SALT LAKE CITY — Students interested in software startups at the University of Utah have a new option to complete their degrees while also launching and growing a company through a new partnership with Sandbox, the university announced.

Starting fall 2026, students at the University of Utah can enroll in Sandbox, a senior-year and upper-division experience designed for students who are ready to build a software product and launch a business. Students receive academic credit for participating. (To apply, University of Utah students must register for an information session here.)

Sandbox’s renowned program brings together senior students in entrepreneurship, computer science and other majors into one integrated, build-first program. The launch of Sandbox at the University of Utah is a coordinated effort between Kahlert School of Computing at the John and Marcia Price College of Engineering, the College of Science, and the Department of Entrepreneurship & Strategy at the David Eccles School of Business, with the support of the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute and the Doman Innovation Studio.

“We are proud to partner with Sandbox to expand opportunities for students to build real companies while completing their degrees,” said Taylor Randall, president of the University of Utah. “At the University of Utah, we believe in learning that comes from giving our students pathways to be entrepreneurial and to make a measurable impact. This partnership will enable both while helping develop Utah’s next generation of business leaders.”

The Sandbox program is led by Chris Crittenden and has helped students launch successful software companies by pairing entrepreneurial vision with technical execution in a structured, high-accountability environment.

In addition to the University of Utah, Sandbox programs operate in partnership with many Universities in the region, including Brigham Young University, Utah State University, Utah Valley University, Boise State University and Northern Arizona University.

University of Utah students now have the opportunity to participate in this proven regional network of startup builders.

“The University of Utah is the flagship public university for the state, so we are excited to be partnering with them to bring Sandbox to students there,” Crittenden said. “Sandbox gives students the chance to change their professional trajectory by building a real startup. We expect great things from students at the University of Utah and look forward to supporting them.”

Sandbox at the University of Utah is open to:

  • Seniors and upper-division students in entrepreneurship through the Builders Track
  • Computer science and software development seniors completing capstone (CS 4000 & 4500)
  • Science majors in the SRI Career Accelerator Program (SRI-CAP)
  • Any senior or upper-division student who wants to receive the entrepreneurship minor

Sandbox is not a traditional lecture course. It is a build-focused, execution-driven environment designed to help students move from ideas to real products and real ventures.

Students work in interdisciplinary teams that combine entrepreneurial leadership with technical execution. Founders and engineers collaborate closely to develop MVPs, test with customers, iterate rapidly and pursue real traction. The expectation is not simulation but shipping — real code, real customers, real accountability. Teams operate with startup-level pace and ownership, supported by faculty guidance and structured milestones throughout the semester.

Students in the program will receive dedicated office space to build together, creating an immersive environment that mirrors the intensity and collaboration of an early-stage startup.

The Sandbox program at the University of Utah will be directed onsite by David Bean, a startup founder, chief technology officer and a senior capstone advisor in the Kahlert School of Computing.

“Our students are some of the most ambitious and capable, and the Sandbox program will help give them the additional support and direction they need to be successful,” Bean said. “Students in the Sandbox program will be joining a vibrant community of students, faculty and mentors across campus as well as the broader Sandbox community. This is a great opportunity for them to learn about software development and entrepreneurship by doing it.”

Bean founded and led Attensity as CTO, building one of the earliest commercial natural language processing platforms — technology adopted by major U.S. intelligence agencies, Apple, Southwest Airlines, Whirlpool and John Deere. He raised multiple rounds of venture funding, led patent strategy with a 100% applications-to-grants success rate, and pioneered early cloud-based SaaS text analytics

He has built machine learning and data science organizations across fintech, oil and gas, and enterprise SaaS, architected large-scale cloud systems on AWS, and continues to advise senior capstone teams at the University of Utah.

Bean will be supported by professors Cord Bowen and Jason Snyder in the Builders Track at the Department of Entrepreneurship & Strategy.

If you are a senior, or upper-division student, who wants to graduate with more than a transcript — if you want a product, a venture, meaningful traction or a serious launch attempt — Sandbox is designed for you.

To apply to join Sandbox at the University of Utah, students must attend an information session. Register for the University of Utah information session here. Learn more about Sandbox at sandbox.ing.

Contact the University of Utah Sandbox Director

Do you have questions about the program and want to connect with someone at the University of Utah? Contact the University of Utah on-site director David Bean at david.bean@utah.edu.

About the University of Utah

The University of Utah is the state’s flagship institution of higher education, with 18 schools and colleges, more than 100 undergraduate majors and graduate programs, and an enrollment of more than 38,000 students. It is a member of the Association of American Universities — an invitation-only, prestigious group of 71 leading research institutions. The U is advancing a new national model for higher education that delivers societal impact through education, research, health care, and community service, while making social, economic and cultural contributions that improve lives across Utah and around the world. Learn more at utah.edu.