PURPOSE
The mission of the Entrepreneurship Initiatives branch of the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation is to encourage entrepreneurial activity in the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts by fostering an educational environment among participating colleges/universities that informs, supports, and inspires student entrepreneurs and by recognizing and awarding students who display the entrepreneurial spirit. The mission of the Entrepreneurship Initiatives branch of the HGCF is to encourage entrepreneurial activity in the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts by fostering an educational environment among participating colleges/universities that informs, supports, and inspires student entrepreneurs and by recognizing and awarding students who display the entrepreneurial spirit.

FUNDING
Funding is generally awarded in recognition of students who have taken appreciable steps toward business launch often including a business plan with market research, prototyping, and in some cases implementation. Each year students are awarded funds to cover part of the developmental costs of student entrepreneurial ventures such as materials, special fabrication, software, equipment, consultant fees or patent fees.

METHOD
Each year students who have shown an interest and aptitude in entrepreneurship are nominated by a committee of Lemelson Center staff and faculty to be submitted for approval to Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation.  Awardees are invited to a banquet in their honor which celebrates collegiate entrepreneurs in the Western Massachusetts region.