Babson Establishes Global Entrepreneur In Residence Program
MBA Blog / 16th June 2016
In furtherance of its mission to harness the power of entrepreneurship as a force for economic and social value creation, Babson College has established a Global Entrepreneur in Residence (GEIR) Program. The program will help qualified international graduates from Babson and other area colleges/programs remain in Massachusetts, continue to build their high potential startup businesses, and bring new, high-skill jobs to the region.
Babson is the first private college to pursue a GEIR program. The pilot effort this year will host up to 10 GEIRs who want to accelerate their companies and qualify for a cap-exempt H-1B visa. Entrepreneurs with viable startups who are currently starting or about to start the Optional Practical Training (OPT) period of their F-1 visa and want to apply for the H-1B visa next spring are also encouraged to apply.
Those invited to the program will be housed at Babson’s new, first-class campus location at 100 High Street, in the heart of Boston’s Financial District, and will connect to Babson through The Arthur M. Blank Center for Entrepreneurship, its central hub for startups.
In exchange, the GEIRs will further Babson’s mission by mentoring Babson students and alumni and supporting various Babson academic and research initiatives, networks, and activities.
“Babson is pleased to establish a Global Entrepreneur in Residence Program in order to attract, support, and retain talented entrepreneurs who can provide valuable contributions to the entrepreneurial ecosystem ofMassachusetts,” said Babson President Kerry Healey. “Babson values the perspectives and experiences of international entrepreneurs and our new GEIR program is yet another effort by the College to advance economic, social, and personal development through global entrepreneurship education.”
“Babson’s Global Entrepreneur in Residence Program will bring talented, global innovators to the center ofBoston’s growing tech and startup cluster, and inspire talented students to start their own businesses right in our city,” said Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh. “The diversity and desire that immigrants bring to Boston is what makes our city strong, and I thank Babson for their leadership in creating a welcoming environment for our students that will strengthen our economy for years to come.”
“I thank Babson and President Healey for their leadership in this critical arena,” said Massachusetts Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash. “Entrepreneurship and talent retention are cornerstones of the Commonwealth’s economic development agenda, and as an administration, we’ve collaborated with private sector and academic partners to create a template that allows the Commonwealth to retain talented,Massachusetts-educated entrepreneurs. This collaborative effort has already yielded more than 200 new jobs, and $100 million in private investment. I am thrilled to see this impactful public-private pilot program spread to Babson, and I look forward to continuing our shared work of unlocking entrepreneurship and job growth in Massachusetts.”
