Media Contact
Jessalyn Holdcraft, Marketing & Communications Coordinator
jessalyn@iowastartupaccelerator.com
Cedar Rapids, IA, February 8, 2016
Blackstone Charitable Foundation Awards Innovation Grant to Iowa Startup Accelerator
Iowa Startup Accelerator is one of 13 organizations to receive a Blackstone Innovation Grant from the Blackstone Charitable Foundation.
The Blackstone Innovation Grant program supports innovative regional initiatives and events that foster entrepreneurship. The grants announced today total $2 million to thirteen nonprofit organizations whose work strengthens entrepreneurial ecosystems and supports promising entrepreneurs.
“Over the past four years, the Blackstone Charitable Foundation is proud to support a diverse set of dynamic organizations that complement the work of our Entrepreneurship Initiative and build momentum around entrepreneurship in their regions,” said Amy Stursberg, Executive Director of the Blackstone Charitable Foundation. “This year’s cohort of Blackstone Innovation Grant recipients have already helped hundreds of companies and entrepreneurs to create over 9,000 jobs – we couldn’t be more excited to support them as they continue that work in the year ahead.”
The Blackstone grant will enable Iowa Startup Accelerator to expand its resources for the 90-day accelerator program including more mentors, increased software and hardware support for tech-based startups, and the production of an innovation summit series in the sectors of food and agriculture; manufacturing; education; financial tech; transportation, logistics, and distribution; and health, aging, and BioMed.
“This grant will let us dramatically grow our program and spur entrepreneurship in aggressive new ways,” Managing Director Eric Engelmann said. “We’re excited to have the support of the Blackstone Charitable Foundation as we accelerate world-changing ideas, from Iowa.”
For the 2016 grants, more than 450 organizations submitted proposals through a Request for Proposals (RFP) process established by the Foundation for both program and event-focused grants. The reach of the grantees’ programs and events extend across eight U.S. states, Washington, D.C., and the United Kingdom, and the entrepreneurs supported by these programs represent communities from across the globe.
About Iowa Startup Accelerator
Iowa Startup Accelerator is an intensive program that matches tech-based startups, especially those in ag, health, education, manufacturing, and transportation technology, with world-class mentors, Midwestern work ethic, seed funding, and development expertise to take them from concept to successful launch in 90 days.
About the Blackstone Charitable Foundation
The Blackstone Charitable Foundation was founded at the time of Blackstone’s IPO in 2007 with substantial commitments from the Firm’s employees. Influenced by the enterprising heritage of the firm and its founders, The Blackstone Charitable Foundation is directing its resources and applying the intellectual capital of the firm to foster entrepreneurship in areas nationwide and globally. Through its investment expertise across several asset classes and geographies, Blackstone has a unique perspective on the global economy and a heightened understanding of how entrepreneurial activity is often the crucial catalyst in the growth of successful businesses, industries and communities. For more information, see http://www.blackstone.com/foundation.
Blackstone Charitable Foundation’s press release including all of its 13 Innovation Grant recipients: http://www.blackstone.com/news-views/press-releases/details/blackstone-charitable-foundation-announces-2016-innovation-grant-recipients