Blackstone LaunchPad

Developing Student Entrepreneurs

The Blackstone LaunchPad at Wayne State University is designed to promote the development of new entrepreneurs, helping students to transform untested ideas into vital businesses – providing the practical skills, seasoned advice, and professional contacts that make the difference. Any Wayne State student is invited to visit the Blackstone LaunchPad office which is now open in the Undergraduate Library - 1st floor near the main entrance.

About the Blackstone LaunchPad

In partnership with the New Economy Initiative (NEI) for Southeast Michigan, the University of Miami, Wayne State University and Walsh College, The Blackstone Charitable Foundation made its first major grant in April 2010 to establish the Blackstone LaunchPad, a program it hopes will become a national model for fostering entrepreneurship through higher education.

The Blackstone Entrepreneurship Initiative will support innovative programs and ideas with potential for fostering entrepreneurship and, in turn, the high-growth businesses and industries that are known to spark economic growth.

The Blackstone Charitable Foundation’s $2 million grant brings the Blackstone LaunchPad to the campuses of Wayne State University and Walsh College in Southeast Michigan. Blackstone’s Chairman and CEO, Stephen A. Schwarzman said, “A sustained period of job growth depends on the creativity, innovation and ultimate success of entrepreneurs in creating new businesses. That’s why The Blackstone Charitable Foundation is unleashing its capital and the firm’s expertise to help foster the next generation of entrepreneurs.”

As partners in implementing the Blackstone LaunchPad, Wayne State University and Walsh College are building a local network of entrepreneur mentors in Southeast Michigan to help promote entrepreneurial activity among undergraduate and graduate students.

NEI Executive Director Dave Egner said: “Entrepreneurial activity is often the catalyst in growing of successful businesses, industries and communities. The Blackstone LaunchPad program at Wayne State University and Walsh College will help support the need in our region to foster entrepreneurship through a higher education setting. This is an important new approach to educating the next generation of entrepreneurs who are so critical to growing the region’s economy.”