The University of Kentucky's Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship is launching UK Venture Studio, an innovative learning space headquartered in the . Venture Studio is focused on providing a real-world, startup company experience for UK students, regardless of major, and is open to undergraduates, graduate students, and postdocs.
"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 September, Venture Studio will kickoff a series of events and weekly educational sessions through a program called Venture Studio Bootcamp. Bootcamp is a one- semester program designed to assess and validate the feasibility of a business concept, create a business model, and provide hands-on experience with real world projects. The Bootcamp introduction session is scheduled for Sept. 17, and applications already are being accepted.
Throughout each weekly session, students will work in teams on a particular project. Topics include interactive game development, smartphone applications, medical training simulators and more.
Students must apply to compete for a spot on a project team. Each project will require a variety of skill sets to ensure a cross-disciplinary approach.
Applications will be reviewed and team members selected based on skills needed for each project. The deadline to apply is Sep. 23, 2015.
”Venture Studio teams will have the opportunity to compete in local, regional, and national business plan competitions in the spring semester,” said Mariam Gorjian, manager of the Venture Studio programs.
To recruit applicants for the Venture Studio Bootcamp, the Von Allmen Center has lined up a group of Student Venture 'Sharks' from the colleges of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Design, Engineering, Gatton Business and Economics, and Pharmacy. The Venture Sharks are available to answer questions and help form teams.
Initially, the Venture Studio will meet in Fellowship Hall located within the Mandrell Building, which temporarily is housing several Gatton offices and programs during the expansion and complete renovation of the Gatton College building. The Venture Studio is expected to move into its brand new, high-tech home on the ground floor of the Gatton building in the near future.
"It's going to be a unique space," Harvey said. "When Venture Studio is fully online, it will be a tremendously creative and collaborative space for entrepreneurial learning, growth, and innovation."
With a schedule of programs aimed at fostering collaboration among UK students, faculty, clinicians, postdocs, and community mentors/entrepreneurs, Venture Studio is open to all who are interested in immersive learning.
For more information on UK's new Venture Studio, visit http://gatton.uky.edu/vace/venture-studio/
MEDIA CONTACT: Carl Nathe, 859-257-3200 / carl.nathe@uky.edu.
