Clemson alums give $2.5 million to create new accelerator program
Intending to nurture an entrepreneurial spirit and cultivate processes to build successful, sustainable ventures that can scale over time, Brook T. Smith and Pamela Smith, both 1989 graduates of Clemson University, have given a $2.5 million gift to create the “Brook T. Smith Accelerator.”
This first-of-its-kind Clemson program is designed to help students, faculty, staff and alumni succeed in constructing maintainable and expandable for-profit, nonprofit and social entrepreneurial ventures. By providing a range of support programs and resources, including workspace, networking and educational opportunities, mentoring and training, the accelerator will support entrepreneurship — from ideation to execution. This gift will support interdisciplinary coursework and bring on-campus organizations, entrepreneurial alumni and funding sources together.
Brook Smith founded RSLP Ventures and is a partner in Castle & Key Distillery, Barrell Craft Spirits and Post Parade Wines. He and his wife become Clemson’s 12th “Academic Cornerstone Partner.”
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