Georgia State University marked the opening Feb. 21 of LaunchGSU, its new incubator for student entrepreneurship and innovation in the newly renovated 58 Edgewood Ave. N.E. building.

LaunchGSU, open to students with ideas for startup businesses, provides space to work, meet and hold events. For students accepted to the program, LaunchGSU offers technology, 24/7 access, a mailing address for their startup businesses, workshops, panels, talks and tours of other downtown Atlanta startup spaces, and connections to successful entrepreneurs in Atlanta.

It is part of Georgia State’s efforts to increase entrepreneurship and innovation at the university and to build an infrastructure that supports the acquisition of technical and critical thinking skills through learning, discovery, experimentation, prototyping and execution.

President Mark Becker said LaunchGSU will offer an environment meeting the needs of a new, post-Millennial generation of students starting college with different expectations about working for others after earning their degrees.

“In recent surveys, two-thirds of students who will come to colleges and universities over the next four to 10 years believe that they’re going to start their own businesses,” Becker said. “This is about giving them the opportunity to create and fulfill their own dreams.”

LaunchGSU has more than 60 members from all majors across Georgia State. Several student startups were on hand for the opening. Also attending were students from Panther Hackers, a university community dedicated to bringing together people with different skills in technology, design and business to solve problems.

“The whole infrastructure is growing fast, and students are really excited,” said Robin Morris, Georgia State’s executive officer for entrepreneurship. “We’re also connected here with the community, as we don’t want to be isolated. We want our students to be able to grow when it’s time to launch them into the working world.”