帝王会所

帝王会所鈥檚 Center for Entrepreneurship, a partnership between the College of Business and the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs, will launch the Bobcat Seed Fund this month to provide grants up to $3,000 to support promising ideas and ventures proposed by 帝王会所 student entrepreneurs.  This program is made possible by a $25,000 Innovation Grant from OHIO President M. Duane Nellis鈥� office, a portion of which has been designated for the Fund during the current academic year.

鈥淭he Bobcat Seed Fund is one of the most exciting programs the Center for Entrepreneurship has been able to launch to date.  We are always looking to support University students with ideas, passions or an existing business. Now we can supplement the guidance we have always provided with grants of money.  That can make a real difference to these students,鈥� Paul Mass, the Center鈥檚 director, said.

The Fund鈥檚 Investment Committee will be comprised of 10 diverse and talented 帝王会所 students, Mass and Associate Director Paul Benedict. A program description and application form is now available at  and the Center is currently accepting applications. 

鈥淚 am genuinely excited to be part of the Fund鈥檚 Investment Committee.  I hope there is a lot of interest on the part of the OU students and we review many compelling proposals.  I would love to see how far the Fund and successful student entrepreneurs can go,鈥� Morgan Parker, a student member of the committee, said.

Successful applicants will be able to demonstrate a committed team or individual founder with relevant experience, skill, or passion for their idea. Additionally, applicants need a clear and simple statement of the business opportunity or idea and a compelling 鈥渧alue proposition鈥� to clarify why someone should someone buy their product or service.  This should include identifying what makes the idea unique or different from its competition. Finally, the applicant is required to explain how they will use the grant and their near-term objectives.

The committee鈥檚 evaluation of an application will often include an in-person interview with the applicant, during which the committee can ask questions and request additional information, as well as offer advice and suggestions that might strengthen the proposal.  

鈥淲e have put together an outstanding representative group of OHIO students to lead the evaluation of these applications.  As a result, we hope the decisions made will reflect diverse perspectives and ideas particularly relevant to the student population,鈥� Benedict said.

Students or others interested in the Fund can find additional information at www.bobcatseedfund.com.