March 11, 2010

Launch Pad venture Audimated wins $25,000 first prize in WeMedia Pitch It! Competition

Former Launch Pad venture consultant Lucas Sommer brought home the big prize in the for-profit category at this year's WeMedia Pitch It! competition for his venture Audimated.com. Lucas' pitch focused on how his web application will revolutionize the independent music industry by converting music fans into salespeople for independent artists. For his efforts, he received a $25,000 cash prize, as well as the recognition and support of the WeMedia community.

Lucas was one of 8 finalists to present a pitch, in for-profit and non-profit categories. The finalists also included Matt Montag, a new Launch Pad member whose venture Stractor tracks personal location history. To see the live coverage from the event, visit WeMedia.com.

March 10, 2010

We Media Miami '10

During March 9-11, The Launch Pad is cosponsoring We Media Miami ’10. Now that the cold weather has left Miami, several key industry figures have migrated to the University from their respective climates. We Media Miami ’10 will feature the following speakers and participants: Newser founder Michael Wolff; Juliette Powell, author of 30 Million People in the Room; FCC Managing director Steve Van Roekel; PBS CEO Paula Kerger, and many more. The Launch Pad will be assisting to coordinate the event, running microphones, and directing participants. For the event schedule, please visit We Media. If you would like to become involved with The Launch Pad and assist with entrepreneurship programs and business venture development, email thelaunchpad@miami.edu.

November 16 - 20th, 2009

Global Entrepreneurship Week

The Launch Pad of the University of Miami is celebrating Global Entrepreneurship with events from November 16, 2009 through November 20, 2009. This year’s educational sessions, keynote speakers and unforgettable special events will certainly create an amazing forum for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Global Entrepreneurship Week is a growing movement of innovative thinkers promoting entrepreneurial activities worldwide (administered by the Public Policy Institute in Washington D.C.), committed to inspiring young people to embrace innovation, imagination and creativity. Last year, The Launch Pad was the #1 US Global Entrepreneurship Week partner (out of 1174 participants).

View the complete GEW Calendar

June 2009

Fellows Program

-This summer we started a new program: The Launch Pad Fellows Program! The Launch Pad Fellows Program is designed to provide students and recent graduates at both the undergraduate and graduate levels with opportunities to acquire first-hand experience in preparation for future careers in entrepreneurship. During their year-long engagement, Fellows will have the opportunity to observe and participate in Venture Assessment and Venture Coaching meetings and will be required to work on one of the following three entrepreneurial projects of their choice: (1) developing and pursuing their own venture; (2) undertaking a non-profit, social entrepreneurship project aimed at benefiting the community; or (3) pursuing an educational project advancing the understanding of entrepreneurship. With the assistance of The Launch Pad’s staff and venture coaches, Launch Pad Fellows will further develop their existing entrepreneurial skills while working on their selected project.

Our Summer Interns are:

1. Ben Leis
2. Brittnay Starks
3. Jessica Covell
4. Nicole Garcia
5. Seth Levy
6. Ben Elias
7. Chase Sherman
8. Mark Schrieber
9. Jose Maestri

April 2009

Budget Ball!

-On April 18th TheLaunchPad.org won the national kick off tournament for Budget Ball Out of 32 participating teams, comprised of different student groups and organizations from around campus, The Launch Pad emerged as tournament champions! Prizes included a donation check for $750 (displayed in our window), a $100 Zip Car credit for each player, and an all expense paid trip to Washington DC to compete in the national Budget Ball tournament! TheLaunchPad.org team will be facing members of congress, think tanks, lobbyists and administrators on Americas Mall in the National Budgetball Championship!
To read the article that was in the Miami Hurricane, click here.

The Launch Pad will also get to participate in the Youth Entitlement Summit, tour The White House and get to meet some of our countries most important policy makers. The Launch Pad looks forward to this opportunity to represent The University of Miami and the entrepreneurial initiatives of our campus and country.

School of Business Administration: Business Plan Competition

-The Launch Pad is proud to announce that OUR VERY first venture, Brian Rechtman of Blue Tree Marketing, won the Business Plan Competition in the High Potential Ventures and Small Businesses Categories! Congratulations Brian!

