Located in Gatton is a studio that’s paving the way for students with interest in the entrepreneurial world. 

The Venture Studio hosts a variety of competitions and programs throughout the year, most notably the Venture Studio Bootcamp. The 10-week program allows students to work on a business plan and learn from local mentors to pursue their goals. 

“This is all on their own time,” UK Venture Studio Director Mariam Gorjian said. “This is not for credit.”

Last year, 60 different student groups applied, but only 12 were chosen.

Jarrod Williams, a doctorate student in pharmaceutical sciences, and his team brought the idea of Ultimate Anglers, which brings together anglers and guides in a seamless booking process, to the Venture bootcamp. Williams said the studio helped push his team to make their idea a reality. 

“It inspired us to do things in an entrepreneurial realm,” Williams said. 

The spring semester means competitions and travel for Gorjian. Teams have already competed in Georgia and will go on to compete in other competitions like Idea State U, a statewide competition between all Kentucky colleges and universities. 

“We’ve had a lot of success,” Gorjian said. “We’ve won thousands of dollars for teams.”

One of the studios more successful ventures was Red Natural, a research project turned venture that created a natural substitute for the artificial dye Red 40.

Gorjian said working with the studio is a great resume builder. She said student reactions have been positive, and the new location in Gatton has helped boost interest. 

“We have such broader engagement because we have such great real estate,” Gorjian said. 

Throughout bootcamp, the studio brought in community mentors, investors and executives to teach students a variety of topics like patent protection, market validation and making prototypes.

“Building a sustainable ecosystem is important to the university,” Gorjian said. “We want to keep people here in Kentucky. It’s a great place, but they need to have companies to work for that are innovative, and we’re just that start.”

Williams said The Venture Studio encourages people to explore entrepreneurial opportunities and links them to other organizations outside of the university.  

Applications for next semester’s Bootcamp applications will be available sometime this summer, but in the meantime, interested students are able to attend various seminars and programs to learn more about entrepreneurship and what The Venture Studio does. 

“The worst thing you can do is not do anything, in my opinion,” Gorjian said. “We want to see people get out there.”

By Lexington Souers

[email protected]