UB to celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week with more than a dozen events

BUFFALO, N.Y. — From a tour of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus to workshops on securing venture capital and making the perfect pitch, the University at Buffalo’s Blackstone LaunchPad and partners have planned more than a dozen events to celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week this November.

The lineup gives Western New York’s entrepreneurs the chance to network, learn from each other and advance their business ideas.

“Global Entrepreneurship Week is a great opportunity to celebrate the Western New York community’s innovators and job creators, while also providing a forum for our next generation of leaders — not only to learn what it means to be an entrepreneur but to actually put it into practice,” says Thomas Ulbrich, executive director of the Blackstone LaunchPad at UB and of the UB School of Management's Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership.

Blackstone LaunchPad at UB, a campus-based experiential entrepreneurship program, is co-hosting the Global Entrepreneurship Week events in Buffalo with partners including 43North; Atomic Medical Innovations; BAK USA; the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership in the UB School of Management; the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus (BNMC); Buffalo Spree; dig Buffalo; the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Alliance (LGBTA) at UB; The Martin Group; SelectOne; the School of Social Work at UB; and the Thomas R. Beecher, Jr. Innovation Center on the BNMC.

People who would like to attend should contact Alex Cleary Pelc at mgt-cel@buffalo.edu to register for activities. Events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted here:

How Venture Capital Works (6 p.m. on Nov. 7 in 220 Student Union on UB’s North Campus). How do business ideas get venture capital funding, and what other types of funding are available? This workshop will cover the basics of seed funding.

The Perfect Pitch (3:30 p.m. on Nov. 10 in 220 Student Union on UB’s North Campus). Learn best practices for pitching your business idea and watch a past finalist of UB’s Henry A. Panasci Jr. Technology Entrepreneurship Competition present his/her winning pitch deck.

Protecting What’s Yours (Intellectual Property) (5:30 p.m. on Nov. 10 in 220 Student Union on UB’s North Campus). How do you know if you have something worth protecting with a patent, trademark or copyright? This workshop will discuss the basics of intellectual property and innovation protection.

Startup Film Series (6 p.m. on Nov. 10 at the Innovation Center at 640 Ellicott St. on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus). The final installment of this year’s films series, which caters to entrepreneurs and those with big ideas. Free snacks and guaranteed inspiration. RSVP required.

Creative Innovation: Social Innovation from the Outside In (9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Nov. 12 in 210 Student Union on UB’s North Campus). Socially conscious, action-oriented students are invited to participate in a unique workshop where they will partner with startup and nonprofit executives to develop innovative solutions to social challenges. Breakfast provided. RSVP required. Hosted by UB’s School of Social Work, School of Management and Blackstone LaunchPad.

3 MT Pitch (4 p.m. on Nov. 14 in 330 Student Union on UB’s North Campus). Attend this panel presentation to learn how to convey your thesis or dissertation research to a nonspecialist audience in just 3 minutes — a program founded by the University of Queensland.

Shark Tank Tuesday (noon on Nov. 15 in 220 Student Union on UB’s North Campus). Watch an episode of Shark Tank and discuss. You bring your lunch, we’ll bring the Goldfish!

LGBTA Club Event (5-7 p.m. on Nov. 15 in the Salvador Lounge in Davis Hall on UB’s North Campus). Meet your professional allies at this entrepreneurship-focused networking event with other LGBT students.

Build Your Own Bagel Breakfast, Pitch Contest, dig Open House and Medical Campus Tour (8 a.m. on Nov. 16 at the Innovation Center at 640 Ellicott St. on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus). Join the Innovation Center, dig, 43North, The Martin Group, SelectOne, BAK USA and Buffalo Spree for a breakfast, networking and idea pitch event. Stick around for the dig open house and a tour of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus at 1 p.m.

Innovate N’ Caffeinate on Speedy Wheels (6 p.m. on Nov. 16 at the Innovation Center at 640 Ellicott St. on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus). Meet local entrepreneurs and build professional contacts at this fifth annual speed networking event hosted by dig, UB’s Blackstone LaunchPad and Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership.

Revenue Models (3:30 p.m. on Nov. 17 in 220 Student Union on UB’s North Campus). How will your business or business idea make money and become sustainable? Learn about and analyze different revenue models.

Crowdfunding a Startup (5 p.m. on Nov. 17 in 220 Student Union on UB’s North Campus). Join us for an informational session on the benefits of crowdfunding your startup. Oscar Pedroso, founder of Thimble, raised over $250,000 and will share his experience and tips and be available for Q&A.

Sell Me This Finals — Pitching a Secret Product (4:30 p.m. on Nov. 18 in in 220 Student Union on UB’s North Campus). Watch as six finalists compete for the Sell Me This championship title, with the winning pitch winning a $50 prize.

Global Entrepreneurship Week is a celebration of the innovators and job creators who launch startups that bring ideas to life, drive economic growth and expand human welfare.

During one week each November, thousands of events inspire people around the world through local, national and global activities designed to help them explore their potential as self-starters and innovators. This year’s Global Entrepreneurship Week takes place from Nov. 14-20, with UB kicking the excitement off early with events starting the week before.

Blackstone LaunchPad at UB is a campus-based experiential entrepreneurship program open to students, alumni, staff and faculty offering coaching, ideation and venture creation support. It is modeled on a successful program originated at the University of Miami and was further developed and expanded by the Blackstone Charitable Foundation.