Largest Cohort of Student Entrepreneurs Chosen for Summer 2021 LaunchPad Fellowship

June 14, 2021

The Blackstone Charitable Foundation has again partnered with Future Founders to fund a signature student entrepreneurial experience this summer. Over the past two months more than 160 students from nearly 30 schools across the U.S. and Ireland have applied for the opportunity. Recognizing the remarkable ingenuity of these students, this next cohort will be the largest ever of the Blackstone LaunchPad Fellowship.

Participants will again benefit from a $5,000 stipend to support them, their teams, and their earliest startup needs, as well as an abundance of resources and support for LaunchPad partner organizations like Future Founders and Techstars. Over the course of 8-weeks students will participate in entrepreneurial workshops, engage with experienced mentors and advisors, and build community between each other in (virtual) social activities. Fellows will also be invited to join the LaunchPad-supported Student Program of Startup Grind and participate in the Techstars Empower Collective.

“We’re excited to welcome another cohort of bright entrepreneurs to the LaunchPad Fellowship,” said Blackstone Charitable Foundation executive director Amy Stursberg. “In spite of the many challenges of the past year, this diverse set of students has taken impressive strides towards bringing their ideas to life. We look forward to supporting their innovation and drive this summer, and can’t wait to see the companies and careers they develop in the future.”

The student ventures in the Summer 2021 cohort include a wide variety of innovations in a broad swath of industries. Within food and agriculture there is a startup aiming to use satellite imagery to assist remotely and help small farmers maximize their yields, as well as a company hoping to reduce greenhouse gasses by serving livestock seaweed. Student Fellows working in healthcare are using nutrition and wellness solutions to address chronic illness, creating a revolutionary braille-displaying smartphone case to assist the visually impaired, and redesigning the traditional breast pump increasing comfort, efficiency, and portability. There are high tech companies using AI and advanced materials, eco-friendly companies looking to reduce waste and nonprofit startups seeking to inspire future generations of underrepresented students interested in graduate and professional education. 

Regardless of industry or innovation, however, all student entrepreneurs selected for this LaunchPad Fellowship have one thing in common: They are driven to solve problems that improve lives.

“If the last year has taught us anything, it’s that entrepreneurship is needed now more than ever,” said Scott Issen, President & CEO, Future Founders. “We’re excited to continue our partnership with the Blackstone LaunchPad Fellowship, and offer another talented cohort of student entrepreneurs the training, peer community, and resources they need to create new innovations and drive lasting impact.” Future Founders selects the fellows and provides program and administrative support throughout the eight weeks.

Meet the LaunchPad Summer Startup Fellows:

To stay up to date on their progress, follow the hashtag #LaunchPadFellowship and @BXLaunchPad and @FutureFounders on Twitter and LinkedIn.