Gain unique insights into the Incubators, Accelerators & Co-Working Spaces available to Austin technology start-ups on Thursday, November 14th at the IBM Innovation Center. Thought leader, entrepreneur, innovator and Silicon Valley veteran, Paul O'Brien (SEOBrien), delivers the keynote address, rich with his unique perspective and powerful observations about the Austin entrepreneurial ecosystem.
A number of local trailblazers and mentors in this dynamic space join Paul to compare and contrast the unique focus, formats and cultures of their respective programs. These speakers include, Josh Baer (Capital Factory), Kevin Koym (Tech Ranch), Jason Seats (Techstars), Kerry Rupp (DreamIt Ventures), Ryan Field (Austin Technology Incubator), Kris Looney (Emergent Technologies), Brian Schoenbaum (VUKA) and Stephen Frayser (STAR Park). This Spectrum Knowledge Transfer Series event is a can't miss opportunity for any company considering a short-term development program.
The Capital Factory was launched as a summer accelerator program in 2009 by Josh Baer, CEO of OtherInbox Inc.; Sam Decker, CMO of Bazaarvoice Inc.; and Bryan Menell, director of the Dachis Group. It has rapidly grown to a year-round venture occupying two floors of the Omni Building in downtown Austin. President Barack Obama visited the popular accelerator/co-working space during a six-hour technology-focused tour of the city in May 2013.
TechStars is a mentorship-driven startup accelerator that was started in Boulder, Colorado in 2006. Now has programs located in 7 cities, including one in Austin, Texas which launched August 2013. Fewer than 1% of companies who apply are accepted.
Tech Ranch was founded in Austin, Texas by Kevin Koym and Jonas Lamis in 2008 to help tech entrepreneurs "take it to the next level." More than 300 entrepreneurs in software, hardware, alternative energy and emerging technologies have completed their signature program, Venture Forth. Tech Ranch’s community of support numbers more than 800 entrepreneurs in the Austin area.
DreamIt Ventures is a pre-seed stage venture firm founded in Philadelphia in 2008 with host cities now in Austin, New York, and Israel. Named the third best accelerator program in the world by Forbes Magazine. Launched 102 companies with an enterprise value greater than $345M.
Emergent Technologies is a life sciences venture firm founded in Austin, Texas in 1989. Their multi-disciplinary team uses different approaches to discover and invent commercially viable applications and theirTechnology Access model lets partners tap into a pipeline of technologies in exclusive or non-exclusive fashion.
The Texas State Small Business Development Center is partially funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The support given by the SBA through such funding does not constitute an expressed or implied endorsement of any of the co–sponsors’ or participants’ opinions, findings, conclusions, recommendations, products, or services. All SBDC programs are nondiscriminatory and open to the public. Reasonable arrangements for persons with disabilities will be made, if requested at least two weeks in advance. Email: SBDC@txstate.edu, Phone: 512.610.0996
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