If you’re a JWU Online student looking to start your own business, consider joining The Launch Pad, JWU’s organization for aspiring entrepreneurs. Whether you are planning to launch your own company — or want to create a side hustle — The Launch Pad at JWU can help you turn your entrepreneurial aspirations into your business dream come true.
The Launch Pad Serves All Online and Providence Campus Students
Director Jeff Binczyk ’24 DBA, characterizes The Launch Pad as a safe and brave space for all students to transform their ideas and dreams into reality. Historically, The Larry Friedman Center for Entrepreneurship, known as The Launch Pad, served students on the Downcity and Harborside campuses.
Randy Benitez ’27 BSBA – Entrepreneurship was the first online student to join The Launch Pad during 2024. Benitez pitched his product, ReWriter, at the 2025 Providence Sharkfest competition and was awarded third place.
During 2024, Benitez and Gabrielle Tringali ’26, an on-campus student, founded The Launch Pad Club for students from all on ground and online programs who have similar interests to meet with one another.
“The Launch Pad is the primary vehicle for one-on-one coaching, mentoring, and workshops,” notes Binczyk. “However, many of these workshops are sponsored by the student-led club. The club is also a way for entrepreneurial driven students to congregate and brainstorm with one another, while at the same time running an organization that has a budget, fundraiser campaigns, and events throughout the semester.”
After a campaign encouraging JWU Online students to join The Launch Pad over 30 online students have joined the organization in only two months.
“I’m excited that teaming online students with on-ground students to collaborate will make the university experience more dynamic,” says Binczyk. “My goal for when you graduate, is to have your diploma in one hand and your business plan in the other.”
Industry Tracks Matched To Your Interests
This fall, four industry tracks will be introduced to accommodate the increasingly diverse interests of students. These industry tracks are broken down into Nonprofit, Services (for service-based business ideas), Food and Consumer Products, and AI/Tech/Health and Wellness.
“Students in the four industry tracks will not only be meeting with me one-on-one, but also meeting with one another within their track,” says Binczyk. “They’ll focus on explaining their idea, brainstorming with the other students in that track and getting suggestions they hadn’t even thought of, because they’re so close to their idea.”
For those students who have a business plan that may not fall in one of these tracks — or who need additional help pinning down their idea — The Launch Pad also offers an Undecided track.
“We strive to have programming that meets everyone’s needs, so we created a separate track with workshops and brainstorming sessions for students who are undecided. We’ll explore questions such as, ‘What are you passionate about? What is something in this world — or within your interest – that is a problem you’d like to solve?’”
Charmaine Patterson ’27, a BSBA – Business Administration student from Clifton Heights, Pennsylvania, is in the Food / Consumer Products track. With over a decade of experience in the food and beverage industry, Patterson plans to open a restaurant and also, “develop innovative food service concepts and sustainable products that embody my vision and dedication to the food justice movement. Dr. Binczyk and the Launch Pad have given me guidance and resources that have helped me refine my idea and strengthen my business plan.”
Abundant Resources
Transforming a business idea into reality involves many moving parts. Affordable access to marketing survey software, website development and product packaging can be challenging for first-time entrepreneurs with limited budgets. Students in The Launch Pad have access to university resources that support them in building their business:
- Logo design
- Social media content creation
- Website design (the domain is paid for by the student)
- eCommerce (online store) development
- Qualtrics survey software
- Prototypes from 3D printing
- Packaging creation
- Basecamp (a collaborative project management software)
- Slack (AI work management and productivity tools)
- Lucid (visual collaboration suite)
- Networking
- Workshops and speaker series
- Faculty expertise
One-On-One Mentoring and Coaching
Online students in the industry tracks can attend virtual bi-weekly mentoring meetings with Binczyk, during which they are coached through the stages of businesses building.
- Stage 1: Exploring ideas, identifying problems, creating solutions to problems and performing competitive analysis.
- Stage 2: Conducting consumer research, refining the business concept, developing 3D product prototypes, building a website wireframe, creating marketing materials, logos and packaging.
- Stage 3: Drafting business plans, legal paperwork and fundraising plans.
Benefits Beyond Launching A Business
Supplementing what students learn in the classroom, skills gained in The Launch Pad transfer to the workforce, including familiarity with a host of online AI and productivity tools, project management software and visual collaboration tools. Binczyk notes,”Adding these to a résumé or describing an entrepreneurial venture in a job interview may break the tie when an employer is seeking an individual who not only says they have those skills but has them in writing and in practice.”
Binczyk advises, “You don’t need to own a business to possess an entrepreneurial mindset. Developing skills like persistence, leadership, conflict resolution, and creativity benefits all students, no matter their major, to be successful in whatever career path they take.”
Practice Presenting and Pitching For Sharkfest
The Launch Pad events provide a safe space for students to practice pitching. Finalists will transform that practice into delivering powerful presenations in the annual Providence Sharkfest competition.
Starlisha Keith ’27, a B.S. – Digital Marketing and Social Media student from Texas, hopes to pitch her nonprofit venture at Sharkfest 2026. “I want to teach young adults the trades — carpentry, electrical, roofing and other construction work — and have students build sustainable greenhouses in food deserts across the United States. I already have my presentation going on in my head. I definitely have myself in that winner’s circle — I’m definitely going to rock it out.”
If you’ve attended Sharkfest in the past, Binczyk hints at exciting changes to the format of next spring’s competition. While we can’t say what those changes might be, we’re sure the enterprising finalists will make Sharkfest 2026 worth watching!
How To Join The Launch Pad
Read what students say about their entrepreneurial experience with The Launch Pad. Students interested in joining The Launch Pad can simply sign up for a free consultation. You can also download a copy of The Launch Pad Brochure [PDF].
