Miranda Lee, a wife, mother, student and entrepreneur, is on the cusp of achieving a significant milestone — graduating with a Master of Science in Entrepreneurship and Innovation (MSEI) degree from Cal State San Bernardino.

 “One of my goals was to complete my master’s by the time I turned 40,” said Lee. “I recently turned 40, and I’ll be graduating in December. Mission accomplished.”

Balancing her roles as a parent, student and entrepreneur required her to take an unconventional path through the MSEI program.

“I started really aggressively, but then mom duties and things like pitch competitions came up,” she explained. “What ended up being full academic focus shifted to part-time classwork and a whole bunch of extracurriculars.”

At one of those extracurriculars, the CSU Startup Competition earlier this year, she presented her startup, Modular Market, which won in the Business Plan category. “I’ve pitched at the competition two years in a row, and we led our team to success both times,” she said with pride.

In addition to her achievements at competitions, Lee participated in the prestigious PledgeLA Venture Capital Fellowship this last summer. The fellowship, which promotes diversity and inclusion in the venture capital ecosystem, was a transformative experience.

“It was an opportunity I never saw coming,” she said. Mike Stull, her advisor and director of CSUSB’s School of Entrepreneurship and the Inland Empire Center for Entrepreneurship, nominated her for the program. “He reached out and said, ‘I might have plans for you.’”

After a competitive application process, Lee secured her place and spent the summer immersed in venture capital training and mentorship at Kaya Ventures, a firm dedicated to addressing demographic-driven opportunities with impactful investments.

Miranda Lee (left) and Mike Stull, Lee's academic advisor and director of CSUSB's School of Entrepreneurship
Miranda Lee (left) and Mike Stull, Lee's academic advisor and director of CSUSB's School of Entrepreneurship, display Coyote Pride!

Reflecting on the fellowship, Lee noted its importance in breaking barriers for underrepresented individuals in venture capital. “Only 2% of all venture capital funding goes to women-founded companies,” she said. “For Black female founders, the percentage is even smaller. There’s so much work to be done, and programs like PledgeLA are critical.”

Lee’s time at Kaya Ventures offered her firsthand experience in venture capital operations. “Madeline Darcy, the general partner, trusted me to represent the firm at events and included me in high-level discussions,” Lee recalled. “It was amazing to see behind the closed doors and learn how decisions are made.”

Her venture capital experience complements her corporate background in learning and development. “I’m a corporate girlie through and through,” Lee said with a smile. “But I’ve always been an entrepreneur at heart.”

Modular Market, her licensing platform for corporate training, is a testament to her ability to merge these two worlds. As she completes her culminating project — a pitch for Modular Market — she is already considering taking the startup to an accelerator program to further its development.

“I’ve got a little more customer discovery to do, but I’m excited about the potential,” she said.

Lee attributes much of her success to the MSEI program’s unique approach. “They force you to think like an owner,” she said. “In some classes, you don’t get any answers or direction. You have to figure it out, and that’s the whole premise of the program.”

Professors like Mike Stull, Anna Long and Ezekiel Bonillas played pivotal roles in her journey. “Dr. Stull pushes me like nobody else,” she said. “Dr. Long’s hands-off teaching style encourages you to take ownership, and Dr. Bonillas mentored me through both of the startup competitions we won.”

Her advice to prospective MSEI students is simple: take advantage of every opportunity.

“Get on stage, pitch your ideas, and build your network,” she said. “San Bernardino has a network too, but you have to go get it. Don’t let your last project meeting be the last time you talk to someone.”

As Lee prepares to graduate, she envisions a future filled with possibilities. She and her husband plan to engage in angel investing while she continues to develop Modular Market.

Reflecting on her journey, Lee emphasized the transformative power of the program and her fellowship experiences. “It isn’t just about personal growth,” she said. “It’s about using what I’ve learned to make a real difference.”