Aspiring entrepreneurs at the University of Kentucky will have a new launchpad for learning the basics of business start-ups with the opening of the UK Venture Studio.
The studio, run by UK’s Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship, will eventually be housed on the ground floor of the new Gatton College of Business and Economics Building. The innovative learning space will be aimed at providing a real-world, start-up company experience for UK students from all majors, including undergraduates, graduate students and post-docs.
The studio will kick off a series of events and educational sessions in September with a one-semester Venture Studio Bootcamp program, designed to help participants assess and validate the feasibility of business concepts, create business models and conduct other hands-on projects. Weekly lesson topics will include interactive game development, smartphone applications, medical training simulators and more.
To participate int he bootcamp, students must apply to compete for a spot on a project team, with each team requiring a variety of skill sets. The Von Allmen Center has also appointed a team of Student Venture “Sharks” from the colleges of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Design, Engineering, Gatton Business and Economics, and Pharmacy to help with bootcamp recruitment by answering questions and assisting in the formation of teams.
"Our hope is that students from across campus with a passion for innovation and working with cross-disciplinary teams will come join us on this exciting new adventure," said Dean Harvey, director of the Von Allmen Center, in a release announcing the new studio.
The Bootcamp introduction session is scheduled for September 17, and the window for accepting applications is now open. The deadline for applications is September 23.
For more information on the Venture Studio, check online at http://gatton.uky.edu/vace/venture-studio/.