Anil Sharma is the CEO of 22nd Century Technologies, based in the Washington, DC, area.
The Costello College of Business at George Mason University will rename its Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship to the Anil and Anupama Sharma Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, in honor of Northern Virginia entrepreneur Anil Sharma and his wife, Anupama Sharma, recognizing the couple’s commitment to education, entrepreneurship, and expanding opportunities for future generations.
Anil Sharma is the CEO of 22nd Century Technologies, one of the nation’s largest privately held government contracting firms.
The naming recognizes a philanthropic gift from the Sharmas that will help transform the center into a leading hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration, strengthening the university’s role in supporting students, startups, and the region’s innovation economy, the school said on Thursday.
A formal naming ceremony will be held this fall.
The Costello College operates the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship as a hub for experiential learning, entrepreneurship training, and support for aspiring entrepreneurs. The center has also played a key role in programs such as the Patriot Pitch Competition, which gives students and recent alumni opportunities to develop and present business ventures.
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“Today’s college students are graduating at one of the most transformative moments in modern history,” Sharma said in a statement posted on the university website. “Artificial intelligence, automation, and digital transformation are reshaping every industry… and the future will belong to those who can learn faster, adapt continuously, think critically, and stay resilient during change.”
The investment will enable the center to expand beyond individual programs—including the Patriot Pitch Competition, the Honey Bee Initiative, and the SOAR Initiative—to become an integrated platform that connects students, faculty, entrepreneurs, investors, and industry partners. University officials envision the center serving as a catalyst for innovation by fostering mentorship, collaboration, and the creation of new ventures that strengthen the regional economy.
“This is a significant milestone for both the Costello College of Business and the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and one that will ensure our center’s role as the preeminent place at George Mason University where the future takes shape for innovators, aspiring entrepreneurs, and industry leaders,” said Costello Dean Ajay Vinzé in the university announcement. “I know I speak on behalf of all of us at Costello when I say how grateful we are to Anil and Anupama for their leadership in strengthening the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem, expanding opportunities for our students, alumni, and community members, and creating an engine of innovation that will fuel long-term value and opportunity for generations to come.”
The India-born Sharma has long been associated with the Costello College of Business and the George Mason University Foundation.
He is a member of the Costello College of Business Dean’s Advisory Council. His experience in government contracting gives that role particular significance for a university whose students frequently enter the sector.
READ: ‘The future will belong to those who can adapt’: Tech executive Anil Sharma’s message to GMU graduates (June 3, 2026)
“Government contracting is a tough business, and for students, it’s a very important business because one in three of our students goes to the government contracting business,” Vinzé said in an upcoming American Bazaar documentary on Sharma, part of “The American Journey” series. “So to get advice from someone who understands that business from the inside out is a unique advantage.”
Sharma was also invited to join George Mason’s President’s National Leadership Council, an invitation-only group that advises university President Gregory Washington.
“We were so proud and privileged to invite him to be a part of a group that advises our president, Dr. Gregory Washington,” Vinzé said. He added that Sharma has actively sought ways to strengthen local institutions and help position them as pathways for future entrepreneurs, workers, and community leaders.
The recognition also comes after years of engagement between Sharma and the university’s entrepreneurship community. George Mason has previously highlighted his role as a lead innovation sponsor of the Patriot Pitch Competition, where students pitch ventures to entrepreneurs and university stakeholders.
“He’s looking at the local institutions to help out and to really position them as stepping stones for successful entrepreneurs of the future, successful workforce of the future, and a successful societal contribution,” Vinzé said in the documentary.
The university’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship has a broader mission than preparing students to launch companies, according to the school. It seeks to build the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem by connecting students, alumni, and community members with training, mentorship, and business resources, including programs serving immigrants, refugees, and underserved communities.
George Mason’s recognition comes as Sharma’s connection with the university continues to expand, including his recent role as keynote speaker at the Costello College of Business’ 2026 Outstanding Student and Excellence in Business Awards. The event recognized more than 62 graduating student award recipients, with Sharma speaking about resilience, perseverance, and the difficult journey behind professional success.
The naming of the center places Sharma’s name alongside one of George Mason’s principal platforms for developing the next generation of entrepreneurs, reflecting the university’s view of his contribution not simply as financial support, but as an investment in students, businesses, and the wider community.
Anil Sharma’s entrepreneurial journey was featured in the debut episode of The American Bazaar podcast, “Journey to the C-Suite with Krystle Kaul.”
In the podcast, Sharma recounted how he arrived in the United States in the late 1990s with just $100 in his pocket and went on to build 22nd Century Technologies into a $600 million technology company with more than 6,500 employees—one of the most remarkable entrepreneurial success stories in the Indian American community.