New partnership to provide additional opportunities for MSU student entrepreneurs
From MSU News Service
Entrepreneurs working with the Blackstone LaunchPad at Montana State University will now have access to additional opportunities thanks to a new partnership between the Blackstone LaunchPad and Techstars, a global startup accelerator and entrepreneurial network.
The new partnership was announced March 7th at SXSW EDU in Austin, Texas.
Beginning this year, students and other entrepreneurs working with the Blackstone LaunchPad at MSU will have access to Techstars’ network of more than 10,000 mentors, global entrepreneurial events and content and startup services. In addition, Techstars will provide resources to help with fundraising, job placement and recruitment.
The opportunities and resources will benefit MSU students, alumni and employees, said Trevor Huffmaster, interim director of the Blackstone LaunchPad at MSU. He added that similar opportunities and resources are rarely available to collegiate entrepreneurs in campus-based programs but are crucial to ventures’ long-term success.
“We are thrilled about the Techstars and Blackstone LaunchPad partnership and the opportunities it opens up for Montana entrepreneurs,” Huffmaster said. “Started in 2006, Techstars is an amazing leader in the space and will be a huge resource for the entrepreneurs with whom we work.”
Blackstone LaunchPad, a program that encourages entrepreneurial thinking and startup activity, is currently available to more than 500,000 students globally. It provides support and mentorship to students, staff and alumni, regardless of major, experience or discipline. Since its founding, Blackstone LaunchPad estimates it has supported and created more than 8,900 companies and 24,000 jobs, serving as a catalyst for economic growth in regional campus communities.
The Blackstone LaunchPad at MSU launched in 2013 and has worked with an extensive group of students, alumni, faculty and community entrepreneurs. Housed under the Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship, it is one of only 20 Blackstone LaunchPads across the globe.
During SXSW EDU, John Hill, vice president of network at Techstars, said that the organization is “excited to play an impactful role in students chasing their dreams.”
“We’ll apply Techstars’ proven methodology to startups created by amazing university entrepreneurs so they can do more, faster,” he said.
“Helping entrepreneurs in the early stages of their careers has been a natural extension of Blackstone’s work – launching businesses and helping them grow,” said Stephen A. Schwarzman, chairman, CEO and co-founder of Blackstone. “I could not be more pleased that Blackstone Charitable Foundation and Techstars are partnering to turbocharge the networks and access of LaunchPad’s student entrepreneurs on their path to success.” •
