Ohio State University’s Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship Celebrates a Milestone Fiscal Year

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship at The Ohio State University has marked a transformative fiscal year, highlighted by numerous milestones and expansions aimed at fostering student innovation and business development.

One of the standout achievements was the opening of the Student Entrepreneurs’ Center, a vibrant hub designed to support young entrepreneurs. Created by students for students, the center, with aid from Ohio State’s Department of Design, provides young business developers with a space where innovation can flourish. Made possible through the support of Tim Keenan, the entrepreneurs' center boasts modular spaces, conference rooms, adaptable lighting, cutting-edge audio-visual technology, smart boards, and numerous other features.  An added attraction is the Starbucks, located adjacent to the center, owned by Jesse Tyson, an Ohio State alumni and supporter of student entrepreneurs.

“The Keenan Center complements traditional classroom education with hands-on workshops, competitions, and mentorship from faculty and alumni to nurture and expand the entrepreneurial culture on campus,” said Peter Mohler, executive vice president for Research, Innovation, and Knowledge. “These initiatives help us build a community of students dedicated to entrepreneurship and innovation.”

The fiscal year also saw a significant expansion of the Best of Student Startups (BOSS) program, bolstered by a generous grant from the Luby Foundation. This support enabled the introduction of two new initiatives: Bucks Go Pro and the BOSS Space Competition. Bucks Go Pro is tailored for student-athletes, offering them the opportunity to create startup companies. The BOSS Space Competition encourages students to found businesses focused on outer space ventures. The Luby Foundation’s grant significantly increased the funding available to participants, enhancing their ability to develop and launch successful startups.

The Keenan Center continued its excellence with the U.S. National Science Foundation’s Innovation Corps (I-Corps™) program. Since fall 2023, 22 teams from Ohio State have participated in this immersive, seven-week training program. I-Corps™ facilitates the transformation of inventions into impactful products and services, preparing scientists and engineers to extend their focus beyond the university laboratory and accelerate the economic and societal benefits of their research.

Additionally, the Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship celebrated the successful completion of the third cohort of the President's Buckeye Accelerator. This program combines entrepreneurship skill-building, deep mentorship, community building, and funding within a structured process. The winners of the competition receive mentoring and funding towards the development of their startup. 

“The growth and success of our programs this year have been truly remarkable,” said Cheryl Turnbull, senior director of the Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship. “The opening of the Student Entrepreneurs’ Center and the expansion of the BOSS program, coupled with our continued success with I-Corps™ and the President's Buckeye Accelerator, underscore our commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship at Ohio State. We are excited to see what our talented students will achieve in the years to come.”