Fordham Foundry Promotes Entrepreneurial Spirit in the Bronx

Entrepreneur and investor Stephen Blackwell has been involved with several media and technology start-ups. A mentor with the Fordham Foundry, Stephen Blackwell shares the knowledge he has gained throughout his career.

To support the Fordham University community in developing and launching businesses that will spark economic growth in the Bronx, the Gabelli School of Business and New York City’s Small Business Services launched the Fordham Foundry, a business incubator that fosters the entrepreneurial goals of students, alumni, faculty, and the staff of Fordham University.

To facilitate the growth of new businesses, the Fordham Foundry provides collaborative work spaces, confidential business consultations, a mentorship program, and educational workshops. The foundry also hosts a variety of competitions to inspire those with entrepreneurial drive. 

Past events have included a three-day start-up program that brought participants together with the goal of creating a viable company in three days. A pitch challenge invited young entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas to a panel of judges who work in start-ups and venture capital. The winner of the challenge was awarded a $20,000 prize.

Fordham Foundry Enables Young Entrepreneurs to Gain a Foothold

The founder of lifestyle and music brand Death and Taxes, Stephen Blackwell has an entrepreneurial background that includes leading Spin Media Group, Inc. A graduate of Fordham University, Stephen Blackwell is active with his alma mater through mentoring with the campus incubator Fordham Foundry.

Having created high-profile partnerships with Nasdaq and the New York City Small Business Services division, the Foundry offers a combination of collaborative workspaces and business consultations and workshops designed to motivate young entrepreneurs. Areas of support include product design, prototyping, and development, as well as the protection of intellectual property.

Foundry events in 2017 included a Digital Healthcare Hackathon that brought together developers, engineers, industrial designers, and industry professionals in collaborating on deadline-driven solutions. Another high profile event was a student-run information session on the ins and outs of microfinance and its use in bootstrapping entrepreneurial ventures. 

The Fordham Foundry program “Getting Internships and Jobs with Startups” provided participants with actionable advice on how to position oneself to jump into the dynamic operating environment that growth companies represent.