Business Matters

Devika Dhamija comes from one of the world’s most culturally iconic, densely populated and financially significant cities – Mumbai in India. Yet she was just 14, when she realized that she had to travel and see the world. The tool to achieve that – education. And so it began. 

Currently a junior, studying business analytics, and innovation and entrepreneurship, Dhamija’s initial biggest challenge was confronting the idyllic, quiet setting of an American college town. 

“The slow life in Corvallis was definitely an adjustment,” Dhamija said. “But I soon found a good reason to stay: Corvallis, or rather Oregon itself, has been like a mirror, and I see a bit of myself — a place with potential. Learning about the business opportunities in Oregon, I realized there is so much to get out of being here. When people think of startups and hubs for entrepreneurs in the United States, especially around the world, they usually think of Seattle or San Francisco or somewhere east. But Oregon is a rising place, which has not yet been fully utilized and might also be slightly underestimated.” 

She has embraced the potential — to learn, to establish herself, to develop a startup and to have a great business base, and she has fully delved into the incredible resources at the College of Business and Oregon State University. 

Beginning with Launch Pad, the first-year series of courses for engaged entrepreneurs offered through InnovationX, the Academy for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Dhamija felt pulled to entrepreneurship. She continued with Launch Academy as a sophomore and when opportunities came up, she took them. 

She applied and was accepted to a fellowship program through the Venture Partner Fund, a course of study that involved learning about the venture world through videos and readings, writing a white paper (soon to be published), earning a certification from VC University at UC Berkeley and working with the Bend Venture Conference as an intern. 

This is a return for her to the Bend Venture Conference. As a sophomore, Dhamija was one of 20 OSU students to attend. 

“I got to do due diligence on two incredible companies, one of which was one of the winners of the competition taking away $125,000,” she said, of her work with the conference in 2023. “I got to meet and network with some amazing people in the business and had a wonderful experience being part of the whole thing. I learned so much about the venture capital world, I decided that I would like to apply for a job in this sector after graduation.” 

She credits Dale McCauley, assistant director of InnovationX and DAMLab makerspace manager, for his mentorship and the numerous opportunities provided by InnovationX, which have been instrumental in her journey as a student entrepreneur. 

McCauley, meanwhile, saw a student ready to seize every opportunity. 

“Devika has really excelled with InnovationX,” McCauley said. “She came into the LaunchPad courses as a freshman and became one of the leaders on her team with their Microbusiness. Since then, she has come into her own as an entrepreneur, pushing herself to develop her own startup ideas, working in the venture capital industry, and supporting other student entrepreneurs. She is really someone who gives her all and is unafraid to push the envelope as an innovator.” 

Dhamija created many opportunities for herself by trusting her instincts. 

“I made the great decision in my freshman year to be a part of the Launch Pad series, and I am beyond grateful for these opportunities,” she said. “I feel lucky to have found such a great resource.” 

Dhamija calls it luck, but maybe it is part of her growing experiences with calculated risk and leveraging networks — essential for an entrepreneur. 

Motivated in high school to pursue an international baccalaureate, it opened the doors for her international journey. Her father, a long-time Rotarian, supported her ambition and facilitated her participation in a Rotary student exchange program. This opportunity took her to Copenhagen, Denmark, for a year. 

Described as the best year of her life, filled with valuable lessons, memories, and new family-like connections, one important connection was a best friend from Portland, Oregon. After finishing high school in Brighton, England, Dhamija was mostly considering European universities, but on the list for American universities was Oregon State. She thought of her one friend.  

When she switched her plans to major in business and researched the College of Business, Dhamija decided to apply, quite last minute, in fact. And when Dhamija was accepted, her one friend picked her up at the airport. It’s not much to go on, except guts. 

“In all honesty, I did not know that much about Oregon State University at the time, I just knew I wanted to go to a college to study business and OSU was one of the options available,” she said. “I discovered a lot about the world of business during my time here. All the credit for my journey goes to InnovationX and Launch Academy program and Dale McCauley for all the opportunities during my time here. During my freshman year, I discovered the art of entrepreneurship and decided I wanted to be one.” 

Dhamija plans to continue to work on the company she founded, DSāN, until she can execute and launch — eventually and hopefully in the future as well as work in the venture capital world after graduation. 

Having adapted to three different educational systems, India, Europe and now the United States, her lucky pick was OSU and InnovationX, opening the opportunities she’s pursuing and the career pathway she’s building.  

“If considering OSU, be at peace knowing that you shall get any and all help you might need in the field of business that you might be interested in,” Dhamija said. “Everyone here is supportive and wants to help you reach where you want to go. If you can trust yourself to follow up, be serious about your goals and go the extra mile, which you would have many opportunities to do, then Beaver Nation is your home.”