The Lassonde Family Foundation has donated $25 million to the University of Utah’s Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute, doubling its support and expanding global opportunities for student innovators.
The Lassonde Family Foundation – led by Pierre Lassonde, a renowned mining entrepreneur, University of Utah alumnus, Canadian native, and major donor to the University of Utah – has made a landmark $25 million gift to support the continued growth of the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute, announced the university today.
This donation matches the foundation’s previous contributions, doubling its total commitment to $50 million. Managed by Pierre Lassonde and his children, Julie and Christian, the foundation’s sustained support reflects the family’s belief in the institute’s mission and its long-term impact.
Founded in 2001, the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute is an interdisciplinary division of the David Eccles School of Business. It has grown from a single program into a globally recognized hub for student innovation and entrepreneurship. This new gift arrives as the institute approaches its 25th anniversary in 2026.
“The institute has become the destination for student entrepreneurs over the past 25 years,” said Pierre Lassonde. “We are proud of how it inspires students to launch companies, gain real-world experience, and build their futures. This gift will allow the institute to continue to dream big and achieve incredible things for young entrepreneurs over the next 25 years and beyond.”
Lassonde founded the institute in memory of his wife, Claudette MacKay-Lassonde, who passed away in 2000. Both attended the University of Utah in the 1970s—he earned an MBA, and she completed a master’s in engineering. Pierre Lassonde later founded Franco-Nevada, an international mining company. Claudette became the first woman president of Professional Engineers Ontario.
The institute’s first initiative, the Pierre and Claudette MacKay Lassonde New Venture Development Center, connected graduate students with inventors to help launch startups and gain entrepreneurial skills. That program continues today as part of a much broader network.
Over the last two decades, the institute has expanded dramatically. It now serves over 6,000 students annually and supports more than 500 startup teams each year.
“We’ve built an institute that is the envy of universities worldwide,” said Lassonde. “It’s powered by faculty, staff, and students who lead and innovate. Everything we do is for them—to foster their ideas and help them become entrepreneurs and leaders.”
University of Utah President Taylor Randall praised the transformative effect of the Lassonde family’s contributions.
“Pierre Lassonde and his foundation have redefined how we teach entrepreneurship,” Randall said. “They’ve pushed us to focus on students and real-world learning at a scale unlike anywhere else. Every student here has the chance to launch a company, solve problems creatively, and gain entrepreneurial skills that will serve them for life.”
One of the institute’s defining milestones was the 2016 opening of Lassonde Studios. The building blends a 20,000-square-foot innovation space with residential housing for 400 students. Its "live, create, launch" mission has inspired thousands and drawn international attention for its unique design and impact.
“Lassonde Studios has become an innovation lab for students of all majors,” Randall said. “They come to workshops, prototype ideas, meet collaborators, and launch startups. They’re learning by doing—and changing their futures in the process.”
Julie Lassonde, who was born in Salt Lake City during her parents’ time at the university, also reflected on the program’s reach.
“The community at Lassonde Studios is beyond what we imagined,” she said. “We wanted to create a place where students start companies and careers. The depth of impact has exceeded our expectations. This new gift will fuel even more student success and growth.”
On May 1, 2025, the University of Utah awarded Julie Lassonde an honorary doctorate in engineering for her philanthropic leadership and dedication to education.
Kurt Dirks, dean of the David Eccles School of Business, sees the Lassonde Institute as a pillar of the school’s strategic growth.
“This extraordinary gift strengthens our mission to be the business school of choice for top students,” Dirks said. “We plan to expand our programming, attract entrepreneurial talent from around the world, and instill an entrepreneurial mindset in every student.”
Troy D’Ambrosio, the institute’s founding executive director, and current vice president for innovation, expressed gratitude for the Lassonde family’s vision and impact.
“Thanks to their support, we’ve built a world-class, student-focused entrepreneurship center,” he said. “Their generosity will continue to drive student innovation and economic development for generations.”
Signature programs at the institute include:
Another cornerstone is the Master of Business Creation (MBC), previously covered by TechBuzz, a graduate program run with the U's Department of Entrepreneurship & Strategy. It combines a business accelerator with a rigorous academic curriculum to help founders scale their startups. The MBC program has expanded globally, with new cohorts in Africa and plans for additional international outreach.
“We want this gift to help every program at the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute grow and reach more students around the world,” said Pierre Lassonde. “We’ve seen the life-changing effects these opportunities have, and we look forward to the next 25 years of innovation and impact.”
Learn more at lassonde.utah.edu.