Photos by Ralph Freso/GCU News
While the rest of the Grand Canyon University campus regroups quietly in preparation for the fall 2026 semester, Canyon Ventures is a little more boisterous, with the energy and foot traffic of a trading floor.
That is largely because the 17 companies that operate inside Canyon Ventures – GCU’s startup business accelerator – have placed a greater emphasis on hiring students who are enhancing their businesses while allowing those students to gain valuable experience.
Canyon Ventures companies employ 174 workers, including 119 GCU students.
“I think we'll get to 140 by the time fall semester starts,” Canyon Ventures Interim Director Connor Vicary said as he surveyed the landscape of student workers covering much of the floorspace. “It’s my goal.”
The area once occupied by three companies is now a Customer Delight Facility operated by Lectric eBikes, founded by GCU alumnus Levi Conlow.
This 1,500 square-foot space is filled with 28 students hired by Lectric, with plans to hire 12 additional GCU students.
In addition, Juiced Bikes – a high performance eBike company purchased last year by Conlow – is using space to shoot videos to promote its business, with the possibility of moving in.
“From (GCU President) Brian Mueller’s original vision of an entrepreneurial workspace to what Canyon Ventures has become today, the journey has been nothing short of remarkable,” Colangelo College of Business Dean John Kaites said.
“Through the dedication of entrepreneurs, mentors, investors and university leaders, Canyon Ventures has created opportunities that are transforming lives and strengthening communities. Praise God for His faithfulness and for everyone who has helped make this vision a reality.”
Vicary has seen the importance and impact of student-run businesses since the end of his freshman year at GCU in 2021, when he created a joint venture with fellow student Jack Godwin.
They started their business at Canyon Ventures. Companies housed at the innovation center must employ at least five students by the start of the fall 2026 semester.
“As for the companies that were scraping by, it forces scalability, and it gave them until summer finishes to do that,” Vicary said. “And now when summer ends, they're either able to force scale or decide there's another avenue, and that's helped elevate this space as well.”
This also raises qualifications for new companies once looking merely to start with a barebones staff.
“Bare minimum is not going to be bare minimum,” Vicary said. “Praise God that numerous current ventures have also made a pledge to give back to the school financially and serve within the local community in various ways.”
Meanwhile, Car Chap will hire eight students this fall. Car Chap owner Caleb McCandliss is a spring 2026 graduate who will serve as Vicary’s graduate assistant and will try to enhance Canyon Ventures’ engineering presence among student entrepreneurs.
“It’s not a missing link, but it’s going to help accelerate other engineering students,” Vicary said.
Canyon Challenge winners Lucas Patten (founder of Powder Pal) and Caleb Manzari (whose business is Vinylessence) operate at Canyon Ventures, and Branch49 remains a pillar with a flock of students and relentless energy.
Biñho Board, a soccer board game founded by GCU alumnus and former Lopes basketball player Nick Witherill, is expected to move in August, Vicary said.
Beyond the emphasis of growing the number of student employees, the startup incubator also wants to maintain a central tenet that always has been one of the university's prime focuses.
"Canyon Ventures participants are unapologetically putting Christ at the center of business,” Vicary said. “It has helped many people find their purpose.”
GCU News senior writer Mark Gonzales can be reached at [email protected]
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