Donald R. Ryan ’69 Incubator for Entrepreneurship in the Arts and Sciences
2025 Ryan Incubator Annual Report
Kelly (Ramirez) Stone
Director, Ryan Incubator for Entrepreneurship
Dear Friends of the Ryan Incubator,
On behalf of all of us at Providence College, I want to extend our heartfelt thanks for your incredible gift that made the creation of the Donald R. Ryan ’69 Incubator for Entrepreneurship in the Arts and Sciences possible. Your generosity has planted seeds of innovation and resilience that are now blossoming across our campus and beyond.
Since its inception, the Ryan Incubator has become a dynamic hub of entrepreneurial activity, spearheading new initiatives, launching programs, and building a culture of excitement and possibility. The ripple effects have been both immediate and profound, fostering a spirit of creativity and empowerment among our students.
We are thrilled to share that we have recently established a group of entrepreneurial advisors. This group of passionate and experienced leaders will help us foster innovation, guide the incubator’s direction, and expand its impact. Their insight and mentorship will be invaluable as we continue to nurture our student entrepreneurs and grow the Incubator’s reach.
Thanks to the incubator, we’ve already seen a number of remarkable ventures:
- Friartown’s Closet – Mary Gifford ’26 has spearheaded this student-run shop which has grown into a 30+ member club managing daily operations and organizing pop-up events, including free shopping experiences for the Smith Hill community.
- D&J Contractor Marketing – Josh Cohn ’24 and Dory Aine ’24 courageously turned down lucrative job offers to follow their passion for marketing. After placing third in our inaugural pitch competition, their firm has flourished, achieving a 100% client retention rate and welcoming their first PC student intern.
- Greenwrks – Brendan Greene ’24 launched a design and vintage shop which has become a vibrant addition to the Providence community. While he didn’t place in the pitch competition, the confidence he gained helped him launch a now-flourishing business that regularly hosts fashion shows.
- Gianna Bakes – Gianna DeLellis ’26 took second place at our most recent pitch competition with her custom cake business. She also participated in the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fellowship at Hope & Main, gaining valuable skills and earning her ServSafe certification.
- SmartSip – Neve Palmeri ’27, pitch competition first place and audience award winner, went on to win the Big East Startup Challenge. Currently, she is now collaborating with chemistry faculty and students to further develop her product and has recently been featured in the Boston Globe and NBC 10.
These are just a few of the many examples of how the Ryan Incubator is changing lives—encouraging our students to seek more and create meaningful ventures that impact both the campus and the broader community. We are eternally grateful for your generosity and look forward with great excitement to what the future holds.
Mission
The Donald R. Ryan ’69 Incubator for Entrepreneurship in the Arts and Sciences equips students with the knowledge, networks, and resources to engage in innovative thinking, enhancing their academic experience and making a positive different in the broader community.
Vision
The Ryan Incubator is a place where students learn to embrace an entrepreneurial mindset, grounded in the liberal arts, fostering a spirit of creativity and empowerment through the Providence College campus.
Theory of Change
We believe that by exposing PC students to ventures and opportunities and supporting their efforts to innovate and build viable businesses, hey will thrive, establishing Providence College as a leader in the field.
LAUNCH
We encourage students to learn about startups and embrace an entrepreneurial mindset.
Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fellowship:
The Summer Fellowship offers students paid internships with innovative and entrepreneurial organizations while providing alumni mentorship and cohort-based learning. To date, we have placed 17 students in organizations such as Edesia, NEMIC, Flux Marine, Amos House, Hope & Main, Social Enterprise Greenhouse, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Half-Full, and others.
Smith Hill Consulting:
With the support of another alumnus, we have launched a consulting group dedicated to assisting small businesses in Smith Hill. This initiative provides stipends to both students and participating businesses. In our pilot year, 12 students worked in three teams of four, supporting Rise and Shine Café, Bodega on Smith, and the newly established 02908 Merchants Association.
Innovation Consulting:
Students gain real world experience supporting startups. Clients in year one included: Hyundai (ESG strategy), Mass Challenge and Flourish.
Start-Up Bootcamp:
A six-part workshop series on fundamental entrepreneurship themes, led by alumni and faculty, and organized in collaboration with the Entrepreneurship Society student club. In its first year (2023), the series engaged over 50 students, with participation growing to more than 70 students in its second year.
Elevator Pitch Competition:
Students receive coaching and mentorship to refine their pitches and compete for $9,000 in prize funding. The winning team represents Providence College at the Big East Startup Challenge. In 2023, six teams participated, with participation growing to 11 teams in 2024. This initiative is made possible through the support of the Anne Goss Foundation.
Link to Community Resources:
We connect students with viable business ideas to incubators, accelerators, and other business support services within the Providence and Rhode Island community.
BUILD
We help students develop entrepreneurial ideas and launch their ventures.
CONNECT
We leverage the knowledge and success of the Friar Family.
Alumni Network:
We provide students with access to a world-class network of entrepreneurial alumni who offer coaching, mentorship, lead workshops, and serve as guest speakers in courses. Our program fosters meaningful connections and delivers comprehensive support services to students and recent graduates as they launch and scale their ventures.
Entrepreneurship Hub:
We promote collaboration through our dedicated space in Feinstein, which features a student venture office, a private phone booth, Friartown’s Closet, and networking areas.
Startup Small Grant Fund:
This fund will provide grants to support students in launching their businesses. Recipients will be asked to sign a “pay-it-forward” commitment, pledging to give back in the event of their business’s success.
Additionally, we guide students through existing campus funding opportunities and facilitate connections to external resources, including grants, accelerators, competitions, and angel investor groups.
FUND
We help students secure the capital needed to enable them to grow their ventures.
2025 EXPENSES
Physical Space
$26,333
Utilized for furniture and fixtures.
Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fellowship
$68,000
17 student received $4,000 stipends.
Smith Hill Consulting Group
$21,000
Represents 12 student stipends and client stipends.
Pitch Competition
$20,350
Includes event cost and prize funds for two years.
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
The Ryan Incubator Activities Fund
The Ryan Incubator Activities Fund was established to provide the Director with annual discretionary support needed to underwrite the expenditures associated with all programs within the Ryan Incubator. The Activities Fund provides the opportunity for alumni, parents, corporations, and other partners to support and grow the Incubator and Entrepreneurship Program. All Advisory Council members will be asked to support the Activities Fund annually, ensuring the long-term sustainability for these programs and any new initiatives that will arise. Over the last two years $71,000 has been raised to support the following initiatives:
- Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fellowship
- Entrepreneurship Bootcamp
- Smith Hill Consulting Group
- Pitch Competition
- Grant Fund
