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Jun 20 2019

LaunchNET News: We won!

We coach Kent State founders, innovators, dreamers, and doers!
The latest & greatest from LaunchNET Kent State
Creating a community of Kent State makers, innovators, creators, collaborators, and business owners.
LaunchNET Kent State honored at international conference
On Tuesday, June 11, LaunchNET Kent State was honored with the annual “Excellence in Student Engagement” award from the Deshpande Symposium on Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Higher Education.

Pictured, from left: JR Campbell, executive director, Kent State University Design Innovation Initiative; Deborah Hoover, president and CEO, Burton D. Morgan Foundation; Victoria Broer, special initiatives officer, Burton D. Morgan Foundation; Julie Messing, executive director of entrepreneurship initiatives at Kent State University and LaunchNET; Zach Mikrut, program manager, LaunchNET; Tabitha Messmore, advisor, venture inititiatives, LaunchNET;  Benjamin Tipton, director, Foundation Relations, Kent State University; and Gururaj “Desh” Deshpande, founder of the Deshpande Symposium.
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Entrepreneurship Immersion Week 2019
Last Chance!  Apply today!

Interested in innovation? Work on an interdisciplinary team to solve industry problems! Gain real-world experience, great contacts, make new friends, free food & board and get paid!

Hosted at Kent State this year, EIW brings together teams to create new ideas, build innovative prototypes, creatively solve problems, and learn entrepreneurial, team-building, and communication skills while learning about regional resources and career contacts and potentially win prize money.

July 28-August 1, 2019: here at Kent State -- Open to ALL undergraduate students, regardless of major or class!  
apply now
Her Big Idea Fund 2019 Application
The Her Big Idea Fund, in partnership with Brown University's Nelson Center for Entrepreneurship, awards a $500 grant to a female identifying founder of any age or background who is ready to pursue her BIG idea.
The deadline to submit is June 25th, 2019!
apply today
For & About Clients
CONGRATULATION DR. MYERS!
Client Tré Myers (VALOR) successfully defended his dissertation on the positive effects of virtual leadership training (the basis for his company, VALOR) on Friday, June 14.
Pictured here are Tré and some of his research participants. 
Learn more about VALOR virutal leadership training
Around the Ecosystem
mspire is Northeast Ohio's only pitch challenge exclusively for product-focused entrepreneurs and small manufacturers. Applications are due June 30, 2019.
We're looking for people to present 10-20 minute talks and then lead a Huddle, or group discussions, around the topic afterward for 20-30 minutes.
The next TechPint is on  JULY 16TH at MAHALL’S 20 LANES, LAKEWOOD 
For entrepreneurs who live or work in the city of Cleveland and its neighborhoods, or entrepreneurs outside of Cleveland who are impacting (in a significant way) the citizens of the city of Cleveland or will impact the city of Cleveland via job growth over the next 18-24 months.
Applications close 7/12/19
The Commons Program is an entrepreneurship and innovation accelerator program designed to attract, develop, and retain the most talented and motivated minds by blending corporate innovation and student start-up ventures along with mentoring professionals to give students a truly unique, real-world experience. 
Other Competitions
The Lemelson-MIT Student Prize honors promising collegiate inventors around the country. The Student Prize is open to teams of undergraduate students and individual graduate students who have technology-based inventions.
Opens: May 22 2019 12:00 AM (EDT)
Deadline: Sep 27 2019 11:59 PM (EDT)
Learning Corner
5 Steps to Take Before Making Your Side Hustle Your Main Gig
Utilize this as a realistic, step-by-step plan to confidently turn your current side hustle into your future full-time entrepreneurial career.
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