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The doors of a new center promoting student entrepreneurship and innovation at Ohio State University have opened.
Students, faculty, university leaders and business builders celebrated the grand opening of the new Student Entrepreneurship Center in the Gateway District on Wednesday. The center was founded by students, for students, with support from the Ohio State Office of Design to provide young business developers with a space where innovation can flourish. The building will also serve as the new home of the Tim and Kathleen Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship.
“This is a collaboration between our campus and the Columbus community, between up-and-coming Buckeye entrepreneurs and industry veterans, and where we can share our expertise with each other and combine it to create the next big thing. It serves as a connection point between students,” said the Ohio professor. State President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. “This center is also an important resource for our students in terms of space, instruction, support for all their ideas, and the tools to make those ideas a reality. ”
Entrepreneurship Center features include modular spaces, meeting rooms, adaptive lighting, state-of-the-art audiovisual technology, smart boards, and more.
“In conjunction with traditional classroom education, the Keenan Center provides hands-on workshops, competitions, faculty and alumni mentoring, and more to foster and grow entrepreneurship across campus.” said Peter Moeller, executive vice president of innovation and research. knowledge. “Through these efforts, we have been able to create a community of students who are passionate about entrepreneurship and innovation.”
One of those students is Devi Dheekmata Nelakurti, a biomedical sciences major and co-president of SmileChild. The startup is a student-founded nonprofit organization that aims to reduce infant mortality by educating caregivers about self-care and infant care through a module-based mobile app. The startup received funding from the President Buckeye Accelerator in 2023.
“Having a clear space for entrepreneurship means having integrated resources, mentorship, and a safe space to have conversations with diverse backgrounds and experiences,” Nelacurti said. Told. “In other words, this is a place where inspiration and passion can fulfill their purpose and have the potential to transform lives.”
Ohio Department of Higher Education Chancellor Mike Duffy said there is a clear excitement for entrepreneurship and innovation in Ohio and the center looks forward to supporting that growth. Also in attendance at the grand opening was Jesse Tyson, an entrepreneur and Ohio State University graduate who operates a Starbucks franchise in the new student center. Tyson agreed that support for student startups is increasing, and said students are realizing they can build a business and contribute to the community at the same time.
The building is a state-of-the-art space with resources to support students on their entrepreneurial journeys, from initial ideas to successful startups and beyond. Tim Keenan said the center is a way to help student entrepreneurs become as successful as they were in school.
“When I was young here at Ohio State University, I had a professor who liked to quote Ralph Waldo Emerson: …‘Never go where there seems to be a way; go instead where there is no way. Go and leave your mark,” Keenan said. “So, that’s what we’ve done. We left a path for the students here, and I want you to expand that path.”
Additional features of the center include:
- Programming and educational opportunities for professional students tailored to develop entrepreneurial skills and knowledge.
- Individual mentoring from experienced entrepreneurs who guide and support students in their entrepreneurial endeavors.
- Access a community of like-minded entrepreneurs and creators, offering networking and collaboration opportunities.
- Access to Startup Studio services that provide students with the facilities and tools they need to turn their entrepreneurial ideas into reality.
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