About Us
Programming & Network Overview
The MSU Blackstone LaunchPad, a campus entrepreneurship program and network, was made possible through a generous gift from the Blackstone Charitable Foundation, opening its doors in 2013.
The goals of the Blackstone LaunchPad are simple: to solve problems through innovation, creating tangible and effective solutions. Our services help spur economic activity, creating a stronger regional entrepreneurship ecosystem the benefits everyone, not just students. We foster an environment that encourages entrepreneurship through the use of campus resources, local business networks, and one-on-one mentoring. We proudly offer these services to all students, regardless of discipline or major.
With a physical presence in the Strand Union Building next to Chick-fil-A, the Blackstone LaunchPad at MSU has helped hundreds of new ventures and assisted thousands of individuals and teams from across campus and multiple disciplines since its grand opening in 2013.
History
As a part of The Blackstone Charitable Foundation’s five-year, $50 million Entrepreneurship Initiative, they launched their first Blackstone LaunchPad in Detroit in 2010. In partnership with the White House’s Startup America Initiative, the program has spread to five national regions since. Through a collaboration with Montana State University and the University of Montana, the Foundation has pledged a $2 million, three-year grant to establish a Blackstone LaunchPad in the state, with Headwaters RC&D serving as the regional partner.
For more information, go to Blackstone LaunchPad Charitable Foundation
Partners
Software Factory
The Software Factory focuses on developing software in modern development environments, with the capability to deliver concrete products in collaboration with public, non-profit, and private sector companies.
NSF ART
Scaling Montana
Scaling Montana (formerly Early Stage MT)'s mission is to make Montana a premier place to build and scale world-class startups.
