For Nick Cote, the Disruptive Innovations Program has transformed a future aspiration into a present-day pursuit.
“I knew that when I finished college, I wanted to design low-cost medical devices. The Disruptive Innovations Program challenged me to ask, ‘why not start now?’ I didn’t have a product idea, but I was driven to find one,” said Cote, a second-year student at the 91ԭƬ studying biomedical engineering and mathematics.
Cote is part of the inaugural cohort of the Disruptive Innovations Program, established in 2026 by the Honors College to advance interdisciplinary innovation for undergraduate students.
“It may seem simple,” Cote said, “but I’ve learned that you can use your company to make an impact important to you. The business has to support itself, but it doesn’t just have to do that.”
This fall semester, the Honors College welcomed nine Innovation Scholars representing 13 disciplines from the colleges of science, engineering and business. Over the course of the program, these students will learn how to adopt an innovator’s mindset, build entrepreneurial skills and develop their own original ideas into real-world projects and potential businesses.
“Through this program, we aim to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs,” said Robin Milshtein, program coordinator, engineer and former venture capital investor. “We want to empower our graduates with the skills and mindset required to lead innovative, disruptive companies.”
For several of the students, this program is more than simply an academic exercise.
"I run two restaurants in Reno,” said Can Uzay, a serial entrepreneur and first-year student studying psychology. “I joined Disruptive Innovations to turn the problems I face every day in my own kitchens into a company. The biggest lesson so far is to pick one customer and go deep. Talking with other restaurant operators through the program has already changed what I plan to build with Usta."
Throughout the program, students work closely with the program coordinator and a mentor to develop their concepts. This includes opportunities to learn from experienced entrepreneurs.
"I have enjoyed the guest speakers, as we get to interact with them in a relaxed, intimate environment, allowing me to easily ask questions and seek advice from them,” said Daniel Morales Pegueros, a first-year student studying finance and marketing.
The Disruptive Innovations Program is funded by a gift from Eugene Wong, an active angel investor and managing director of the Reno Seed Fund. Wong and his family’s foundation have established a matching “challenge grant” to accelerate fundraising and launch the next phase of the Disruptive Innovations Program. Through this transformational commitment, every gift between $10,000 and $25,000 made before Dec. 31 will be matched dollar-for-dollar, amplifying the impact of each donor’s investment.
This challenge will continue until $300,000 has been raised, creating a powerful opportunity for supporters to help expand innovation, drive meaningful outcomes and ensure the successful advancement of the program’s next phase.
“After serving the 91ԭƬ as a foundation trustee for many years and supporting several of its colleges, I have found the Honors College, through my partnership with Robin, to be a unique opportunity to mentor some of the university’s most talented students,” said Wong. “Together, we help them develop creative, innovative ideas and cultivate the entrepreneurial skills needed to turn those ideas into reality. Their success has the potential to strengthen our community and create new opportunities for economic growth and local employment.”
The program is advised by Sandra Rodriguez, Ph.D., director of Outreach and Engagement at the Honors College, along with Wong, Mick Hitchcock, Ph.D., and Roland Schumann.
“Taking an idea from a program proposal for funding to watching our students embrace this opportunity with such curiosity, courage, and enthusiasm has been inspiring,” said Rodriguez. “The students are discovering that their ideas have value and that they do not have to wait until after graduation to make a difference."
Disruptive Innovations helps enhance honors students' experiences at the University and encourages them to develop vital entrepreneurial skills while engaging with the wider Reno community.
"This program reflects the Honors College’s commitment to interdisciplinary learning, leadership, and real-world impact, and I am eager to see it grow so that even more students can participate," said Rodriguez. "By connecting talented students with university expertise, experienced mentors, and community partners, we have created a space where bold ideas can become meaningful solutions that will have a lasting impact on the University and the communities we serve.”
As the students progress through the program, they discover that innovation is not only about ideas, but also about believing they can bring those ideas to life.
“I have had a lot of great insights from the Disruptive Innovations Program already,” said Cash Walker, a second-year student studying mechanical engineering. “Everybody that I have met has been a wealth of great advice. I think the biggest takeaway I've had so far would be that starting your own business is not some impossible task. It can be a tough road to walk sometimes but is doable with enough perseverance and the knowledge that in the end it is worth it. If you want it bad enough, then you are able to do it.”
