Pitch contest marks Global Entrepreneurship Week events

Speed networking. Startup workshops. An info session for a study abroad program focused on innovation.

It’s Global Entrepreneurship Week, and UB’s Blackstone Launchpad will join millions of people around the world in celebrating with a series of fun and useful events for UB student, faculty and staff entrepreneurs.

Key among them is the Bulls Launch Elevator Pitch contest on Thursday, during which UB students get 90 seconds to pitch an entrepreneurial idea. The winner receives a $1,500 grand prize.

The schedule of events this week:

• Nov. 14 at 6 p.m.: Speed Networking. Connections are key! Come out and chat up entrepreneurs, both new and experienced. In 210 Student Union, North Campus.
• Nov. 15 at 2 p.m.: Launch Workshop. Not sure where to find ideas to get a venture up and running? Come to Blackstone LaunchPad’s launch workshops to come up with ideas to get started. 220 Student Union.
  
• Nov. 15 at 5:30 p.m.: Study Abroad Information Session. Learn about a Summer Study Abroad program to Ireland, “Global Cities of Ireland: Economic Development through Entrepreneurship and Innovation.” 220 Student Union.
• Nov. 16 at 4 p.m.: Bulls Launch Elevator Pitch. Watch the finals of this 90-second elevator pitch competition, where participants have the opportunity to win a $1,500 grand prize. Student Union Lobby.
  
• Nov. 17 at noon: Panasci Info Session. Learn about the Henry A. Panasci Jr. Technology Entrepreneurship Competition, which awards more than $60,000 in seed funding and prizes each year to student business ideas. 108 Capen Hall, North Campus.
  
• Nov. 17 at 1 p.m.: World’s Challenge Challenge Info Session. Meet up to explore how you might solve wicked problems impacting the globe at the World’s Challenge Challenge information session. 109 Lockwood Memorial Library, North Campus.

Blackstone LaunchPad at UB is an experiential campus program designed to introduce entrepreneurship as a viable career path and develop entrepreneurial skills and mindsets through individualized coaching, ideation and venture creation support. Developed as part of the Blackstone Charitable Foundation’s Entrepreneurship Initiative and modeled after a successful program at the University of Miami, the program is currently available to more than 500,000 students on 20 campuses globally.

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, Global Entrepreneurship Week inspires people everywhere through local, national and global activities designed to help them explore their potential as self-starters and innovators.