Austin Community College and Austin Technology Incubator Partner to Support Life Science Startups
Austin, TX (PRWEB) January 19, 2016 -- Austin Technology Incubator (ATI) at The University of Texas at Austin and the Austin Community College District (ACC) have partnered to launch startup business mentoring services within ACC's Advanced Commercialization ACCelerator.
The world-class facility, opening in late 2016 at the ACC Highland Campus, will offer state-of-the-art biotechnology equipment, specialized wet lab space, conferencing areas, and staff to help companies transform scientific discoveries into the breakthrough products of tomorrow. The project is supported by numerous local, state, and federal funding awards.
ATI was recently recognized by the Kauffman Foundation as one of eight elite business incubators nationwide for its exceptional entrepreneur education and startup business mentorship programs. This recognition combined with ATI’s best practices wet-laboratory effort, funded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration, will enable ATI to provide perspectives on key success factors to support life sciences startups.
“We are pleased to partner with ACC to launch this important laboratory element of the Austin life sciences ecosystem,” said Cindy WalkerPeach, Director of ATI’s Health/Biosciences Incubator. “We are extremely supportive of ACC's efforts to develop laboratory space for life science startups.”
Specifically, ATI will provide strategic business mentoring and building within ACC's Advanced Commercialization ACCelerator, including infrastructure development of systems, processes, governance, network of key individuals and funders. Additionally, ATI will aid in establishing a pipeline of prospective accelerator startup companies.
“ACC’s biotechnology program is a vital resource to Central Texas’ growing biotechnology sector," said Tyler Drake, Advanced Commercialization ACCelerator director. “Collaborations with partners like ATI provide valuable insight and experience to further advance the commercialization of cutting-edge discoveries and technologies.”
About the Austin Technology Incubator
The Austin Technology Incubator (ATI) is the startup incubator of the IC2 Institute of The University of Texas at Austin. ATI works with seed and pre-seed-stage companies, helping prepare these businesses for commercial success, with a particular focus on helping startups compete in the capital markets. The Incubator has operated since 1989 with a dual mission: create jobs and wealth in Central Texas through technology entrepreneurship, and provide distinctive teaching and research opportunities to the UT-Austin community. Over the past 10 years, ATI companies have raised over $750 million and created more than 6,500 jobs, nearly $1 billion in economic impact, and over $20 million in tax revenues in Central Texas. To learn more, please visit ati.utexas.edu
About Austin Community College
Austin Community College (ACC) is a nationally recognized two-year college serving Central Texas. ACC is focused on student success and providing affordable, flexible pathways to help students reach their education goals, learn new job skills, or advance their career. The college currently enrolls more than 41,000 credit students and serves an additional 15,000 students each year through noncredit programs. Check out their inspiring stories at austincc.edu/iamacc.
ATI Contact:
Cindy WalkerPeach, PhD
Director Health/Biosciences, Austin Technology Incubator
Email: cwalkerpeach(at)ati(dot)utexas(dot)edu
Ryan Field
Research Manager, Austin Technology Incubator
Email: rfield(at)ati(dot)utexas(dot)edu
ACC Contact:
Tyler Drake, PhD
Director, Advanced Commercialization ACCelerator
Email: tyler(dot)drake(at)austincc(dot)edu
Jessica Vess
Public Information & Media Coordinator
Phone: 512-223-7596
Email: jessica(dot)vess(at)austincc(dot)edu
Ryan Field, The Austin Technology Incubator, http://ati.utexas.edu/, +1 (512) 305-0000, [email protected]
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