Greater Lafayette Entrepreneurship Week to offer wealth of resources for startups

The Purdue Railyard will host several events as the Purdue Research Foundation celebrates Greater Lafayette Entrepreneurship Week. (Image provided) Download image

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue University entrepreneur ecosystem will be on full display next week as the Purdue Research Foundation joins the Greater Lafayette community in celebrating entrepreneurship.

Greater Lafayette Entrepreneurship Week is an annual program that features events highlighting the entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial resources available in the area. It is set for Sept. 13-20. The Purdue Research Foundation and its various groups will host several events aimed at helping entrepreneurs connect and learn more about pitching, intellectual property components and other key topics.

Inari, an ag tech company located at the Purdue Research Park, will host a Tech Day takeover on Sept. 17 with hands-on demonstrations and lunch provided at the Purdue Railyard.

“The Purdue Research Foundation is driven to help entrepreneurs move from idea to impact,” said Greg Deason, the foundation's senior vice president for entrepreneurship and placemaking. “Entrepreneurship Week is an excellent opportunity to connect with new innovators and engage with our community.”

The events start with Greater Lafayette Startup Weekend at MatchBOX, followed by numerous events around the Greater Lafayette community. Most events are free or have a minimal fee and tickets are available on Eventbrite.

Here are some of the Purdue Research Foundation events tied to Entrepreneurship Week:

Monday, Sept. 16

* Pitch practice with Purdue Railyard and Purdue Foundry, Purdue Railyard, 1281 Win Hentschel Blvd., West Lafayette, noon to 1 p.m.

* Convergence tours and connecting at Purdue Discovery Park District, 2-5 p.m., tickets at bit.ly/DPDtour.

Tuesday, Sept 17

* Inari Tech Day at Purdue Research Park, Purdue Railyard, 1281 Win Hentschel Blvd, West Lafayette, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

* Spirited Entrepreneur, hosted by Purdue Foundry, Nine Irish Brothers 119 Howard Ave., West Lafayette, 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept 18

* Intellectual Property 101 Lunch and Learn with the Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization, Purdue Railyard, 1281 Win Hentschel Blvd., West Lafayette noon to 1 p.m.

More information about events for Greater Lafayette Entrepreneurship Week can be found at www.765entrepreneurship.com and matchboxstudio.org/glew/.

About Purdue Research Foundation

The Purdue Research Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation created to advance the mission of Purdue University. Established in 1930, the foundation accepts gifts; administers trusts; funds scholarships and grants; acquires property; protects Purdue's intellectual property; and promotes entrepreneurial activities on behalf of Purdue. The foundation manages the Purdue Foundry, Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization, Purdue Research Park and Purdue Technology Centers. The foundation received the 2016 Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities Award for Innovation from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. For more information about funding and investment opportunities in startups based on a Purdue innovation, contact the Purdue Foundry at foundry@prf.org.

Writer: Chris Adam, 765-588-3341, cladam@prf.org
Source: Greg Deason, gwdeason@prf.org