Blackstone LaunchPad Makes Inclusive Entrepreneurship Commitment at First-Ever White House Demo Day
Washington, DC, August 4, 2015. Today, representatives from the Blackstone Charitable Foundation participate in the first-ever White House Demo Day, at which the President will announce new public- and private-sector commitments that promise to provide more Americans with the opportunity to pursue their bold, game-changing ideas. In support of these efforts by the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Program to spur entrepreneurship, the Blackstone Charitable Foundation has committed each of its Blackstone LaunchPad campus programs to further develop dedicated initiatives to foster Inclusive Entrepreneurship for women and minority student entrepreneurs and ventures. In making this commitment, the Blackstone Charitable Foundation joins other leading American companies who have made similar pledges in connection with the event.
“The Blackstone Charitable Foundation endeavors to make entrepreneurship accessible and a viable career path for all those who wish to pursue it,” said Amy Stursberg, Executive Director at the Blackstone Charitable Foundation, who attended the event. “We are proud that today’s commitment will help continue to ensure that all Blackstone LaunchPad campuses globally can enable underrepresented groups like women and people of color to contribute their sizeable talents.”
Many Blackstone LaunchPad campuses have already implemented programs or are coaching ventures that aim to increase participation and success of women and minorities. The University of Central Florida is hosting a weekly session with a successful woman entrepreneur, Kent State University is creating a Mentor and Protégé Program structured specifically for their minority community, and the University of California, Irvine is working with venture iBesties to inspire girls ages 6-10 in the areas of entrepreneurship and technology learning through books, dolls and online entertainment.
Blackstone LaunchPad, funded by the Blackstone Charitable Foundation, offers coaching, ideation and venture-creation support to students, alumni, staff, and faculty. Due to the early success of the program following its implementation in Michigan, The Blackstone Charitable Foundation was recognized by President Obama’s “Startup America” Initiative and pledged to expand LaunchPad to five new regions over five years. By the end of 2015, the program will be available to over 500,000 students globally.
About the Blackstone Charitable Foundation
The Blackstone Charitable Foundation was founded at the time of Blackstone’s IPO in 2007 with substantial commitments from the Firm’s employees. Influenced by the enterprising heritage of the firm and its founders, The Blackstone Charitable Foundation is directing its resources and applying the intellectual capital of the firm to foster entrepreneurship in areas nationwide and globally. Through its investment expertise across several asset classes and geographies, Blackstone has a unique perspective on the global economy and a heightened understanding of how entrepreneurial activity is often the crucial catalyst in the growth of successful businesses, industries and communities. For more information, see http://www.blackstone.com/foundation.
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