Center for Innovation & Growth

Based on the highly successful LaunchPad at the University of Miami – where 100 companies and 250 jobs were created in just four years – Blackstone LaunchPad provides students with mentoring and guidance through regular meetings with the program’s team of venture consultants. The Blackstone LaunchPad initiative is new to BW, one of the first six schools invited to join a growing national network.

Among Blackstone LaunchPad’s most compelling features is its campus-wide focus. A full 80% of the participants at University of Miami come from outside the business division. BLP is ideally suited for the rich tradition of liberal arts at Baldwin Wallace, where innovation occurs in every building on campus. Students of all disciplines can bring their ideas for new companies to Blackstone LaunchPad.

Blackstone LaunchPad services are available to all current Baldwin Wallace students. Sign-up occurs at bw.thelaunchpad.org. Students complete a simple profile form and are then invited to complete a Venture Assessment Form to describe the planned project. Then the venture meetings begin – roughly once a month, 45 minutes at a time, all scheduled at the convenience of the student. At the same time, all BWU students are welcome to attend BLP’s bi-weekly events – short presentations by entrepreneurs, or tutorials for students starting a venture (networking, market research, idea feasibility, etc.).

The Blackstone LaunchPad office is located on the lower level of the Student Union, between the Bookstore and the Quarry Room. For additional information, please contact Blackstone LaunchPad’s Director, Mike Nock, at mnock@bw.edu, or 440-826-2472.