When Anil Sharma arrived in the United States from India in 1997, he had $100 and the determination to build a future in a new country. Later that year, he founded 22nd Century Technologies. The McLean-based business has since grown into a $600 million government contracting company serving public agencies across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
That experience shaped the commitment Anil and his wife, Anupama, share to education, entrepreneurship, and opportunity. Their gift to name the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at George Mason’s Costello College of Business will help more people gain the connections, guidance, and practical experience needed to develop ideas and build ventures of their own.
The center brings together students, faculty, entrepreneurs, mentors, and regional partners. Building on programs such as the Patriot Pitch Competition, the Honey Bee Initiative, and the SOAR Initiative, it is positioned to become a stronger hub for innovation and partnership across Northern Virginia.
For the Sharmas, the gift is rooted in a simple belief: success is never achieved alone. Communities create the conditions in which people can grow, and those who find opportunity have a responsibility to help create it for others.
That spirit sits at the heart of Mason Now. The campaign brings people and resources together to expand access, accelerate ideas, and prepare students to lead through change. The Sharmas’ investment will help ensure that the next generation of entrepreneurs has not only the ambition to begin, but also the community and support to move forward.
Evidence of impact
- A named center connecting students, faculty, entrepreneurs, and regional partners.
- Support for established programs that help people test ideas, develop ventures, and gain mentorship.
- An investment in the Costello College of Business as it approaches its 50th anniversary in 2027.