Media Advisory: Grand opening of Blackstone LaunchPad for student entrepreneurs

2013 Panasci contest winners, Dimien.

From left to right, Peter Marley, Ann Brozek and Brian Schultz, won the 2013 Henry A. Panasci Jr. Technology Entrepreneurship Competition for Dimien, a company that develops and commercializes next generation materials. Credit: Nancy J. Parisi.

Release Date: March 4, 2016 This content is archived.

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Blackstone LaunchPad at UB is a game-changing entrepreneurship program and resource that will serve UB’s approximate 30,000 students, regardless of major or experience.

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Entrepreneurship at the University at Buffalo is about to get a big shot in the arm.

On Monday, the university will unveil the Blackstone LaunchPad at UB, a game-changing entrepreneurship program and resource that will serve UB’s approximate 30,000 students, regardless of major or experience.

Here are the details:

What: The grand opening of Blackstone LaunchPad at UB, a hands-on learning environment designed to introduce entrepreneurship as a viable career option to all students.

The event will include speakers (see below), tours of the LaunchPad’s new facilities, and student demonstrations of their new entrepreneurial venture or idea.

When: The event starts at 3 p.m. on Monday, March 7. Requests for interviews will be accommodated at 2:30 p.m., prior remarks, and during the tours of the LaunchPad following remarks.

Where: Room 210 of UB’s Student Union on UB’s North Campus (building No. 29 on this map: http://www.buffalo.edu/content/dam/www/shared_assets/campus_maps/NorthCampus_bus-routes-opt.pdf).  Parking is available on Putnam Way and in the Furnas Lot.  A UB media hang tag may be needed.

Who: Scheduled to speak are UB President Satish K. Tripathi; Joshua Krapf, BA ’03 and MA ’05, managing director at Blackstone’s Hedge Fund Solutions group in Manhattan; Markel Vega, a student entrepreneur and senior marketing major in UB’s School of Management; and Minahil Khan, UB Student Association president and winner of UB’s 2015 Elevator Pitch Competition.

Why: Student interest in entrepreneurship at UB is very high. The Blackstone LaunchPad will build on existing UB entrepreneurial programs designed for students.

Background: Last October, the Blackstone Charitable Foundation’s Entrepreneurship Initiative announced a three-year, $4.5 million grant to establish a presence at UB and four other institutes of higher learning in New York State: Cornell University, New York University, Syracuse University and University at Albany.

Media Contact Information

Cory Nealon
Director of Media Relations
Engineering, Computer Science
Tel: 716-645-4614
cmnealon@buffalo.edu