On November 6, students from Rhode Island’s colleges and universities will take a ride on the Founders League Startup Bus, a fast-paced cruise designed to expose students to entrepreneurial activity happening right in their own backyard.
This Friday’s maiden voyage will take 40 aspiring student entrepreneurs from all 11 of R.I’s colleges and universities to ShapeUp, Swipely, and the Business Innovation Factory. During each visit, the students will enjoy a whirlwind tour, a chance to talk to company leadership, and an opportunity to ask questions about internships and jobs.
The students will be joined on the bus by mentor volunteers, who are on hand to answer questions, share insights and tell real world stories about life in the startup fastlane. Mentors also serve as docents, sometimes helping students connect the dots between what they see and their own plans, whether that is starting a business or taking a job within a growth company.
The Startup Bus is one of a series of activities funded by the Blackstone Charitable Foundation to spur deeper connections between Rhode Island startups and students/recent grads from the state’s colleges and universities. Straight scoop: getting young talent better engaged is critical to building a thriving startup ecosystem!
“Sometimes seeing really is believing,” says Founders League director Melissa Withers. “All the advice in the world can’t substitute for seeing a company in action. Sometimes it’s not as glamourous as a student thinks. Other times, it surpasses their wildest imagination. Either way, it creates a toehold in reality that students can use to take their entrepreneurial ambitions to the next level. It’s a window into the world that just can’t get sitting in a classroom.”
There will be more rides in the future, so if you are a student interested in taking a spin with us, drop a line at info@foundersleague.co Is your startup interested in being a stop on the bus? Contact Rebecca at rebecca@foundersleague.co.