It’s no surprise that Inc.’s editorial content appears dominated with young entrepreneurs’ success stories. Consider Naveen Selvadurai, co-founder of Foursquare, the location-aware social networking app that has been a hit since it was introduced 2009, boasting millions of users and still adding about 100,000 to its membership weekly.
A high-tech startup company has boundless potential, according to Wayne Watkins, president of the Northeast Ohio Student Venture Fund. In fact, the Northeast Ohio fund’s Student Venture Fund at The University of Akron is encouraging early-stage, high-tech, student-run companies to apply for funding.
Applications will be screened and narrowed to a few finalists required to present their business cases and make an investment decision valued at $25,000 for one company, per semester.
The fund, directed by the University of Akron Research Foundation, provides an experiential learning opportunity for graduate students while stimulating economic growth and regional job creation.
“Student-led funds create networking opportunities leading to business partnerships, investments, sales of products and services, and employment opportunities,” says Watkins, who notes that the Student Venture Fund at the University is required to raise its own resources. Donations to this important regional initiative can be in any amount and are tax-deductable.
“I was very impressed with the Student Venture Fund at The University of Akron – both by the research and planning that has been performed, and by the caliber of students involved,” says Richard W. Pogue, vice chair of the UA Board of Trustees and senior adviser for Jones Day. "In fact, I was so impressed that I made the lead gift to launch the fund, and encourage others to consider this worthy cause.”
For inquiries, please contact the Student Venture Fund at UA at uasvfund@gmail.com, or 330-972-6532.