Ohio State President Ravi V. Bellamkonda announced detailed plans today for BuildX, an initiative designed to help student founders move through every stage of the startup process, from idea exploration to building a company and investor readiness.
BuildX combines real-world startup practices, rapid experimentation and mentorship from experienced founders, operators and investors. The pathway empowers students to transform promising ideas into scalable ventures with tangible impact.
“BuildX will further establish Ohio State as a haven for student entrepreneurs – a place where innovators can turn big, bold ideas into new businesses and products with real-world impact,” said Bellamkonda, who helped create a business accelerator while a professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology. “Students will not only learn practical skills for startup success, but will also experience the extraordinary joy of building, making our university one of the most vibrant communities of creators in higher education. As we have always done, Buckeyes won’t wait for the future – we’ll build it.”
The president unveiled details about BuildX at today’s State of the University address, highlighting the initiative’s place as a presidential priority.
The initiative aims to launch 100 investable student startups annually by 2030 and to increase investment in Ohio and grow the startup ecosystem.
Building on a strong foundation
BuildX leverages the momentum of existing university offerings while creating new programming for students who want to pursue entrepreneurship at a higher level.
Students will engage actively and directly in key steps of the startup experience. Teams will be challenged to move quickly from idea to early traction while receiving structured support and feedback from builders who have already been there.
Beginning in spring 2027, students will have access to two new three-credit-hour BuildX startup labs in addition to the already piloted Intro to Software Startups course founded by Arnab Nandi, professor of computer science and engineering and multiple-time founder. One lab will be open to all students who are validating a problem and developing an initial solution. A second lab will support student teams that have demonstrated that they are ready to build and launch their ventures. These intensive, experiential-based courses provide students interested in the BuildX Accelerator with a foundation of skills and access to mentorship needed to excel.
BuildX is embedded directly into the student academic experience rather than existing solely as an extracurricular activity. Students will also have dedicated time to work on their ventures alongside mentors and experts such as Ohio State alumni Andy Sparks, co-founder of Mattermark and Holloway, and Alan Gilbert, product and engineering leader who helped scale CoverMyMeds and Codonics.
Students participating in BuildX lab courses will be eligible to apply for startup development funding to help advance their ventures, and those interested can register for the spring 2027 courses starting in October.
BuildX Accelerator
The focal point is the competitive, in-person summer BuildX Accelerator, designed to help the most promising ventures accelerate growth and prepare for investment.
Selected teams will receive $15,000 in funding along with embedded founder coaching and access to investors, hosted in a new dedicated, 7,000-square-foot space in Pomerene Hall at the heart of Ohio State’s Columbus campus. The space will provide an active environment where students can collaborate, test ideas, advance their ventures and connect with mentors and a community of peers.
It culminates in a Demo Day, where founders present their ventures to investors and supporters.
A new $1 million BuildX Fund, established through donor investment in student innovation and entrepreneurship, supports the program.
Applications for the BuildX Accelerator open Oct. 1 and will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Students will receive direct access to a range of industry and startup experts as part of an expanding network of mentors, including:
- Christina Cacioppo, co-founder and CEO of Vanta
- Chris Farinacci, former COO of Asana and CMO of Google Cloud
- Dan Manges, co-founder of RWX and Root Inc.
Existing innovation
The initiative builds on the strengths of the Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship, which supports more than 1,000 students annually, the Center for Software Innovation and OHI/O, Ohio State’s student-led innovation community that engages thousands of student builders each year, as well as the vibrant student founder community on campus.
The Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship is Ohio State’s platform for innovators looking to transform bold ideas into market-ready ventures by guiding Buckeyes as they launch and grow their entrepreneurial ideas. The center was established through a commitment from the Keenan Family Foundation, founded by philanthropists Tim and Kathleen Keenan. Tim Keenan, an Ohio State alum, founded the center with an eye toward cultivating an active entrepreneurial mindset across multiple academic disciplines.
The Center for Software Innovation is a digital tech hub that advances interdisciplinary learning and software entrepreneurship. It was made possible by a watershed donation from alumnus Ratmir Timashev, a technologist and founder of Veeam Software, and his wife Angela through the Timashev Family Foundation, with a goal to help position central Ohio and Ohio State as a tech epicenter.
Students interested in BuildX can attend a virtual information session on Sept. 25, followed by an in-person student information session on Oct. 1.
For comprehensive information about BuildX, including entry points and opportunities, visit the BuildX webpage.
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