Purdue Research Park Announces Awards for Entrepreneurship Academy
DATELINE: WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.
The Purdue Research Park presented college tuition vouchers to Indiana high school students who were among the top three finishers in the inaugural Entrepreneurship Academy.
The Purdue Research Park's Entrepreneurship Academy was based on an entrepreneurship program called "So what? who cares? why you?" by Wendy Kennedy. Kennedy is a technology industry executive and former professor who has written on the subject of commercializing innovative ideas. Her program has been adapted across North America by numerous entrepreneurship and educational organizations.
"The aspiring young business owners who have participated in the Entrepreneurship Academy this week have been exposed to the importance of working in teams and the tremendous excitement of building a new organization and developing it into a productive business," said Purdue First Gentleman Christian Foster, who also is director of the K-12 STEM Program for Discovery Park and was the luncheon's keynote speaker.
The week-long academy was made possible through a $35,000 grant from Indiana's Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development, or WIRED program. Officials from the Purdue Research Park organized the program.
Projects of the Entrepreneurship Academy included:
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Devising a feasible business concept.
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Making the product or service competitive in today's market.
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Developing a communications and marketing plan.
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Presenting a two-minute "elevator pitch" at the conclusion of the academy.
Other program sponsors included Lafayette Printing Co., SSCI Inc., BASi Inc., CSO Architects, ICx Griffin Analytical, Purdue University, Purdue Employees Federal Credit Union, Lafayette/West Lafayette Development Corp., and the Indiana Small Business Development Corp.
The Purdue Research Park is home to more than 140 companies. About 90 of these firms are technology-related, creating the greatest cluster of these types of ventures in the state. The park is part of the Purdue Research Foundation, a private, nonprofit foundation created to assist Purdue University. The 591-acre research park, located just north of campus, has the largest university-affiliated, business incubation complex in the country.
The U.S. Department of Labor funds the Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) initiatives with a goal of helping Indiana manufacturers develop innovative business strategies. The program is designed to integrate federal, state and local investments in work force development and economic development. Through the Center for Regional Development, Purdue's Office of Engagement is involved with the project.
CONTACT: Purdue Research Park
Cynthia Sequin, 765-494-4192
765-413-6031 (mobile)
casequin@prf.org