In the competition’s High-Potential Ventures category, first place prizes were presented to both graduate and undergraduate student ventures. Brian Rechtman, a School of Business MBA student, won first place and $6,000 for Blue Tree Marketing. The online auction for non-profits and schools aims to increase revenues and awareness for such organizations by reaching out to new donors and opening up a wider audience to their fund raisers.

Brian has voiced his appreciation for The Launch Pad stating "The Launch Pad is an invaluable tool for any aspiring entrepreneur - their staff guided me through the process of building my business plan and continue to be a key source of information, inspiration, and networking."

Great work Brian! We look forward working with you in the future and continuing to help you with all of your success!

To read the article, click here.

To Visit Blue Tree Marketing, click Blue Tree Marketing.

The Launch Pad was also involved in the development of several competitors in the competition’s Small Business category. The Launch Pad consulted both the small business category winners and runner up!

School of Business undergraduate Jason Eisner and UM School of Communication undergraduate Dane Osborn won first place and $6,000 for their start-up, RefurMadness. The company buys quality used furniture for a low price, restores the furniture to the best quality possible, and then sells it for a profit.

The Small Business category runner-up and winner of $3,000 was School of Business undergraduate Brent Martin for ElementalStereo. The venture manufactures and sells stereo systems for golf carts, a product aimed primarily at the increasing population of residents in golf cart retirement communities.

Brent is our most recent Launch Pad success story stating: "The Launch Pad is a great resource that should be taken advantage of by all of UM’s budding entrepreneurs. The Venture Assessment is a must for anyone thinking about starting their own business and the guest speakers offer unparalleled knowledge of real world experience."

To read the article, click here.

March 2009

- The Launch Pad was recently featured in Entrepreneur Magazine! To read the article, click here.

"The best undergrad entrepreneurship programs are typically found on campuses 'where the climate is conducive to entrepreneurship,' with student entrepreneur organizations, opportunities for undergrads to start their own businesses, dedicated work spaces and faculty members with strong entrepreneurial backgrounds, Green says."

The Launch Pad has successfully kicked off our newest intitiative, MOMentum, in collaboration with the Miami Children's Museum! The goal is to assist Moms (and Dads!) in developing the skills and network to take a leap into entrepreneurship. MOMentum will feature a monthly speaker series to educate and enlighten our South Florida entrepreneurs-in-training.

To view the Miami Herald's write up on MOMentum, click here.

'''There are moms at home with amazing ideas who don't know how to get a prototype built or know anything about marketing,'' Amat says.
A lot of people are worried about their future. It's the perfect time to tinker around with the idea you've been playing around with.''

Our very own entrepreneur of the month, Sean Sylvester (see picture above) with Voler la Rue was featured on the front page of the University of Miami website, and interviewed by CBS 4 News! See the links below for additional information.

- The Launch Pad is currently featured on the home page of the University of Miami. To read the whole article, click here.

"Since The Launch Pad began operations at the beginning of the fall semester, more than 300 students and alumni have created profiles on its Web site, which affords them free access to the center’s extensive suite of services—from one-on-one consultations to discuss business ideas all the way to mentoring relationships with successful business people who can serve as “venture coaches.” 'It’s been tremendously helpful. I get to bounce my ideas off experts and get great feedback,” [Severin] Romanof says. “And it’s been that way since day one.”

- To view the article, Designer Gets Help From UM In Launching Company, written by CBS 4 News, click here.

"And when [Sean Sylvester's] brand needed help, he went to the University of Miami's new program called Launch Pad at the Toppel Career Center. It's for students like Sylvester with a business idea. 'They help me with PR business planS, a lot of networking events,' said Sylvester. The plan worked. Sylvester is talking to a potential investor and today it's t-shirts, tomorrow who knows. 'I want to do everything from luggage to pillows to t-shirts I mean the sky's the limit,' said Sylvester."

February 2009

- Preparing to Launch!
We are pleased to announce our newest program- Preparing to Launch! At these special sessions, participants will brainstorm opportunities within a specific industry, to an identified target market, or for a specific purpose. Contact our office about sponsoring your own Preparing to Launch session!