Village)
  • Speaker: John Francis

Unlock the secrets of effective online marketing. This session will cover strategies for small businesses to grow – through search engine optimization (SEO), social media, content marketing and more.

Feb. 11: Contracts and Negotiation Techniques

  • Date: Tuesday, Feb. 11
  • Time: 3-4:30 p.m.
  • Location: AT 202 (Business and Finance Village)
  • Speaker: Steven Jackman

Master the art of contracts and negotiations. This session will cover the basics of commercial contracting – customer-facing and vendor-facing – and expert negotiation techniques to help you seal the deal.

Feb. 25: Accounting Essentials for Small Business

  • Date: Tuesday, Feb. 25
  • Time: 4-5:30 p.m.
  • Location: AT 202 (Business and Finance Village)
  • Speaker: Yacoub Moussa

Learn essential accounting tips from an experienced CPA. This session will explore tax considerations and strategies for using financial data to make smarter business decisions.

Meet the Speakers


Steven Jackman

Steven JackmanSteven Jackman is general counsel at Salute Mission Critical, a data center service provider with over 1,500 employees. With 25+ years of experience as a commercial and M&A attorney, Steven has an extensive background in the manufacturing and data center industries.

Jackman has held senior legal roles at Benchmark Electronics, Sanmina Corporation, Flex, and Digital Realty Trust. His expertise includes commercial transactions, M&A, compliance, and dispute resolution. He earned his law degreer from UC Hastings (now UC Law SF) and graduated cum laude with a BA in Economics and French from UC Berkeley. 


John Francis

John FrancisDe Anza Business instructor John Francis is a seasoned marketing and communications executive with an MBA from Drexel University. He brings over 25 years of experience in the dynamic entertainment and consumer packaged goods sectors, including leadership roles in the movie, video game, and toy industries.  

Professor Francis possesses a proven track record of success in driving business growth. He excels in retail marketing, category management, and business analytics, having led teams, developed impactful retailer strategies, and implemented programs that have significantly increased sales and market share.


Yacoub Moussa

Yacoub MoussaYacoub Moussa graduated from UC Santa Cruz in 2013 and began his career as an auditor at Deloitte & Touche LLP, the world’s largest accounting firm. A licensed CPA in California since 2014, he earned his MBA from San Jose State University in 2020. Moussa has held various roles in corporate accounting and finance, notably at Stryker, a Fortune 500 med-tech company, and Stanford University.

He managed global financial reporting, partnered across departments, and presented financial insights to executive leadership. Moussa currently runs his own CPA firm, specializing in small business accounting, tax, and consulting. He has also owned multiple small businesses, giving him first-hand entrepreneurial experience.

Business Model Canvas Competition 

This annual business model competition (BMC) is open to all De Anza students. Led by Dean Manisha Karia, the competition is a team-based event where students develop a business model within a given time based on a market opportunity identified by the judge.

Our next BMC event will be held in winter 2025.

lineup of students and faculty involved in business competition

(BMC participants, spring 2024)

Support the Innovation Center!

Your can make a donation to support the Innovation Center, and its activities for students, by using the Foothill-De Anza Foundation's online donation form. 

Donate Now

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