Jeremy Fiance, co-founder of the UC Berkeley chapter of The Kairos Society, believes that global challenges are entrepreneurs' greatest opportunities. 

Jeremy Fiance
University of California-Berkeley
Class of 2014
Majors: Business, Economics and Computer Science Interdisciplinary Study

I was always entrepreneurial, but I just didn't realize it until I reached college. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to gain exposure to the startup realm. In my first semester, I was a finalist in a UC Berkeley entrepreneurship competition judged by a notable panel of business leaders for my EdTech concept LectConnect. This competition made me realize I could turn my business ideas into realities and inspired me explore more entrepreneurial opportunities.

Since then, I've worked with two startups, a non-profit, an angel investment group, and I'm in the process of working with professors, alumni, students, and campus centers to create a unique incubator/accelerator program. I'm a rising junior studying business and interdisciplinary topics with a focus on the role of entrepreneurship and innovation in economic growth. It frustrates me that too many great ideas die. Too many talented individuals take the safe route when they have the capacity to change the world. I hope to help spark the start of a cultural shift at UC Berkeley and beyond.

Toward the end of my freshman year, I was asked by a student entrepreneur from USC, “What if the future international leaders of tomorrow were friends in their youth?” Together they could tackle some of the world's most pressing global challenges. This is the mission of The Kairos Society. At its core, The Kairos Society is about building cross-cultural, meaningful relationships and working with today's leaders to discuss and come up with venture solutions in areas such as education, healthcare and clean energy. We believe that these global challenges are entrepreneurs' greatest opportunities. Kairos fellows are using entrepreneurship and innovations as tools to tackle such problems. With Kairos Society, there are no barriers.

I co-founded the UC Berkeley chapter of The Kairos Society last year and am currently running the Bay Area region. My co-founders and I brought together a core group of talented students from all ends of campus and fields of study to create a unique forum for global thinking. Many of these students are already changing the world in diverse areas with venture solutions. Through Kairos, I have connected some of Berkeley's brightest to create a unique local group that links to a community of over 1,200 fellows across over 20 countries. We have brought in some of the world's brightest thought leaders, and we are implementing unique programs collaborating with some of the most influential global corporations on disruptive open innovation platforms. I'm not saying we are solving world peace, but it's something to strive for, and it starts with bringing together the leaders of tomorrow to start developing a better an understanding of the world we live in and how we can create a brighter future.

The Kairos Society: kairossociety.org
MasterMind: kairos50.com/desktop/company.php?companyID=6
Email Jeremy: jeremy.fiance@kairossociety.org

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