Four programs for students, faculty, community members, and educators. No two paths are the same. Find yours.
You don’t need a business plan. You don’t even need to know what entrepreneurship means yet. LaunchNET exists for JCU students, alumni, faculty, and staff who have a spark of something, a product idea, a service concept, an existing side hustle, and want help turning it into something real.
No grades. No pressure. Just coaching, mentoring, pitch competitions, idea contests, networking, and access to local resources that meet you exactly where you are.
LaunchNET is part of a network of schools (Baldwin Wallace, Kent State, Lorain County Community College, and Case Western Reserve) that collaborate so you get the unique strengths of each. The whole thing is free, funded by a grant from The Burton D. Morgan Foundation.
Where to find us: Lower level of Grasselli Library in B105B, right next to the Burton D. Morgan Creativity Classroom.
Contact Jamey PolakThe Donnelly School established an annual mission-based grant program for all JCU faculty and staff.
The goal: encourage collaborative development or growth of experiential academic or extracurricular programs that “inspire individuals of intellect and character to learn, lead, and serve in the community and throughout the world.”

We run workshops, keynotes, and webinars that give educators practical, experience-tested ways to use AI tools for lesson planning, content creation, grading workflows, and classroom delivery.
No hype. No theory. Just the stuff that actually works, built from years of doing this in our own courses and programs every single day.
We also work with schools and programs that want their students using AI responsibly before they hit the job market. Custom programming is available for high school and college faculty, departments, and institutions ready to stop talking about AI and start using it.
Book a SessionSpend 6 Saturdays with Cleveland entrepreneurs and local experts, building real skills, real momentum, and a clear path to launch or grow your venture. And it doesn’t end after Week 6. You continue receiving support through office hours, student project assistance, and community networking nights.
Apply Nowof program participants start a venture
of businesses started are women-owned
of businesses become sustainable within three years



Six consecutive Saturday mornings, 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Lunch and refreshments provided. Each session digs deep into one topic with local experts: lawyers, bankers, social media pros, government contracts specialists.
Tuition is $600. Scholarships of $575 are available for anyone with financial need. All applicants are automatically considered.
Grounded in more than 25 years of hands-on experience and research. Our model is tailored to address the challenges disadvantaged individuals face as they navigate the entrepreneurial process.
Help those facing economic or other disadvantages launch ventures of their own.
Support existing small businesses on the path to sustainability and growth.
Work with community members on the development of both the person and the business.
Track the development and performance of entrepreneurs and ventures based on participation.
Acknowledge and amplify the achievements of small business owners in our community.
We welcome community members as volunteers, mentors, and donors. Reach out to Gabi Beni to learn more.
Not sure where to start? Reach out. We’ll point you in the right direction.