An Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

In 2011, Malisa Tep walked out of her first-year inquiry class at Portland State University with a new perspective on eco-friendly living. A few years later, those lessons came rushing back as Portland banned plastic straws, sparking an idea for a product to create a greener future. That idea became BBTEA Jars, Portland's first zero-waste boba kit.

Tep's story is just one of many at Portland State University, where classroom theory sparks businesses. From sustainable boba kits to handmade self-care products, PSU has become the city's top incubator for entrepreneurial talent.

One only has to look to the ecosystem at Portland State to understand why so many graduates are building businesses in our own backyard. At PSU, students are invited to blend classroom lessons with real-world opportunities while also having access to mentorship that informs and opens doors. Through these experiences, students gain the tools, connections and confidence to turn their ideas into thriving ventures post-graduation.

One only has to look to the ecosystem at Portland State to understand why so many graduates are building businesses in our own backyard.

This comprehensive, hands-on approach supports local economic growth as well. A February 2024 study by Switch on Business ranked PSU as the top university in Oregon for producing local business founders, with 42% of its graduate founders starting businesses in the state.

The companies founded by PSU graduates span an impressive number of industries and niches from service-based businesses to independent ventures that sell handcrafted self-care products and artisan foods. But for all the ways the businesses differ, their founders have a few things in common. They reflect the shared values of the university and city - among them sustainability, innovation and community - and they utilized the resources at PSU to hone their entrepreneurial skills.

SPARKING THE JOURNEY

Denise Tupper, MBA '19, credits PSU's supportive environment with sparking her entrepreneurial journey. Tupper spent two years in PSU's full-time MBA program, where she found the mix of academics and real-world insight invaluable.

"Instructors really pushed me to expand my knowledge," she says. Tupper also had access to alumni career talks and entrepreneurial panels, and gained practical know-how and encouragement through PSU's Social Impact Certificate program. These resources gave her the confidence to launch Homebody Central, a self-care brand offering botanical soaps, bath salts and other natural products.

From service-based businesses to independent ventures that sell handcrafted self-care products and artisan foods, the companies founded by PSU graduates span an impressive number of industries and niches.

"I started in 2021, pandemic time, when a lot of us were home. That was a very high stress time," Tupper says. "I wanted to create something to help the home feel more comfortable and also help people feel better in their bodies. I wanted to create products that bring joy or inspire creativity in our everyday lives, as that's something I seek out in my own space."

"I read a lot about making natural products. I lean into ancestral practices and Indigenous knowledge," she explains, drawing on herbal remedies and traditional approaches. For Tupper, blending her own Klamath Modoc heritage with sustainability has become a key piece of Homebody Central's mission.

UNEXPECTED ENTREPRENEURS

Not every successful PSU entrepreneur comes from the business school. Many students from other fields develop leadership skills and apply lessons from their programs to unexpected business ventures.

Tep, Community Health '15, never planned on becoming a business owner. But a sustainability-focused Freshman Inquiry course had a big impact on her. "I still remember those lessons on climate change, and what we can do as individuals to take care of the earth and inspire others to do the same," she says.

When Portland banned plastic straws in 2019, Tep recalled an eco-friendly version of a cup and straw kit she saw online, but wanted to create a glass and bamboo version. Bolstered by the small business owners in her family, Tep saw a chance to combine the leadership skills she developed at PSU with her commitment to sustainability and the community.

The result was BBTEA Jars, a company that offers zero-waste boba kits including an eco-friendly glass and bamboo boba jar. "I chose glass because it's recyclable and easy to clean. And I really like the look of bamboo," she says.

PSU isn't just where their businesses got their start, but a key player in their success.

For sisters Lisa Douangphoumy, International Studies '14, and Maly Douangphoumy, Political Science '17, entrepreneurship began with a family recipe. The sisters spent years working in their family's Thai and Vietnamese restaurant in Hood River. In 2015, they decided to expand the business by bottling and selling the restaurant's signature chili oil. With their mother Marnie's support, they navigated everything from health certifications to marketing and created Sao Noi.

"I completed my business minor so I do have a basic business foundation. And my Poly Sci degree helped me learn the legal and ethics pieces of the business world," Maly says.

Lisa's studies in international relations had prepared her for an entirely different career path. "I originally wanted to be a foreign service officer," she explains. But the lessons she learned at PSU put her on the path to entrepreneurship, and have come in handy as a business owner.

