The California Rehabilitation Center (CRC) at Norco recently hosted a Defy Ventures graduation and business pitch competition.
The event marked the culmination of six months of hard work and training for the incarcerated participants in the Entrepreneurs-in-Training Defy Ventures program.
The students presented their business ideas in several rounds of a competition styled after the popular TV show “Shark Tank.” They made their pitches to panels of community business leaders who acted as judges. The judges asked clarifying questions, provided feedback to strengthen the business concepts and pitches, and evaluated the overall presentations. The judges then selected competition winners.
At the end of the day, five winning pitches were selected from the group in an awards ceremony, followed by a cap-and-gown graduation ceremony. The entrepreneur students earned a Certificate of Entrepreneurship issued by the Drucker School of Management at Claremont Graduate University.
What is Defy Ventures?
The organization is a national nonprofit with a vision to cut recidivism rates by leveraging entrepreneurship to increase economic opportunity and transform lives. These programs help current and formerly incarcerated people by providing pathways to employment, entrepreneurship, and successful reentry.
Submitted by Harrison Glin, community resource manager
Read more rehabilitation stories.
Follow CDCR on YouTube, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter). Listen to the CDCR Unlocked podcast.
Related content
CTF marks National Crime Victims’ Rights Week
The Correctional Training Facility (CTF) commemorated National Crime Victims’ Rights Week 2026 with a series of events held April 20-24.…
Watch: Franco finds Second Chance via mentor program
Maria Franco, formerly incarcerated at Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) in Chowchilla, was serving a 34-to-life sentence when she began…
Watch: At MCRP, Bernal finds Second Chance
Incarcerated at 19 years old, Steven Bernal doubted change was possible for him as he faced decades in prison. “I…
Undersecretary observes VR program at CMC
CDCR Undersecretary Jason Johnson visited California Men’s Colony (CMC) to observe the Creative Acts Virtual Reality (VR) Program. Johnson observed…
RJD hosts Crime Victims’ Rights Week event
RJ Donovan Correctional Facility (RJD) recently hosted a National Crime Victims’ Rights Week awareness event for staff and the incarcerated…
CMC hosts annual Day for Atonement
California Men’s Colony (CMC) in San Luis Obispo hosted its annual Day for Atonement event in the Protestant Chapel on…