Fairfax, Virginia, USA: George Mason University has announced that its Donald G. Costello College of Business will rename its Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship after Northern Virginia entrepreneur Anil Sharma and his wife, Anupama Sharma.
The university announced the decision on August 13, saying the renaming follows a philanthropic gift from the couple. The contribution is expected to help expand opportunities for students, entrepreneurs and the broader regional innovation community.
The center will now be known as the Anil and Anupama Sharma Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Anil Sharma moved to the United States from India in 1997 and founded McLean-based 22nd Century Technologies later that year. The company, which began as an IT consulting business, has since grown into a government contracting firm with approximately $600 million in revenue, providing IT, cybersecurity, cloud and digital transformation services to government agencies in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Speaking about the contribution, Sharma said his experience building a business showed him that success depends not only on individuals but also on the opportunities, trust, mentorship and support provided by others and the wider community.
Sharma is also an angel investor who has invested in and mentored startups and small businesses. Through his involvement with George Mason's Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, he has supported programs including the Patriot Pitch Competition, which gives students and recent alumni an opportunity to present business ideas and early-stage ventures.
The Sharmas' gift will support the center's efforts to serve as an integrated platform for innovation and entrepreneurship. The center aims to bring students, faculty, entrepreneurs and industry partners together to collaborate, provide mentorship and develop new ventures.
Costello College of Business Dean Ajay Vinze said the contribution would strengthen the region's entrepreneurial ecosystem while creating additional opportunities for students, alumni and members of the community.
Vinze described the renaming as a significant milestone for the college and the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, saying it would reinforce the center's role in supporting innovators, aspiring entrepreneurs and industry leaders at George Mason University.
George Mason University plans to hold a formal naming ceremony and celebration this fall to recognize Anil and Anupama Sharma's contribution and mark the next chapter for the newly named center.
