Conscious Capitalism at GCU

Over the course of GCU’s business programs, students are encouraged to view business as ministry. Students are challenged to become servant leaders, to integrate their faith everyday as they work and create a purpose-minded business. When combined, faith promotes ethical business practices that uphold the value of their employees as well as individuals via respect and appreciation. 

Business as ministry upholds a biblical view of stewardship in terms of servant leadership that results in elevating humanity because everybody should be treated with dignity and respect. Students can graduate understanding that business can be used to lift people out of poverty, creating a force for good. 

The Colangelo College of Business is based on the pillars of servant leadership, ethics and entrepreneurism. Ethical business is at the core of conscious capitalism and GCU’s business programs. Students have the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of business and how to turn a profit, all while enacting servant leadership and ethical practices. 

Without ethics, conscious capitalism cannot be sustained. Therefore, ethics must be reflected first internally through the leadership and staff and then out to all stakeholders to maintain a socially-responsible business.

In the spirit of entrepreneurialism, GCU has developed 10 local enterprises. These enterprises offer student worker positions, providing them with hands-on experience that directly supports their business degree. Students can learn to integrate ethical business practices in alignment with conscious capitalism. The profits of these enterprises are then reinvested back into the university to help keep tuition costs affordable and provide scholarship opportunities. 

The university, with support from Grand Canyon Education (GCE), has launched 10 business enterprises that employ nearly 500 people. These are:

• Grand Canyon Beverage Company (four locations)
• Havoc House
• Cañón 49
• GCU Golf Course
• Canyon Promotions
• Lopes Shop
• Grand Canyon University Hotel^{(See disclaimer 1)}

GCU’s startup business accelerator, Canyon Ventures, housed 16 companies that employed 54 GCU students and 23 GCU alumni as of March 2025. Through Canyon Ventures, these startups receive mentorship, training and connections to foster an evolving and collaborative environment.

Students are given the opportunity to see their entrepreneurial ideas come to life or support other ventures with their degree-related skills. Students receive the opportunity to hone their skills while utilizing their creativity in this entrepreneurial environment.

The ventures provide openings across different industries including:

• Technology
• Marketing
• Cybersecurity
• Development
• Product Ideation

Through Canyon Ventures, local startups are supported while students are equipped to take their knowledge and skills into the community. This investment in the community provides a route to encourage local business which can then bring jobs and opportunity into West Phoenix.

Canyon Angels is a 501(c)6, member-led organization that serves as a West Valley investor group and angel investment network. The Angels look for compelling entrepreneurial ideas that they can help fund. Companies from around the world can pitch to the Angels. Canyon Angels allows GCU students the opportunity to see the workings of an investment team, while gaining experience in pitching and due diligence work via a 1-credit course, ENT-495. This is another way that GCU seeks to support business that works for good, while providing students with opportunities for growth.