Alumna Wins Top Prize in LaunchU Pitch Competition</h1> <article> <h1>Alumna Wins Top Prize in LaunchU Pitch Competition</h1> <p>Anonymous — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 18:01:50 +0000</p> <span>Alumna Wins Top Prize in LaunchU Pitch Competition</span> <span><span>Anonymous (not verified)</span></span> <span><time datetime="2016-11-07T13:01:50-05:00" title="Monday, November 7, 2016 - 13:01">Mon, 11/07/2016 - 13:01</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>OBERLIN—<a href="/innovation-and-impact/launchu">LaunchU</a>, a venture incubator for 91ֱ�� College student and alumni entrepreneurs, has selected three winners in its annual pitch competition.</p> <p>The grand prize ($20,000) was awarded to Alesandra Zsiba ’10 for the Identity Project, an innovative program that uses documentary arts to address poverty-related barriers to identity development in underserved youth. Through a specialized curriculum in documentary storytelling, performance, and project-based literacy learning, The Identity Project empowers marginalized young people with an invaluable opportunity for self-actualization and self-advocacy through an applied empathy practice.</p> <p>The second-place award ($15,000) was given to team members Brendan McKenna, Matthew Fox, and Soren Zeliger ’15 for Storybook, a consumer-oriented mobile app that enables users to enjoy real-time documentation, sharing, and storage of picture and video media from multiple perspectives. The app focuses on sharing experiences in a collaborative fashion, and creating a platform where users can access memories forged with friends and family in a single, centralized location.</p> <p>Third-place winner Bryon Skvor received $10,000 for Humble Grounds Roasting Company, based in 91ֱ��. Skvor’s venture looks for exceptional coffees that have the potential to be used to create stable economies in farming communities around the world. The coffees are brought to 91ֱ�� to be roasted and served locally and supplied to like-minded wholesale partners.</p> <p>LaunchU takes place over three weeks in January, during 91ֱ��’s winter term. The program guides entrepreneurs through a business-model innovation curriculum, developing their skills and understanding in preparation for launching their ventures. The third week focuses on one-on-one mentorship, pitch prep, and getting ready to launch. Following a preliminary pitch competition, qualifying teams will pitch before a panel of potential investors and judges. Prizes include funding, hands-on mentorship, and extensive in-kind services.</p> <p>Contact: Elyzabeth Holford, director of entrepreneurship, (440) 775-8567, <a href="mailto:eholford@oberlin.edu">eholford@oberlin.edu</a></p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Releases</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2016-02-02T12:00:00Z">Tue, 02/02/2016 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Communications Staff</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2395">Entrepreneurship</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2406">Innovation and Impact</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3238">LaunchU</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> </article> <article> <h1>91ֱ�� Receives $500,000 Grant from the Burton D. Morgan Foundation to Endow Entrepreneurship Initiatives</h1> <p>Anonymous — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 18:03:39 +0000</p> <span>91ֱ�� Receives $500,000 Grant from the Burton D. Morgan Foundation to Endow Entrepreneurship Initiatives</span> <span><span>Anonymous (not verified)</span></span> <span><time datetime="2016-11-07T13:03:39-05:00" title="Monday, November 7, 2016 - 13:03">Mon, 11/07/2016 - 13:03</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>A two-year grant of $500,000 from the Burton D. Morgan Foundation will endow entrepreneurship programming at 91ֱ�� College. The endowment will provide vital support for the college’s campus-wide entrepreneurship initiatives—<a href="http://new.oberlin.edu/office/creativity/">Creativity & Leadership and LaunchU</a>—and will play a critical role in advancing entrepreneurship as a defining and transformative component of an 91ֱ�� education. </p> <p>In 2007, 91ֱ�� was one of five colleges awarded seed funding through the Northeast Ohio Collegiate Entrepreneurship Program (NOCEP), conceived by the Burton D. Morgan Foundation and co-funded with the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Based in Hudson, Ohio, the Morgan Foundation works to strengthen the free enterprise system by investing in organizations and institutions that foster the entrepreneurial spirit.</p> <p>Support from the Morgan Foundation has helped make entrepreneurship an overt and intentional part of an 91ֱ�� education. </p> <p>“The Foundation is excited to see entrepreneurship fully embedded on the 91ֱ�� campus as a highly visible, multidisciplinary program accessible to students and alumni through curricular and co-curricular modes of learning,” says Deborah Hoover, president and CEO of the Morgan Foundation. “91ֱ�� has fully embraced the ambitious vision we shared for harnessing student energy and creativity through entrepreneurship, and we are pleased to help sustain the momentum of the program for the future. <br></p> <p>91ֱ��’s Creativity & Leadership (C&L) program is a multidisciplinary effort designed to encourage students to put their innovative ideas into practice. Competitive funding opportunities for students have included the Ignition Fund, Conservatory Initiative Grants, C&L Fellowships, and internship support. </p> <p>The Ignition Fund allows students with early-stage ideas to test and refine their business models. Conservatory Initiative Grants enable students to spend winter (January) term implementing artistic projects that prepare them for entrepreneurial lives and larger ventures. C&L Fellowships have provided seed funding for 91ֱ��’s most promising entrepreneurs to move their ideas from concept to reality in the year after graduation. Students prepare for funding opportunities through C&L workshops, advising, mentoring, and courses. C&L also awards competitive, need-based funding for students to undertake unpaid summer entrepreneurship internships during which students work with a startup or other entrepreneurial enterprise, receive mentoring, and develop skills to further their own entrepreneurial aspirations. </p> <p>91ֱ�� continues to respond to the changing needs of students and alumni and in 2013 introduced the LaunchU entrepreneurship accelerator. Culminating in a public pitch competition before a panel of investors, LaunchU helps students, alumni, and faculty refine their entrepreneurial ideas, develop skills and contacts, and compete for seed funding, coaching, and access to venture capital. By extending 91ֱ��’s entrepreneurship resources to alumni for the first time, LaunchU is establishing a vibrant network of 91ֱ�� entrepreneurs in a range of sectors. It is also deepening ties with the rich entrepreneurship ecosystem of northeast Ohio. </p> <p>“Support from the Burton D. Morgan Foundation was key to catalyzing entrepreneurship as a powerful educational tool at 91ֱ��,” says Andrea Kalyn, dean of the Conservatory. “We are very grateful to the Foundation for this campaign gift, which will ensure that generations of 91ֱ�� students and alumni have ongoing access to the opportunities and support critical to developing their passions, skills, and entrepreneurial ideas to create change and value in the world.” </p> <p><strong>About The Burton D. Morgan Foundation</strong> </p> <p>The Burton D. Morgan Foundation is a private foundation established in 1967, whose mission is to strengthen the free enterprise system by investing in organizations and institutions that foster the entrepreneurial spirit. To advance the mission, the Foundation supports entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship education programs and initiatives at the youth, collegiate, and adult levels. A legacy of founder and entrepreneur Burton D. Morgan (1916-2003), the Foundation leverages its grant and staff resources to connect the people, ideas, organizations, and opportunities that comprise the vibrant and growing entrepreneurial ecosystem in Northeast Ohio. Visit www.bdmorganfdn.org.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Releases</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2014-07-09T12:00:00Z">Wed, 07/09/2014 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Communications Staff</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2395">Entrepreneurship</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2406">Innovation and Impact</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3238">LaunchU</a></div> </div> </article> </main></body></html>