MAYOR HARP, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM TO LAUNCH I-HAVEN, TO BREAK DOWN BARRIERS & ADVANCE CITY’S ENTREPRENEURIAL POTENTIAL

                                                     Contact: Laurence Grotheer

October 2, 2019                                                                                   203-946-7660 (o); 203-676-6103 (c)

MAYOR HARP, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM TO LAUNCH I-HAVEN, TO BREAK DOWN BARRIERS & ADVANCE CITY’S ENTREPRENEURIAL POTENTIAL

Inclusive Classroom Designed to Foster a Diverse Innovation Ecosystem for Student Entrepreneurs to Create, Build and Launch Companies in the City of New Haven.

New Haven – Mayor Harp said today her administration’s economic development team and the quasi-public Economic Development Corporation have joined forces with the HealthVenture and Entrepreneurship Foundation to launch iHaven – New Haven’s Classroom for Student Entrepreneurs.

The iHaven initiative is meant to unlock entrepreneurial potential, breakdown barriers among university affiliated entrepreneurs, root them in New Haven here and create pipelines for employment opportunities throughout Connecticut.

Mayor Harp said this initiative presents an opportunity for graduate and undergraduate students to access resources to help them succeed with their innovation, find and form a like-minded community and build up the city’s emerging entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Going forward, new businesses in new sectors of the economy will expand the region’s economic base and create new job opportunities.

Innovation in New Haven has grown significantly in recent years and continues to formalize with new supporting organizations, such as HealthHavenHub, as powered by HealthVenture. With the support of CTNext and DECD, iHaven brings together 5 local colleges and universities: Albertus Magnus College, Gateway and Housatonic Community College, Southern Connecticut State University, the University of New Haven and Quinnipiac University.

Additional Partners include Bankwell, Carmody, Torrance, Sandak & Hennessey, Marcum, LLP, Peoples United Bank and Webster Bank. CTNext and DECD’s funding support, along with each partner’s contribution in the form of funding and/or in-kind commitment are bringing the vision for iHaven a reality.

Community members are invited to join the iHaven schools and all partners at the launch event on Tuesday, October 15, from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at the HealthHavenHub, 195 Church St, 9^th Floor, New Haven, CT.  Please RSVP by October 10 as space is limited.