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Student entrepreneurs from across all majors and disciplines now have an opportunity to apply and receive critical startup funding to advance their business idea with the initiation of the Blackstone LaunchPad Student Launch Fund.

“We are excited to launch this fund through the generosity of Kent State donors and alumni,” says Julie Messing, executive director of the Blackstone LaunchPad program at 5X����. “As part of the interdisciplinary nature of Blackstone LaunchPad, the Student Launch Fund is available to any Kent State student, from freshmen to Ph.D., in any major, across all Kent State campuses, to start or grow their venture.”

With three yearly funding cycles, the Student Launch Fund will offer support from $500 up to $5,000 per venture.  Students can apply for funding to help defray the costs of legally organizing their business, intellectually protecting their idea, for technological advancement or support of the business or for marketing collaterals. Any type of business from service-based to products and nonprofits are eligible for funding. Students will be required to fill out a detailed application and provide specific deliverables upon receipt of the funds. The deadline for the first application cycle is March 15.

Find more information about the Blackstone LaunchPad Student Launch Fund.

For information on how to contribute to the fund, contact Messing at jmessing@kent.edu.

Kent State’s Blackstone LaunchPad promotes entrepreneurship as a viable career path. Through mentoring, workshops and events, and connecting entrepreneurs to resources, Blackstone LaunchPad helps Kent State students, faculty, staff and alumni to create new startups or grow existing businesses in Northeast Ohio.