The Lassonde family has made another landmark $25 million gift to support the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute at the University of Utah, bringing their total commitment to $50 million. Pierre Lassonde, a renowned mining entrepreneur, University of Utah alumnus, and philanthropist, founded the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute after his wife passed away in 2000.
The institute honors their time attending the University of Utah in the 1970s and how the education and support they received set them up for success. The Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute, an interdisciplinary division of the David Eccles School of Business, has rapidly grown from one small program in 2001 to a globally recognized center for student entrepreneurship and innovation. It anticipates its 25th anniversary in 2026, marking a significant milestone in its growth and impact.
Over the past 25 years, the institute has become the destination for student entrepreneurs, and we are very proud of what it has done to inspire students to launch companies, gain real-world experience, and build their careers and futures,” Pierre Lassonde said. The new gift is a way to deepen our investment in these efforts. It will allow the institute to continue to dream big and do incredible things for young entrepreneurs over the next 25 years and beyond.
University of Utah President Taylor Randall highlighted how gifts from the Lassonde family have transformed entrepreneurship education.
Lassonde family’s lasting entrepreneurial legacy
“Pierre Lassonde and his family have inspired us to reimagine what it means to teach entrepreneurship at a university,” Randall said. “They have challenged us to focus on students and their ideas, hands-on learning, and to provide entrepreneurship education at a scale not available anywhere else.”
One of the biggest milestones in the growth of the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute was the opening of Lassonde Studios in 2016. This unique building was designed to help students “live, create, launch.” The building, which merges a student innovation space with residential space for 400 students, will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2026.
“The student community at Lassonde Studios is beyond anything we could have imagined,” Julie Lassonde, Pierre’s daughter, said. “We wanted to create a place where students can start companies and, more importantly, their careers and futures. The range and depth of impact it has had on students have exceeded our expectations.”
The Lassonde family’s continued generosity will ensure that the institute remains a premier destination for student entrepreneurs, driving innovation and economic development for years to come.
The institute offers a range of unique programs that allow students to gain an entrepreneurial mindset, hands-on prototyping, startup funding opportunities, and experiences managing programs. David Eccles School of Business Dean Kurt Dirks expressed his high expectations for the future of the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute. “As we chart our next ascent at the David Eccles School of Business, we have many exciting strengths to build on, and the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute is at the top of the list,” Dirks said.
Troy D’Ambrosio, the founding executive director of the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute, expressed gratitude for the Lassonde family’s vision and support. “The Lassonde family has allowed the University of Utah to build a world-class entrepreneur center with student-focused programs not available anywhere else,” said D’Ambrosio.