Blackstone LaunchPad
LaunchPad, the signature program of the Blackstone Charitable Foundation, seeks to close the opportunity gap by equipping college students with entrepreneurial skills and internship opportunities to help them build lasting careers.
LaunchPad campuses since inception
78
Minority-Serving Institutions
46
Program participants in 2023
40K+
LaunchPad grants since inception
$62M+
Note: All figures as of December 31, 2023 unless otherwise noted.
Entrepreneurial Skills for Career Success
The skills needed to build a successful business – growth mindset, creativity, critical thinking and leadership – are the skills needed to build a successful career.
Our programming helps students hone these innovation skills so they can compete in the job market and realize their potential. We draw from across the Blackstone network to offer students a wide range of internship and career readiness opportunities.
We also offer both on-demand digital and on-campus, in-person skills-building programs – with a particular focus on campuses that might not otherwise be able to provide these kinds of resources.
How it works
Internships and Career Exposure
LaunchPad’s career exposure opportunities help students clarify their career goals and present themselves as competitive job candidates.
Internships
We offer students internship opportunities across Blackstone’s network. This includes roles ranging from marketing and data science to project management and research at Blackstone and Blackstone portfolio companies, as well as through partner organizations and select startups. During their summer internships, students receive additional mentorship and professional development opportunities that help them build entrepreneurial skills and succeed on the job. Students who intern at Blackstone’s New York offices may receive guidance and mentorship support from Blackstone professionals.
Innovation Sprints
Companies present challenges and invite teams of students to create and pitch a solution. Winning teams may receive cash prizes, while companies forge relationships with promising student talent.
Innovation Skills and Career Readiness
LaunchPad’s wraparound approach means we not only connect students with internship opportunities, but we also help them put their best foot forward. Our digital career readiness curriculum helps students position themselves professionally and practice skills that will serve them well past graduation.
Innovation Skills Training
LaunchPad offers a robust innovation skills series with live and on-demand virtual workshops and a library of resources to help students develop their growth mindset, creativity, critical thinking and leadership.
Coaching and Guidance
LaunchPad campus staff prepare students for the LaunchPad internship application process with career readiness workshops focused on core skills like resume writing, interviewing and personal brand building, and Blackstone professionals review polished final resumes before students submit their applications. Students can also apply to BASTA Discovery and SEO Careers, which offer training programs that prepare students for success in internship roles.
LaunchPad on Campus
We work with a dedicated campus director and other faculty to set up programs where students can learn entrepreneurial skills and connect with likeminded peers. These programs have included:
Workshops
Students can attend workshops on core entrepreneurial skills, such as ideation, design thinking, research, data analysis, customer discovery, business models, networking and more.
Speaker Series
LaunchPad features speakers from our alumni community, local businesses, our partner organizations and Blackstone to share stories of what entrepreneurship and innovation look like in different careers and industries.
Our Partners
These select partners help connect LaunchPad students with premier internship opportunities, entrepreneurial education resources and career support.
“What an eye-opening experience. I grew as a student, leader and professional simultaneously – this was truly a summer of evolving. I am beyond grateful for all of the hands-on training and technical skills I attained in my field, as well as the network and support of peers I gained. Thank you for an outstanding and unparalleled summer with long-lasting memories and lessons learned!”
– Social media intern at HBCU Founders Initiative portfolio company Adaya Beauty, student at Clark Atlanta University
“Blackstone LaunchPad blends real-world exposure into industries with opportunities for professional development. The Entrepreneurial Mindset Bootcamp in particular emphasizes an innovative approach toward problems, reinforcing that novel solutions can emerge when combining creativity, strategic thinking and tenacity. It’s an invaluable blueprint for success that will remain instrumental throughout my career.”
– Philanthropy intern at the Gray Foundation, student at Baruch College
“I had a great time at Centric Brands, a Blackstone portfolio company. I was able to apply everything I learned in school in a professional setting, where my colleagues were so supportive and collaborative and answered any questions we had. My project group won the Capstone Project with our research on AI and its integration within the company – this was the cherry on top.”
– Accounting intern at Blackstone portfolio company Centric Brands, student at College of Staten Island
News & Insights
Blackstone Charitable Foundation Commits $5 Million To Five New Colleges in Florida, Including New Historically Black College and University and Hispanic Serving Institutions
Blackstone Charitable Foundation Commits $2 Million To Four Historically Black Colleges and Universities in North Carolina and Maryland
From Startups to Skill Sets: Blackstone LaunchPad Broadens Mission to Equip Grads for Any Career
