The Ohio State University has announced a new student entrepreneurship and innovation at The Ohio State University. The students, faculty, university leaders, and business builders recently celebrated the grand opening of the new Student Entrepreneurs’ Center on Wednesday in the Gateway District.
This Student Entrepreneurs’ Center was created by and for students with Ohio State’s Department of Design to offer young business developers a space where innovation can flourish. This building also serves as the new home for the Tim & Kathleen Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship.
The entrepreneurs’ center features include modular spaces, conference rooms, adaptable lighting, state-of-the-art audio-visual technology, smart boards and much more.
One of those students is Devi Dheekshita Nelakurti, a biomedical science major and co-president of SmileChild. This startup is a student-founded nonprofit designed to reduce infant mortality through a module-based mobile app that educates caregivers on self- and infant care. The startup was awarded President Buckeye Accelerator funding in 2023.
Mike Duffey (chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education) said there is palpable excitement for entrepreneurship and innovation in Ohio, and he looks forward to the center supporting that growth. And he was joined at the grand opening by entrepreneur and Ohio State alum Jesse Tyson – who operates a Starbucks franchise at the new student center. Plus, Tyson agreed that support for student startups was on the rise and said students realize they can build businesses and do good for the community simultaneously.
This building is a sophisticated space with resources to empower students on their entrepreneurial journey, from initial ideas to thriving startups and beyond. And Tim Keenan said the center is a way to support student entrepreneurs to thrive like he did as a student.
KEY QUOTES:
“It will serve as a point of connection between our campus and the Columbus community, between rising Buckeye entrepreneurs and industry veterans, and amongst our students who can share their expertise with each other and combine it to create the next big thing. This center will also be a significant resource to these students in terms of space, mentorship, support for all of their ideas and tools to help bring those ideas to life.”
– Ohio State President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr.
“The Keenan Center, in concert with traditional classroom education, provides hands-on workshops, competitions, faculty and alumni mentorship, and more to foster and grow the entrepreneurial culture across campus. Through these efforts, we are able to create a community of students passionate about entrepreneurship and innovation.”
– Peter Mohler, executive vice president for research, innovation and knowledge
“Having a defined space for entrepreneurship means having consolidated resources, mentorship, a safe space to converse with our diverse backgrounds and experiences. In other words, this is where inspiration and passion meet its purpose and have the potential to transform lives.”
– Devi Dheekshita Nelakurti, a biomedical science major and co-president of SmileChild
“When I was a young man here at Ohio State, I had a professor who wanted to quote Ralph Waldo Emerson. … ‘Do not go where a path may lead. Go instead where there isn’t a path, and leave a trail.’ So that’s what we’ve done. We left a trail for the students here, and I want you to expand that trail.”
– Tim Keenan
