The Innovate State Speaker Series brings both emerging and accomplished Spartans back to campus for a fireside chat-style interview. These 60-minute sessions offer the chance for guests to share their perspectives on a wide array of topics like innovation, startup life, investments, and career paths. These are stories of success, stories of failures, and stories of uncommon will—and you do not want to miss them. Innovate State kicks off at 6 p.m. ET and are free to the community. Events will be offered in a hybrid format, offering attendance options in-person & virtually. Early registration is highly encouraged.

About our Speakers

Brian Lai, Co-Founder, The Only Bean

Brian is a first-generation Asian American who embraced an entrepreneurial spirit at an early age while helping his parents run their restaurant. He started his first business when he was 14 and after graduating from MSU with a Bachelor’s in Marketing, he spent his early career in sales and marketing. In 2015, he got his master’s degree at Hult International Business School in Shanghai and Dubai. In 2015, he started an ecommerce business while traveling and in 2018, co-founded The Only Bean.

Kristine Yang, Founder, The Only Bean

Kristine Yang grew up in Battle Creek, Michigan, where she was surrounded by a family of food scientists. After graduating from Michigan State, she spent her early years in retail and international business while obtaining her MBA. Her business experience and curiosity for innovative food products led her to create The Only Bean, a plant-based food company using beans to develop innovative food products that are sustainable, healthy, and delicious.