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UNB s centre for entrepreneurship ready to spread its wings

Author: Communications

Posted on Sep 20, 2012

Category: UNB Fredericton

Pictured, from left, are: Raj Melville (executive director, Deshpande Foundation) and  Karina LeBlanc (executive director, Pond-Deshpande Centre) meeting with Karen Murdock (director of UNB's International Business and Entrepreneurship Centre) and activator team leads at the IBEC.FREDERICTON – Ever since its launch on the University of New Brunswick’s Fredericton campus, the Pond-Deshpande Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship has had a lofty ambition; modeled on a similar centre at MIT, the PDC aims to be a catalyst in advancing innovation and entrepreneurship in New Brunswick.

"We do this by encouraging and facilitating collaboration between entrepreneurs, young companies, and students, faculty and alumni,” says Karina Leblanc, executive director of the Pond-Deshpande Centre. "Collaboration is really the key to strengthening the culture of entrepreneurship in this province and helping to spread the entrepreneurial mindset, especially among our youth."

With that goal in mind, the Pond-Deshpande Centre has recently developed a student ambassador program for students who are passionate about entrepreneurship and innovation and who want to champion the entrepreneurial culture in New Brunswick. Twenty-five students will be selected as ambassadors of the Pond-Deshpande Centre and engage fellow students by promoting and coordinating the PDC's events and programming on their respective campuses.

"New Brunswick is a hub of innovation and entrepreneurship, however, many have never experienced New Brunswick's entrepreneurial spirit first hand," says Leblanc. "This program will engage students across the province in a conversation about innovation and entrepreneurship and expose select students to the entrepreneurial experience. In doing so, the PDC hopes that more students consider pursing a life of entrepreneurship and begin the process of starting their first venture."

Students selected for the program will also experience first hand the workings of the entrepreneurial world with a trip to Boston, mixer events, and mentorship opportunities with New Brunswick entrepreneurial talent, as well as the chance to win up to $1,000 to test their own innovative idea.

Students at all university campuses and college campuses across New Brunswick will be invited to submit a 2-minute video pitch to apply to be a student ambassador. A selections committee is established to review the pitches and select twenty-five students to be an ambassador on their respective university or college campus.

Students can apply through the following links:

 

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