On Tuesday, February 4, 2020, Blackstone Launchpad had the amazing opportunity to be featured in the Albany Student Press (ASP)! The article, written by Amanda Alvarez, spoke about our upcoming annual business competition scheduled to be held on Friday, March 27 at the Massry Center for Business. Winners of the competition would split $15,000 in prize money to help jumpstart their businesses! The event will start off by dividing each team by their categories; after the teams would pitch their ideas to a panel of judges. The top participating teams would receive a quarter of the prize money, and the final three winners of the entire competition will split the remainder of the prize money. Before the competition teams are encouraged to meet with Blackstone members to practice their pitch, or any answer any questions.
Blackstone Launchpad is a campus-based entrepreneurship organization; young entrepreneurs are welcomed to speak to members of Blackstone if they have any questions relating to their business ideas. In 2016, winner of Blackstone’s first business competition was graduate student Tony Hoang, who studied at chemistry at UAlbany. He won the prize money and was able to kickstart his company Advanced Modular Instruments, which offers enhanced research in biology and chemistry laboratories. Through Blackstone, he was able to perfect his presentation skills and learn the different aspects of a successful business, which benefitted his early success. If you’re interested, sign-up for the event will start in mid-February, follow Blackstone Launchpad (@launchpadalbany) on Instagram to keep up with updates!