VentureLaunch | Grove City College Center for Entrepreneurship + Innovation

The Grove City College VentureLaunch program, sponsored by the Center for Entrepreneurship + Innovation, affords student run businesses the opportunity to grow and explore new opportunities with the support of coaches, mentors, and pre-approved expense reimbursements. VentureLaunch is the perfect program to help small, student-run businesses scale and reach their fullest potential.

Eligibilty to continue in the program will be assessed each semester based on performance, progress, and program capacity.

Training, Coaching, and Mentoring

VentureLaunch:

Connects teams to resources within Grove City College such as classes and/or students to assist with research and project work and professors who may be able to provide advice that may assist in furthering the team’s goals

Helps to identify industry-specific mentors as necessary so that the team members can seek first-hand advice from experts with background and knowledge respective to their venture

Works with Grove City College Alumni & College Relations Office to reach out to GCC Alumni and Friends around the world to participate as mentors and advisors as needed

Arranges for access to regional professionals for support as needed. These professionals may include attorneys, accountants, sales and marketing professionals, HR professionals, etc.

Facilitates finding competitions, events, and programs outside of GCC that might be of interest to teams in order to further their ideas, obtain external feedback, and win funding.

Grants teams the unique opportunity to apply to hire E+I Fellows to accelerate their business growth.

Offers summertime coaching to a select group of VentureLaunch teams who may benefit from extended customer discovery during a quieter time of the year.

Pre-Approved Expense Reimbursement

Students accepted into the VentureLaunch program have the full support of the Center for Entrepreneurship + Innovation, which includes the reimbursing of pre-approved expenses. Examples of reimbursable expenses include market research, registration at trade shows or industry conferences, contract labor, purchase of hardware or software specifically for use in the venture, marketing expenses, prototype components, etc.

Intellectual Property (IP) Policy

Grove City College wishes to encourage robust startup activity through the Center for Entrepreneurship + Innovation. As such, students who wish to start commercial ventures may work with Professor English to apply to the Provost for an Intellectual Property Policy waiver which releases them from the school’s current Intellectual Property Policy.

Entrance Criteria

All applicants to the VentureLaunch will be required to submit an application (see below). Teams will be accepted on a rolling admission basis.

Student-led companies must have a legal entity formed (or be ready to form an entity) to be admitted to the program.

Although students, faculty, staff, recent graduates, and outside individuals may participate in the venture, it is preferred that the Team Lead of the venture be a Grove City College student.

There will be no requirement regarding team size, but multi-disciplinary teams are highly encouraged.

Selected teams will be notified of their acceptance to the program.

Hiring E+I Fellows

Startups that are accepted to the VentureLaunch program and exceed expectations may be granted the unique opportunity to hire an E+I Fellow.

E+I Fellows are hired to do specific jobs and help accelerate the growth of the host startup. Fellows can be hired for marketing, sales, design, and/or fullfillment roles (other roles will be considered as well).

E+I Fellows are paid by the Center for Entrepreneurship + Innovation to work for the host startup. These fellows will benefit from learning a job within their chosen discipline in addition to being paid for their efforts.

VentureLaunch participants interested in this opprotunity should discuss it with their program mentor, who can advise on the best way to proceed.

Eligibility to Apply for the E+I Founders Program

Startup founders that are accepted to the VentureLaunch program are granted the unique opportunity to apply for the E+I Founders program.

The E+I Founders program provides a unique level of support that allows student founders to be paid for working on their startup.

The E+I Founders program is extremely selective and is only available to a very small group of founders each semester.

Students who are part of the VentureLaunch program and wish to apply to the E+I Founders program should discuss it with their program mentor, who can advise on the best way to proceed.

PROGRAM TEAM

Professor Myer

Chief Coach + Mentor

Ms. Bashew

Finance Admin

Meet the Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIRs)

Our Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIRs) bring real-world experience directly to our students and founders. As seasoned entrepreneurs and advisors, the EIRs serve as mentors, strategic guides, and sounding boards, helping VentureLab and VentureLaunch participants navigate challenges, refine ideas, and accelerate growth.

Jim Laing

Jim builds innovation capacity inside complex organizations, grounded in human-centered design and HCI research from Adobe and ITHAKA. At UPMC Enterprises, PNC, and NCQA, he built the discovery processes, team structures, and product pipelines that move ideas from zero to one — the same muscle startup founders rely on to test unproven hypotheses and build conviction around what’s worth pursuing. He’s drawn to hard, expert-driven domains, from healthcare to Pittsburgh’s advanced manufacturing and robotics ecosystem, always focused on ensuring the people doing the work are genuinely supported by their tools. That same instinct now drives UpHeld, his venture exploring how technology can strengthen human connection rather than replace it.

Areas of Expertise: Corporate Innovation, Tech Product Strategy, Human-Computer Interaction

LinkedIn

Lorie Scrabis

Lorie is an experienced leader with a demonstrated history of driving results in the pharmaceuticals industry, with deep expertise in early drug development and eCOA software solution design. Her leadership is grounded in a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership from Carlow University and a Juris Doctor from Duquesne University Law School, giving her a rare blend of legal rigor and organizational insight. That foundation, paired with progressive and relevant business acumen, makes her a trusted leader for navigating the intersection of science, compliance, and organizational strategy.

Areas of Expertise: Intellectual Property and Medical Applications

LinkedIn

Bill Lucas

Bill Lucas is a co-founder of LUMA Institute, drawing on thirty years of experience helping people of all ages and backgrounds learn to be more innovative. He served as the chief architect of LUMA’s System of Innovation and co-author of LUMA’s “Innovating for People” handbook, a widely used reference on human-centered design methods. Known as an engaging instructor and a thoughtful advisor, he extends that same teaching passion to Carnegie Mellon University. Bill is an accomplished visual artist and muralist. He continues to champion the idea that a careful pursuit of profit and purpose delivers value far beyond financial returns alone.

Areas of Expertise: Ideation, Customer Discovery, Zero to One Feasibility Evaluations, Human-Computer Interaction

Want to become a VentureLaunch company?

Acceptance to the VentureLaunch program will be considered on a rolling basis. To be considered for admission to the program, please fill out our application! The sooner you apply, the sooner you can get started!

APPLY NOW!