The Nasdaq Educational Foundation today announced the establishment of the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center, located at 505 Howard Street in San Francisco's South Financial District. The Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center – slated to open in 2015 – will be a non-profit organization, funded through a grant from the Nasdaq Educational Foundation. The Center is designed to convene, connect and engage aspiring and current entrepreneurs, while also serving the community of the greater Bay Area through events, education and mentor programming.
"Supporting entrepreneurialism is integral to Nasdaq's DNA," said Bob Greifeld, CEO, Nasdaq and Chairman, Nasdaq Educational Foundation. "The opening of this new facility will be a critical component to how Nasdaq, through these two charitable organizations, continues to serve the greater Bay Area and the Silicon Valley communities in delivering education and resources to entrepreneurs."
The Entrepreneurial Center will offer ongoing educational programming, including lectures and seminars and will provide information on the entrepreneurial sector, hands-on business mentorship, and technical assistance. Since its founding in 1994, the Nasdaq Educational Foundation has partnered with several leading California-based organizations including: The UCLA Anderson School of Business, The Tech Museum of Innovation, Business Association of Stanford Entrepreneurial Students and Stanford Law School.
"We envision the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center to be a place where the next generation of innovators will have access to resources and guidance to encourage and foster entrepreneurial talent to grow and thrive," said Bruce Aust, Executive Vice President, Nasdaq, who, as President of the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center, will be responsible for it being built and launched.
Resources at the Entrepreneurial Center will include classrooms, a public museum that documents the history of entrepreneurship, a coffee shop for individuals to gather and exchange ideas, and a studio space available for entrepreneurs as a means to produce high quality media pieces for public distribution. In addition, the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center will house a professionally-managed event space, and host a wide array of educational events and programming.
"San Francisco represents the epicenter of the entrepreneurial spirit," said Joan Conley, Managing Director, Nasdaq Educational Foundation. "We are excited to begin building an academic institution to support entrepreneurship in the greater Bay Area, and around the world."