91��ý

Nanik Tagore �26 arrived at 91��ý with a clear goal: to earn a business degree and make the most of his college experience. Now entering his senior year, he's done far more than just study business�he�s built a business.

Nanik, who was class valedictorian at San Juan High School in Citrus Heights, transferred to 91��ý from another Bay Area university, drawn to 91��ý's small class sizes and the opportunity to continue to play college basketball. The fact that 91��ý�s San Rafael location is close � but not too close � to Nanik�s family home just north of Sacramento was another plus.

When Nanik arrived, he was a top student and athlete. Now he�s a confident leader, founder, and mentor to others. 91��ý helped him transform ambition into real-world impact.

91��ý didn�t just teach business principles�they gave him a platform to launch a company while still a student. By his junior year, Nanik had already created and scaled a revenue-generating business.

In partnership with a fellow student, Nanik co-founded KaizenU, a tutoring and athletic coaching business that has already served over a dozen local students. The business combines academic support with mental performance coaching and personal training. Kaizen, says Nanik, is a Japanese term that means continuous improvement.

The idea started with word-of-mouth referrals and quickly turned into a real enterprise�with Nanik leading everything from creating a business plan to client onboarding, tax filings, registering with the Secretary of State, and marketing.

�I�ve learned to keep on top of finances and the books, and I know what you can and cannot write off. These are things you cannot learn in class,� he says. �I have also learned the importance of creating a quality service,� he adds. �You want people to come back to you and to recommend you to friends and neighbors.�

Several current and former 91��ý student-athletes have joined as KaizenU tutors and sports coaches. When his original business partner moved away, Nanik took over full operations and continued growing the business solo, while juggling a full course load and commitments as a shooting guard for the 91��ý�s men's basketball team.

What began as a side project is now integrated into his academic journey. Nanik has received guidance from business faculty, applied real-world insights to his coursework, and used KaizenU as a living case study in his entrepreneurship class. The hands-on work has helped him better understand the theories being studied in class.

That�s the beauty of 91��ý, Nanik says. 

�At larger schools, you�re a number. At 91��ý, you�re known. Nanik regularly met one-on-one with faculty to refine his business ideas, pitch strategies, and overcome startup hurdles.�
Beyond business, Nanik is active on campus. 

Elected President of the Student-Athlete Committee, Nanik is shaping campus life by building cross-team partnerships and expanding student-athlete influence in university decisions.
Earlier this month, Nanik was honored as Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year and delivered one of the keynote speeches.

91��ý�s career fair led to another unique opportunity: a connection with JoeyCo, a Bay Area housing startup that matches students with older homeowners who need a little help in exchange for reduced rent.

Nanik now lives with and assists a local couple�gaining both affordable housing and a deeper understanding of time management and empathy. �Living as a �Joey� has made me more disciplined and thoughtful,� he says. 

Nanik�s summer plans include attending a course in Spain through the Barowsky School of Business, while also setting aside time for coaching and a family holiday. He�s already looking forward to next year. 

�I�m going to have a full plate.