Courtesy of Bowie State University
The Blackstone Charitable Foundation today announced that Bowie State University will receive $500,000 as part of a $2 million commitment to four Historically Black Colleges and Universities to expand access to its student venture and entrepreneurial skill-building program Blackstone LaunchPad to underrepresented populations. The partnership is an element of the Foundation’s broader $40 million commitment to expand LaunchPad to higher education institutions that have a majority underrepresented population or are serving under-resourced communities.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for students at Bowie State,” said Johnetta Hardy, Executive Director of the university’s Entrepreneurship Innovation Center. “Blackstone LaunchPad’s campus-based entrepreneurship program, designed to introduce entrepreneurship as a viable career path, perfectly aligns with Bowie State University’s institution-wide commitment to help students develop an entrepreneurial mindset no matter what academic program they pursue. Our new Entrepreneurship Living Learning Community already creates a real-world innovation hub that provides resources for aspiring entrepreneurs and encourages creative collaboration and entrepreneurial thinking.”
LaunchPad’s campus-based programming and national network will provide students at Bowie State University, Morgan State University, North Carolina A & T University and North Carolina Central University with the resources and opportunities to support their entrepreneurial endeavors and career ambitions.
“Bowie State University is thankful for the Blackstone Foundation’s recognition and investment in the excellence of HBCUs,” said President Aminta H. Breaux. “The Blackstone LaunchPad partnership at BSU will support many initiatives and programs already planned or implemented in our growing entrepreneurial ecosystem.”
For students at Bowie State and the other HBCUs, LaunchPad will fund new programs on campus to help them experience building a startup and access a pipeline of internship opportunities. Additionally, students will be able to participate in national programs such as pitch competitions, fellowships, and conferences where they can build a lasting network of professional relationships. Blackstone LaunchPad is a co-curricular program available to all students on the campuses regardless of their course of study.
Blackstone’s support of the BSU Bulldog Venture Competition on Oct. 20 will help fund $7,000 in cash awards to aspiring entrepreneurs pitching business ideas that will make life better for the local community. The competition will focus on ideas for businesses in four categories: health and life science; social and climate impact; consumer products/services and fashion design; and technology.
“We are thrilled to welcome this new generation of LaunchPad schools into our network and community,” said Maura Pally, Executive Director of the Blackstone Charitable Foundation. The first step in breaking entrepreneurial barriers is to bring entrepreneurship to those who need it by meeting students where they are, and there’s no better place to start than right on their campuses.”
Blackstone Charitable Foundation’s partnerships with Bowie State and the other three HBCUs is part of its effort to ensure that the development of an entrepreneurial mindset and skills is available to a more diverse set of students.
