Luke Burgis, a former Wall Street trader, Silicon Valley entrepreneur, and convert to Catholicism, now leads Catholic Entrepreneurship and Design Experience (CEDE). The program aims to instill an entrepreneurial spirit in young Catholics while upholding the ethical teachings of the faith.
Burgis’ journey began at New York University, then into the world of Wall Street finance, then dove headfirst into the tech world of Silicon Valley, and ultimately made a name for himself in Las Vegas. But the thrill of success alone could not fill his emptiness for something deeper. Therefore, he decided to return to his Catholic roots.
Inspired by his faith, he developed his own entrepreneurial program, which became the beginning of a more fulfilling path. Founded in 2020, his CEDE offers business programs to a global audience and is based at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC.
Through CEDE, Burgis aims to combine Catholic social teaching with entrepreneurship.
Fostering entrepreneurship among Catholic youth
He focuses on instilling ethical responsibility and social awareness in business, creating a unique blueprint that goes against traditional startup culture.
The entrepreneur is currently planning a 10-week summer entrepreneurship program for high school students. This online course teaches students how to start a business while adhering to the principles of Catholic social education. This is expected to not only stimulate the necessary business skills but also encourage initiatives that have a positive social impact among young entrepreneurs.
According to Burgis, CEDE aims to incorporate faith into every aspect of one’s professional journey. This curriculum inculcates ethical decision-making skills in young entrepreneurs and develops a generation of principled business leaders who can make a positive contribution to society.
Burgis believes that by fostering an entrepreneurial spirit among young Catholics, the Church will be better equipped to face future challenges. He suggests that a young and innovative demographic can evolve traditional Catholic doctrine and methods and foster a more resilient and future-ready Catholic community.
