Cathy Pucher

Cathy Pucher serves as the Executive Director of Entrepreneurship Initiatives at San Diego State University, supporting SDSU students, faculty, and researchers across campus, as well as the broader community, through a wide range of experiential learning programs and events.

Her work encompasses the ZIP Launchpad, SDSU’s on-campus incubator, and the Lavin Entrepreneurship Center. ZIP Launchpad has supported more than 600 ideas, launched over 40 businesses, resulted in four successful exits, and funds more than 70 paid internships annually to support ZIP Launchpad startups. The Lavin Entrepreneurship Center hosts the SDSU San Diego Angel Conference, a program that trains and activates accredited investors in early-stage investing. The Center is also home to the Lavin Program, which provides selected SDSU students from across campus with unique opportunities to explore the startup ecosystem, with mentorship as a cornerstone of the experience.

Together, ZIP Launchpad and the Lavin Entrepreneurship Center host the annual Social Venture Challenge, a competitive event for Southern California university students to showcase innovative solutions to major social issues impacting the region and beyond.

Cathy is deeply engaged in the San Diego startup ecosystem and actively supports nonprofit organizations dedicated to its growth and strength. She has served as Chair of Startup SanDiego for the past three years and currently sits on the board of Connect San Diego.

She also helped create EvoNexus and served as its first Executive Director. EvoNexus is a startup incubator dedicated to accelerating the growth of early-stage companies in San Diego and has achieved more than $5 billion in funding and outcomes since 2009.

Cathy brings over 20 years of experience in the tech industry, having worked with both established and startup technology companies. She earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of California, San Diego, and enjoys spending time with her husband, two young adults, and dog.