AI-generated illustration; not a photograph of the reported event.
- calendar_today October 8, 2026
Supporting Student Entrepreneurship in Columbus
Jack Swartley, a junior finance major at The Ohio State University, continues to make strides in fostering student entrepreneurship. Already recognized as a co-founder of a startup and recipient of the President’s Buckeye Award, Swartley has now launched a new program designed specifically for student entrepreneurs: Founders Fair.
What Is Founders Fair?
Founders Fair is a networking summit aimed at students interested in entrepreneurship or those actively building their own ventures while still in school. According to Swartley, the event’s purpose is to connect talented students with mentors and investors who can guide and inspire them on their entrepreneurial journeys.
Collaboration and Leadership
Swartley leads Founders Fair alongside Zach Carlo, a student at Miami University whom he met at an entrepreneurship networking event. Together with a team of student founders, they organize and manage the program. Swartley highlighted the value of mentorship and meaningful networking in shaping college and post-college opportunities, emphasizing their goal to connect student founders with valuable connections built over time.
Recent Events and Participation
The inaugural Founders Fair took place in Oxford, Ohio, in April, drawing 110 students from 22 universities alongside more than 80 mentors. Building on this momentum, the second Founders Fair was held in Columbus on October 2 at The Loom. This day-long event featured speed mentoring sessions, startup presentations by select students, and a keynote address from Max Brickman, founder of Columbus-based venture capital firm Heartland Ventures. Attendees gained access to internship possibilities and opportunities to connect with potential investors and customers for their student startups.
Ohio State’s Commitment to Entrepreneurship
As a 2025 winner of the President’s Buckeye Award for his startup Mobile Pantry, Swartley has first-hand experience with university-led support systems. The award is a several-month-long competition, granting $50,000 in startup funding to student-led ventures. Swartley credits the program with helping him develop partnerships, business acumen, and a commitment to supporting peer entrepreneurs.
The university has also introduced the BuildX initiative, announced in President Ravi V. Bellamkonda’s recent State of the University address. BuildX aims to support 100 student startups annually by 2030 and includes dedicated coursework, mentorship, and a competitive accelerator program.
The Power of Networks and Mentorship
Swartley emphasizes that the goal of Founders Fair is not only to provide practical resources but also to help student entrepreneurs build lasting relationships within the broader entrepreneur community. He expresses hope that these connections lead to meaningful opportunities, with the event’s true success reflected in the energy and engagement among attendees.
“You never know where a conversation will lead you, and that’s really what we want to come out of Founders Fair: students meeting people who can change their lives,” Swartley said.
For more information about the Columbus Founders Fair, visit the program website.
Source: news.osu.edu.