"Everything I learned at PSU in the International Studies program helps me be more personable in my [business] interactions, establish relationships and make those special connections with customers," she says.

A HOMEGROWN NETWORK

PSU's ties to the city's entrepreneurial ecosystem run deep, and the university has a robust infrastructure to support students who are interested in starting a business, including the Center for Entrepreneurship which runs competitions and start-up weekend sprints. PSU is also home to a network of faculty, alumni and community partners who guide and support students and grads on their journey to becoming successful business owners.

Tep has taken advantage of this network, becoming a familiar face at PSU Foundation Alumni Association events. After joining the Alumni Business Network, BBTEA Jars has participated in pop-ups at the Viking Pavilion and provided boba catering through the alumni association. They were invited to be one of nearly 30 local vendors and community partners at PIAAA Palooza, a pop-up event co-hosted by PSU's School of Business and the Atmos program to kick off Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Tep was also one of the first business owners to use the PSU Test Market, a short term, trial retail space for new entrepreneurs.

The connections young entrepreneurs make with mentors, advisors and peers are invaluable for their businesses. Maly says her connections from PSU opened doors in the business world, and gave her the opportunity to network with the professors who guided her through starting a business.

For direct help marketing Sao Noi's chili oil to retailers, Maly reached out to her former entrepreneurship professor, Colin Gallison. After appearing at a holiday market at the Food Innovation Center, the sisters and their mother pitched Gallison on their business. Gallison connected the Douangphoumys with John Boyle, a former colleague and food buyer for Market of Choice. Today, their chili oils and line of beef jerky are a hit at the markets, and can also be found on the shelves at various shops and grocers around town.

Through the university's connections, Tupper found vital support from organizations that provide business coaching and loans to navigate the challenges of launching a small business.

Through the university's connections, Tupper found vital support from organizations that provide business coaching and loans to navigate the challenges of launching a small business. "PSU fueled my interest in entrepreneurship and helped me build connections in the community," she says, noting that Jacen Greene - the previous manager of social innovation programs at The School of Business - connected her with the nonprofit Micro Enterprise Services of Oregon (MESO).

The nonprofit organization is dedicated to elevating under-resourced and excluded entrepreneurs to build resilience, equity and thriving communities through access to capital, tailored business assistance and education. Today, Tupper sells her products at the MESO Makers Market and also works there as an Individual Development Account manager, assisting and educating other local makers.

BBTEA Jars and Sao Noi have also benefited from local resources made possible through PSU connections. By linking alumni with organizations like MESO, SCORE, Built Oregon and Livelihood NW, PSU ensures that budding business owners have access to the resources they need to thrive.

THE PORTLAND MARKET

When it came time to decide where to launch their businesses, these grads say Portland was the obvious choice. Portlanders take pride in supporting small businesses that contribute to the city's unique culture. Farmers markets, independent shops and community events provide spaces for entrepreneurs to connect with customers and showcase their products.

The city has proven to be the perfect place to grow Sao Noi. "We're happy to be part of the local economy," Lisa says. Despite the competitive chili oil market, they've found that Portland is a great community filled with uplifting and supportive people. They also note Portland's reputation as a foodie city has been helpful. The city's appearances on shows like "Street Food: USA" coupled with a growing appreciation of Laotian flavors is bringing positive attention to their rich culture.

Portland's culture of sustainability also resonates with these founders. Sao Noi avoids artificial preservatives in their products, Homebody Central relies on natural floral and herbal fragrances and BBTEA Jars creates eco-friendly glass and bamboo kits.

Tep saw a chance to combine the leadership skills she developed at PSU with her commitment to sustainability and the community.

"There's a market here," says Tep. "People want sustainable products. That's one reason I started a business here and branded my boba kit as the first zero-waste boba kit made in Portland."

Now that their businesses have gained traction, these entrepreneurs are focused on growth. Sao Noi recently launched their Southeast Asian-flavored beef jerky line. Homebody Central is gearing up to drop new products like herbal bath teas and body oils in 2025. And BBTEA Jars is venturing into catering through an offshoot of the original business called BobaGems.

For entrepreneurs like Tupper, Tep and the Douangphoumy sisters, PSU isn't just where their businesses got their start, but a key player in their success. With mentorship, hands-on opportunities and real-world connections, the university helps students turn inspired ideas into tangible businesses, and continues to shape Portland's economy, culture and identity as a hub for innovation.

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