The University of Houston is getting a big boost from the Lakhany family, who are backing the university’s innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives. The generous gift from Mohammad Ali Lakhany, Emad Lakhany, and their family will support the University’s planned Innovation Hub and research on economic inclusivity at the C. T. Bauer College of Business.
The Innovation Hub, which will be built on the site of the current Technology Annex building, will be the center of innovation and entrepreneurship on the University of Houston campus. As a tribute to their parents, the second floor of the building will be named the Salma and Hashim Yousuf Lakhany Entrepreneurship Floor. Salma and Hashim Yousuf Lakhany emigrated from Pakistan in the 1960s and built a successful business legacy in the United States.
CSM Group, the family company, specializes in restaurant franchising, telecommunications, hospitality, and real estate development. Starting with a single Del Taco restaurant, Salma and Hashim built an enterprise that included other popular brands such as Hardee’s, Carl’s Jr., and Popeyes, and expanded into the textile and banking industries. Hashim Lakhany passed away in 2009.
Ali Lakhany, the Chief Executive Officer of CSM Group, expressed his excitement about the generous gift, stating that their parents instilled in them a profound belief in the power of entrepreneurship and the importance of giving back. He added that the contribution towards the Innovation Hub is an honor, and they are thrilled about the opportunities it will offer to students, entrepreneurs, and innovators.
The state-of-the-art Innovation Hub, scheduled to open in 2026, will provide an immersive environment for marketing ideas and conducting commercialized research. It will also expand university-industry collaboration and house various innovation programs and offices.
Emad Lakhany, the company’s chief development officer, also shared his excitement about the gift, stating that having his father’s and mother’s names on the entrepreneurship floor is a dream come true. He emphasized that the dedication serves as a beacon of inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs.
In addition to supporting the Innovation Hub, the gift will establish an endowed research fund at the Musa and Khaleda Dakri Center for Economic Inclusion at Bauer College. The Dakri Center, which builds on Bauer’s SURE℠ program, trains students in business development and enables under-resourced entrepreneurs to launch sustainable businesses with a societal impact.
The Lakhany family’s generosity has been recognized with the Entrepreneurship Award at the second annual Bauer Gala. Their gift will propel Bauer’s mission to provide a world-class entrepreneurship education and foster economic growth by launching small businesses.
The Dakri Center, dedicated to combining education, academic research, and real-world expertise, will benefit from the Lakhany Family gift, expanding its resources and strengthening its ability to conduct cutting-edge research and support talented individuals who can contribute to the success of the University and Houston’s economic growth and success.
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