LaunchPad Awards Student Start-Up Fund Grant

The Blackstone LaunchPad at Syracuse University Libraries has awarded a Student Start-Up Fund grant for the Spring 2025 semester to Thomas O’Brien ’25 for his company, Ten Open Projects. Grants are awarded on a rolling basis to undergraduate and graduate students who need help moving an idea from concept to commercialization.

O’Brien’s company provides video production services to small and medium-sized enterprises and produces short films under its FreeFall Films production company. The grant will be used to expand customer reach and LLC formation expenses. O’Brien is a graduate of the College of Visual and Performing Arts.

Applications must specifically define the need with identified outcomes to be achieved within a set time. The fund is possible because of generous donors like Libraries Advisory Board members Jeffrey Rich ’67 and Yvonne Hyland.