Equipping college students with entrepreneurial skills

The Blackstone Charitable Foundation has awarded a $1 million grant to establish its signature Blackstone LaunchPad program at ASU, and an additional grant to fund paid summer internships at local startups for 30 students enrolled at ASU and the 10 Maricopa Community Colleges.

Blackstone LaunchPad seeks to close the opportunity gap by equipping college students with entrepreneurial skills and career exposure to advance economic mobility. The program, launched in 2021, was formed with a focus on entrepreneurship and helping students become the job creators of tomorrow. It provides tools for experiential learning through which students can gain key skills that employers want to see.

Blackstone LaunchPad’s collaboration with ASU’s J. Orin Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute and Maricopa Community Colleges offers regular workshops, networking and pitch events, internship opportunities and other skill-building resources. The program is free and available to all enrolled college students, regardless of major or experience.