About Us
Who We Represent
Founded in 2019, SRBA represents thousands of students who lead both student-run and student-owned businesses, as well as the organizations that support them.
As of 2024, SRBA is expanding with special attention to hosting world-class events, year-round communities, and in providing education and performance learning assets to members.
Our affiliate organizations range from startup to more than 100 years of history, and they operate variety of high performing businesses. These businesses often employ diverse students and positively impact local communities while accelerating student learning, networking and career performance. At SRBA, we take pride in representing the students, staff, universities and alum who are advancing the most impactful educational experiences available to students around the world.
What is a Student-Run Business Organization (SRBO)?
Dating back to 1894 at Cornell University, student-run business organizations have enabled students to learn leadership, entrepreneurship and excellence by leading and building real businesses in the real world. Originally, SRBOs formed to help students pay tuition. Now, they are advanced tools for hands-on, experiential learning, employing thousands of students and generating tens of millions of dollars in revenue each year.
What do all SRBOs have in common? Students at the helm of businesses that matter.
What is a Student-Owned Business Organization (SOBO)?
Student-Owned Business Organizations are organizations that support individual student-owned businesses by providing education, networking, mentor support, startup competitions and funding, and other offerings. SOBOs are often on-campus service providers such as innovation centers, but they may also be independent from specific universities.
Our Mission
[version under construction and review] Our mission is to build a global community of practiced leaders by advancing opportunities for students to learn by launching and leading real-world businesses
Our Vision
Shaping the future of higher education and positively impacting society by preparing the next generation of practiced leaders.
Our History
The Student-Run Business Association (“SRBA”) emerged from the collaboration and determination of students, faculty, and staff of student-run business organizations across the country.
In 2013, Loyola Limited of Loyola University Chicago hosted the First Annual Student-Run Business Conference to create a forum for collegiate entrepreneurs to network and collaborate. The conference engaged 30+student business leaders and administrators from various institutions each year, providing attendees with critical tools to improve customer and staff experiences, all in the company of their peers and engaging: University of Pennsylvania, Cornell University, Northwestern University, Loyola University, Xavier University, University of Dayton, Washington University in St. Louis, Princeton University, and Brown University.
After years of discussing the need for more consistent learning and collaboration opportunities, SRBA Founding Members held a summit in Ithaca, NY (hosted by Student Agencies, inc.) in 2018 to create the formal Student-Run Business Association (SRBA) - a tool for providing the resources and pathways for student-run business programs to grow and best support their student entrepreneurs. This milestone was been achieved thanks to the students, full time faculty and staff members, guest speakers, and alumni of these student programs that are carrying out the long-term vision of the success this network can have.
Current Officers FY2024
Owen Raisch - President | Blue and Gold Ventures
Gary Burns- Creative Director | Harvard Student Agencies
Claire Williams - Chair | Penn Student Agencies
Sambhav Bansal - Treasurer | Tiger Student Ventures
Current Board of Directors FY2024 - (Role | Affiliation)
Claire Williams - Director, Chair | Penn Student Agencies, Previous General Manager (2015-2020)
Macy Buck - Director | Flyer Enterprises, Current Student CEO (2023-Present)
Sambhav Bansal - Director, Treasurer | Tiger Student Ventures, Co-Founder and Previous CEO (2021-2023)
Davis Marklin - Director | Blue and Gold Ventures, Founder of Marquette Blockchain Lab
Mehrad Yaghmai - Director | Experienced EdTech Founder and VC Partner with Cool Climate Collective
Jim McKellar - Director | Harvard Student Agencies, Retired CEO (2007-2023)
Previous Directors and Officers - (Role | Affiliation)
Jasmine Barnes - Director | Loyola Limited, Current Program Manager (2023-Present)
Sandra Polanco - Director | Students of Georgetown, Inc. (The Corp.), Current Student CEO & President
Marshall Broadfoot - Director, Treasurer | Student Agencies, Inc., Current Student President
Arantxa Valverde - President | Loyola Limited
Michael Warren - President | Penn Student Agencies
Karen Livingston - Treasurer | George Mason University
Quinn Ackerman - Director | Student Agencies, Inc.
Kevin Chew - Director | Harvard Student Agencies
Alexander Mazzella - Director | Harvard Student Agencies
Alayna Thomas - Director | Student Agencies, Inc.
Rikki Kong - Director | Penn Student Agencies
Kaela Olsen - Director | Student Agencies, Inc.
Seo Young Lee - Director | Students of Georgetown, Inc. (The Corp.)
Mia McGuin - Director | Loyola Limited
Iris Guo - Director | Student Agencies, Inc.
James Swingos - Vice President | Harvard Student Agencies
Jim McKellar - Chair | Harvard Student Agencies
Owen Raisch - Chair | Blue and Gold Ventures
Kyle Karnes - Chair | Student Agencies, Inc.
Founding Member Organizations
Established in 1894, Student Agencies, Inc. (SAI) is the oldest independent student-run company in the nation. Our businesses generate nearly $3 million in annual revenues and pay out close to $500,000 in wages, bonuses, and profit sharing to our undergraduate managers and employees. With almost 300 undergraduates involved in SAI, we are the second largest employer of Cornell students after the University itself.
Harvard Student Agencies (HSA) is the largest student-run company in the world, employing more than 650 undergraduates annually. Founded in 1957, HSA is a multi-million dollar non-profit that provides Harvard students with meaningful opportunities for employment and hands-on business education.
Georgetown, Inc., commonly known as “The Corp,” is a public, non-profit, and charitable organization at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. It consists of seven subsidiary companies generating annual revenues in excess of $5 million. Only undergraduate students of Georgetown University work as employees or sit as members of The Corp’s Board of Directors, distinguishing business operations at The Corp from other student-run companies.
Founded in 2010, Loyola Limited is Loyola University Chicago’s undergraduate student-run business enterprise. By providing students with unparalleled experiential learning opportunities in small business management rooted in creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship, Loyola Limited works to transform undergraduate students into leaders. In less than a decade, its teams have launched numerous ventures and currently operate six businesses. Loyola Limited’s business ventures have generated over $4 million in revenue, produced over 250 alumni, and currently employ students across numerous schools and areas of study.
Formed in June, 2018 Blue and Gold Ventures (B&G) is a new student-run business organization designed to maximize student leadership opportunities through diverse, community-engaged and entrepreneurial enterprises. The organization is an independent, non-stock corporation working closely with Marquette University. With less than a year in operation, B&G launched 7 businesses employing over 50 students, with a similarly sized network of advisers, and impacted thousands in Milwaukee. In 2021, Blue & Gold Ventures paused operations due to COVID-19 and is now back in operations.
Student Holdings is an independent non-profit organization that provides educational, hands-on business experience to Northwestern University undergraduate students by giving them the opportunity to launch, operate and grow services, which provide goods and services to the Northwestern, Evanston, and Chicago communities. Founded in 2005, the organization now includes 3 businesses and more than 50 students.
Established in 1933, Penn Student Agencies (PSA) has a long history of serving the University of Pennsylvania campus community and the greater Philadelphia community. With 9 student-run businesses and 125 student employees annually, PSA provides students with hands-on business experience and transferable skill development.
Since 1911, Princeton Student Agencies has proudly served Princeton University's students and their families, alumni, faculty, and staff. Today, our fourteen student-run businesses offer a wide variety of products and services, and employ more than 250 undergraduate students.