Blackstone LaunchPad is an entrepreneurship network for colleges and universities, available to over 750,000 students globally and designed to support and mentor students, alumni and staff – regardless of major, experience, or discipline. The LaunchPad program provides content, connections, and expertise to students interested in entrepreneurship, and supports student founders from idea to growth stage through a variety of on- and off-campus activities. In 2021, 46 Blackstone LaunchPad campuses engaged over 23,000 students in over 1,000 LaunchPad events.
Blackstone LaunchPad at USC has several offerings managed by the Greif Center including summer fellowships, workshops, speaker events, a network ideas competition, and innovation challenges. Stay tuned to an announcement for our in-residence program where we will have industry experts available for consultation on your startups.
The Blackstone LaunchPad network makes entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial skills accessible and relevant for all college students to help them build thriving companies and careers. They learn by doing, gaining the critical entrepreneurial mindset and skillset to help them succeed as a founder or contributor to the innovation economy. The LaunchPad works with higher-ed institutions to deliver proven startup resources, facilitate access to a global network of mentors and advisors, and offer unique virtual and physical convening opportunities so students can go further, faster.
Competitions throughout the year to keep students excited! Right now, we are running an upcoming Innovation Challenge on the Creator Economy.
Blackstone Launchpad space (located in the garden level or Bridge Hall) is available for studying, networking and meetings. To reserve a space (click here).
Signature Programming USC also participated in signature Blackstone LaunchPad Network programming includes a Network Ideas Competition. This competition serves as the entry point for students to try out entrepreneurship. Students submit their ideas for a chance at a $1,000 prize within their school. Campus-round winners will go on to compete for a chance at $10,000 to continue working on their venture. Sign up now!
Each spring at the Annual Conference & Pitch Competition, LaunchPad’s national network convening brings together hundreds of student entrepreneurs and subject matter experts from Blackstone and other industry partners to help participants grow their network and get the training and advice they need to propel their companies forward. This event is typically tied to another major industry conference or event, where the pitch competition portion occurs on their global stage (e.g., Startup Grind). Select students will compete for over $50k in prize money.
Summer Fellowships, awarded up to 50 student founders from LaunchPadnetwork schools as $5,000 in grant funding to advance their startup companies. This 8-week virtual program includes a speaker series, access to mentors, skill-development resources, and opportunities for Fellows to be promoted through the Blackstone and Future Founders channels.
Summer 2022 Blackstone LaunchPad Fellowship Winners:
Thumbo, Co-Founders Veronica Falzone and Todd Levy
Cherry, Founder Serena Allen
Nomadine, Founder Oluwaseun Adesanya
StoryBoard, Founder Rebecca Castillo
Unithrifts, Founder Patricia Garcia
L & F Management, Founder Monique Jackson
Veever, Founder Joao Pedro de Goes Novochadlo
Art by Athletes, Founder McCall Hall
MatchAPro, Founder, Tuduesto Masire
Riddick & Grey, Co-Founders Marcela Riddick & Stevie Gray
Tunn/Tempus, Founder Nicolas Hoyos Ramirez
Institute Faco, Founder Wellington Silva