Manhattanville College and Westchester Launch 1000 help entrepreneurs

PURCHASE, N.Y., - June 13, 2022 – Students and faculty from the Center for Design Thinking at Manhattanville College, along with the Westchester County Office of Economic Development’s Launch1000 program, offered support for small businesses trying to launch an enterprise during a pilot for Manhattanville’s Genius Bar Workshop series.

Unlike large companies that have access to support systems and human resources, Launch1000 entrepreneurs are largely solopreneurs and sometimes struggle with fulfilling every role required to launch a business. Manhattanville’s Genius Bar program aimed to solve this problem while giving students the opportunity to use the skills learned in classes to help local entrepreneurs.

Leveraging the Manhattanville Center for Design Thinking and its Fab Lab complete with laser cutter and 3D printers, Manhattanville students offered smart services, focused assistance and attention, and new ways of solving problems that Launch1000 entrepreneurs face. Students evaluated new products and ideas, proofread marketing copy, provided consulting on social media and websites, and more.

Cynthia Schmits, chef and owner of Sideways Kitchen (sidewayskitchen.com) said, “This was beneficial to me because it was hands-on. Alexandria was able to show me firsthand what I was looking for, or what I was trying to achieve. Thank you, this has been a great success for me!” More than 10 entrepreneurs participated in the event, representing a range of industries from financial consulting to food seasoning to balloons.

“It is important for our Launchers to build a network of support within Westchester, and we are always looking for ways to connect them with resources that can help them,” said Deborah Novick, director of entrepreneurship and innovation, Westchester County Office of Economic Development. “We were thrilled to have these Manhattanville students offer their expertise to our launchers, and for our Launchers to provide the students with a hands-on learning experience. A win-win for all involved!”

Faculty mentors shaped the student approach to a responsible consultant–client relationship, from defining the problem to delivering real impact, all in a two-hour project window resulting in a truly unique experiential learning opportunity for Manhattanville students.

“It was wonderful to not only share my expertise, but see the needs of real, working professionals in the modern day,” said one student consultant. “Definitely the perfect definition of applying my education beyond the classroom, and I might have found opportunities to pursue some freelance work.”

In its role as a catalyst and cultivator for innovative programs, the Center for Design Thinking at Manhattanville College designs model programs that link theory and practice, technical skills and professional development skills, in a variety of fields. This collaboration between the Center for Design Thinking and Westchester County’s Office of Economic Development represents one of the ways in which the Center’s director, Alison Carson, Ph.D., associate provost for academic innovation and design thinking at Manhattanville, is working to provide knowledge exchange between employers and students in a real-world lab.

“This is a great way for students to explore different skills and perhaps give them insight on what type of career they would want in the future,” said Jade who was one of the student consultants.

“I was able to put everything I learned these past years to use. Now I have a better understanding of how my skills can be used in the workforce.”

Another student said, “I felt the experience gave me some practice for interviews. It made me gain more confidence in my skills and reassure me that I am able to talk about myself in a comfortable way.”

About Manhattanville College

Manhattanville College is a small, private liberal arts institution dedicated to academic excellence, purposeful education, and social justice. U.S. News and World Report ranks Manhattanville the number one private, non-profit institution among Top Performers on Social Mobility in Regional Universities North 2022. Located 30 miles from New York City on a 100-acre suburban campus in the heart of bustling Westchester County, Manhattanville enables easy access to robust entertainment offerings, educational resources, and business opportunities for its primarily residential and diverse student body. The College serves more than 1,500 undergraduate students and nearly 1,000 graduate students from more than 30 countries and 20 states. Founded in 1841, the college offers more than 75 undergraduate and graduate areas of study in the arts and sciences, education, business, and creative writing, as well as continuing and executive education programs. Graduate students can choose from more than 70 graduate and certificate programs. Extracurricular offerings include more than 45 clubs and 20 NCAA Division III teams. To learn more, visit www.mville.edu.

About Launch1000

The Westchester County Office of Economic Development developed Launch1000, as a self-paced, online program that turns concepts and ideas into de-risked startups, entrepreneurs earn a $2,500 grant for completing the program to helping new entities to defray startup costs

A full directory of businesses and nonprofits who have graduated from Launch1000 is available at: https://launch1000.orbelay.com/.