Media Advisory: Grand opening of Blackstone LaunchPad for student entrepreneurs

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Entrepreneurship at the University at Buffalo is about to get a big shot in the arm.

On Monday, the university will unveil the Blackstone LaunchPad at UB, a game-changing entrepreneurship program and resource that will serve UB’s approximate 30,000 students, regardless of major or experience.

Here are the details:

What: The grand opening of Blackstone LaunchPad at UB, a hands-on learning environment designed to introduce entrepreneurship as a viable career option to all students.

The event will include speakers (see below), tours of the LaunchPad’s new facilities, and student demonstrations of their new entrepreneurial venture or idea.

When: The event starts at 3 p.m. on Monday, March 7. Requests for interviews will be accommodated at 2:30 p.m., prior remarks, and during the tours of the LaunchPad following remarks.

Where: Room 210 of UB’s Student Union on UB’s North Campus (building No. 29 on this map: http://www.buffalo.edu/content/dam/www/shared_assets/campus_maps/NorthCampus_bus-routes-opt.pdf).  Parking is available on Putnam Way and in the Furnas Lot.  A UB media hang tag may be needed.

Who: Scheduled to speak are UB President Satish K. Tripathi; Joshua Krapf, BA ’03 and MA ’05, managing director at Blackstone’s Hedge Fund Solutions group in Manhattan; Markel Vega, a student entrepreneur and senior marketing major in UB’s School of Management; and Minahil Khan, UB Student Association president and winner of UB’s 2015 Elevator Pitch Competition.

Why: Student interest in entrepreneurship at UB is very high. The Blackstone LaunchPad will build on existing UB entrepreneurial programs designed for students.

Background: Last October, the Blackstone Charitable Foundation’s Entrepreneurship Initiative announced a three-year, $4.5 million grant to establish a presence at UB and four other institutes of higher learning in New York State: Cornell University, New York University, Syracuse University and University at Albany.