The Blackstone LaunchPad at Syracuse University is offering a free new software platform for faculty, staff, student and alumni entrepreneurs. Ideator is a startup management tool created by the Blackstone Entrepreneurship Initiative (a project of the Blackstone Charitable Foundation), working with Ideator, a software company based in San Francisco.
Blackstone LaunchPad Global Media Fellow David Fox ’19, left, with Syracuse University Ideator Brand Manager Quentin Rosso ’18
Ideator is now being used by the 20 universities that are part of the Blackstone LaunchPad global network. It features easy-to-use tools for team building, access to collections of on-line resources and ways to connect with mentors and investors, as well as a roadmap for managing a venture from ideation to commercialization. Users can complete personal profiles and detail their entrepreneurial interests, skills and pursuits. As they progress through commercialization, they can then showcase their ideas, form teams, find subject matter experts and connect with investors who are interested in collegiate startups.
The Blackstone Charitable Foundation is strongly encouraging adoption of the new software platform. To spur adoption, the foundation is hosting a campus competition through Oct. 6, challenging LaunchPad programs to complete the largest number of profiles. The top three institutions will receive cash awards of $15,000 for first place, $10,000 for second place and $5,000 for third place.
In 2010, the Blackstone Charitable Foundation announced its Entrepreneurship Initiative, a global commitment to advance entrepreneurial thought and activity in the United States and abroad. Through Blackstone LaunchPad, Blackstone Entrepreneurs Network, Blackstone Inclusive Entrepreneurship Challenge and Blackstone Innovation Grants, the foundation encourages and empowers the entrepreneurs who create jobs and stimulate economic growth.
Syracuse University’s Blackstone LaunchPad opened in April 2016 in Bird Library. Since then, it has served nearly 2,000 students from 45 countries, with 50 percent of the entrepreneurs being women. The LaunchPad is an experiential entrepreneurship program open to faculty, staff, alumni and students, offering coaching, ideation and venture creation support.
Blackstone LaunchPad Global Fellow Quentin Rosso, ’18 Whitman, is Syracuse University’s Ideator brand manager. He has developed an outreach campaign and is charged with spearheading adoption across campus. Rosso is available for questions about the platform, as well as demos of how to use the software to help grow a venture. Sign up for Ideator in the LaunchPad or online at http://blackstonelaunchpad.org/syracuse. To make an appointment for more information or to discuss your venture idea, email launchpad@syr.edu.
