On March 11, Blackstone Charitable Foundation’s grant of $1.4 million committed them to the University of Central Florida. After having success with the Blackstone LaunchPad at University of Miami, Blackstone is expanding into the central Florida area. Coming this summer to the space that was previously the SGA printing lab, there will be a new entrepreneur center available to all UCF students.
The Launch Pad is geared toward providing students that have business ideas with the resources that will help push their businesses to market. To participate, students will create an online profile to gain access to the LaunchPad system, which is connected with other universities participating in the LaunchPad program. Once completed, they will describe their business concept, expected market, competition, and developmental needs. Next, the entrepreneur will meet with the LaunchPad staff that will provide advice and networking resources. From here, they will be able to meet with local mentors that have experience in diverse fields and skill sets.
University of Miami’s Blackstone LaunchPad proved this system to be very successful. Since 2008 it has drawn over 2,000 participants, generated more than 100 new ventures and more than 200 jobs. Numbers like these contribute greatly to the local economy and will create new jobs for our community. The Blackstone LanchPad will be exactly what UCF and Central Florida need to mobilize our creative entrepreneurs toward successful ventures. At the launch ceremony, Senator Marco Rubio stated, “Our students and young innovators should be empowered and given a chance to succeed so that they can then grow, create jobs, and continue to strengthen our economy.”
Check out other things Blackstone is doing with their five-year, $5 million Entrepreneurship Initiative here!