Arsh Haque, adjunct faculty and director of the Portland State Business Accelerator (PSBA), has been recognized by the Portland Business Journal as one of the region's most influential young professionals. Each year the journal recognizes 40 leaders under 40 years of age who are shaping our region’s future, and Haque made the list for 2024.
Haque, who started with the PSBA in 2021, is a national-award-winning startup founder, coach, and storyteller. Their past work history includes founding several tech startups, including a current university spinout, Henna; teaching K-12 at Tilden Preparatory School; and writing curricula and educational tools for TED-Ed, TED’s youth and education initiative.
Of their work at PSU, Haque says they especially appreciate "the flexibility and the people.” They work with a team that shares a lot of trust and value alignment, which allows for freedom to take risks and to do vulnerable work in areas related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
The PSBA supports and serves tech, bioscience, and green companies from their early stages through growth by providing facilities, programming, and mentors. The PSBA also serves as a connection point to PSU resources, linking companies to the research and development capabilities of university faculty and the talent and energy of student project teams.
Haque holds a JD from the University of Southern California and a Master of Public Policy from the Paris Institute of Political Studies. They have extensive experience in DEI rooted in lived experience, formal academic study, and practice.
Each year the Portland Business Journal receives nearly 300 nominations for its 40 Under 40 Awards. Each application is thoroughly reviewed and forty of the region's most influential professionals are selected to represent our region. To make this list is a high accomplishment, and Haque will be celebrated along with the other winners on July 11th in a reception and networking event in downtown Portland.