CoLab receives Outstanding Student Engagement and Leadership award

UB’s Startup & Innovation Collaboratory powered by Blackstone LaunchPad (CoLab) has received the Outstanding Student Leadership and Engagement award from the Global Consortium for Entrepreneurship Centers (GCEC). UB was one of only 12 universities to be awarded top honors at GCEC’s annual conference Oct. 4 in Calgary, Alberta.

GCEC facilitates global entrepreneurship center collaboration with the goal of advancing, strengthening and celebrating the role colleges and universities fulfill in educating future entrepreneurs. More than 500 leaders from institutions around the world attended the three-day event, where entrepreneurial educators shared their expertise and showcased their programs.

Since its formation in 2016, the CoLab has equipped students with the skills and mindset to launch ventures and innovate within existing organizations. Through workshops, competitions and networking events, students gain hands-on experience applying classroom knowledge to real-world problems, building business models and developing solutions that matter. In the 2024-25 academic year alone, the CoLab offered 207 programs and engaged with students 13,283 times. Its programs are inclusive and accessible, encouraging collaboration across academic disciplines and student backgrounds.

“This recognition highlights UB’s ongoing commitment to empowering the next generation of innovators, doers and changemakers as it celebrates the incredible student leaders who make our entrepreneurial community thrive,” says CoLab Director Hadar Borden. “We are deeply grateful for the leadership, mentorship and support of our campus and community partners who help us ignite the entrepreneurial and innovation spirit across UB every day.”

The CoLab also emphasizes engagement with community partners, viewing their involvement as critical to bridging the gap between classroom and career. In 2024-25, the CoLab engaged 196 community partners as judges, mentors, panelists and intern supervisors, a 23% increase from the previous year.

“Our division seeks to create opportunities for our students to showcase their entrepreneurial spirit,” adds Brian Hamluk, vice president for student life. “Our campus ecosystem facilitates this in many ways, and I am thrilled that our Startup and Innovation Collaboratory has been recognized for the opportunities they provide students.”

This is the second time the UB CoLab has been recognized by the GCEC, which honored it in 2023 with its award for outstanding collaborations across disciplines.