PLATTEVILLE, Wis. — With one semester of experience, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s Pioneer Launch Lab is off to a great start in its second semester. The Pioneer Launch Lab is one of the latest entrepreneurial initiatives offered by the UW-Platteville Pioneer Academic Center for Community Engagement. It is an entrepreneurial center for students and alumni to grow their business ideas in a low-risk setting. The location of the lab is the 5th floor of Pioneer Tower. It includes a workspace dedicated to the eight individuals currently part of the launch lab. This space can be utilized as a home base for the beginning of entrepreneurial endeavors.
Another major resource provided to students and alumni who participate in the launch lab are coaches. Each participant is given a coach from the community to provide advice and counsel as launch lab members are going about starting their own business ventures. This panel of individuals come from all backgrounds and has a variety of experiences that are available to assist those who wish to take their ideas to the next level.
According to Kathy Neumeister, senior marketing specialist for PACCE, one of the most attractive aspects of the launch lab is that it is free to participants. Those interested in becoming part of the program must first submit an application. The long-term goal of the launch lab is to be able to outgrow the space in Pioneer Tower and be located somewhere in the community.
The Pioneer Launch Lab is not the only entrepreneurship initiative in the works. A newly created entrepreneurship minor will launch in January. Students interested in this minor may be interested in joining the launch lab as well. A Meet ‘n Eat with an Entrepreneur event was held Monday, Oct. 22 in the Harry and Laura Nohr Gallery in Ullsvik Hall.
“Low risk, high touch,” are the words that Neumeister uses to describe the Pioneer Launch Lab experience. “The Pioneer Launch Lab is an environment that is safe for students to engage in with few risks. It is vital to connect students with resources in the community and help them find out what it is that they want to do with their entrepreneurial ideas.”
Contact: Kathy Neumeister, senior marketing specialist, Pioneer Academic Center for Community Engagement, (608) 342-6020, neumeisterk@uwplatt.edu
Written by: Ethan Giebel, UW-Platteville University Information and Communications, (608) 342-1194, egiebel@uwplatt.edu