Stories of Technology, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship in the Southeast

From the University of Louisville:

The University of Louisville (UofL) has hired seasoned physician and innovator Steven Goldberg to help guide research-backed healthcare innovations to market. He will serve as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) through the UofL Office of Research and Innovation,  working with the university to connect inventions to industry and start-ups.

Goldberg brings nearly 30 years of experience as a medical doctor and C-suite executive, previously working for major brands and start-ups including ExpressScripts and Aetna Inc. He recently retired as Chief Health Officer of the clinical laboratory Quest Diagnostics, where he also supported the enterprise investment fund and new ventures.

Goldberg joins a class of EIRs that currently includes seasoned founders in healthcare, software, health and biotech, and manufacturing. The EIR program is led by the Office of Research and Innovation’s UofL New Ventures team, which focuses on launching start-ups around research-born tech. The EIR program is in partnership with Amplify, an organization working to grow Louisville’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, with funding from the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development.

From the University of Kentucky:

The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), one of the nation’s top higher education associations, has designated the University of Kentucky (UK) as an “Innovation & Economic Prosperity” (IEP) University.

The national designation acknowledges public research universities working with public and private sector partners in their states and regions to support economic development through a variety of activities, including innovation and entrepreneurship, technology transfer, talent and workforce development, and community development.

UK received the designation after an independent panel reviewed the institution’s application, including an internal review and analysis of economic engagement activities conducted with outside stakeholder input.

More information about the award and what UK did to earn it can be found here.

From the Georgia Institute of Technology:

BioSpark Labs, a collaborative, shared laboratory environment designed to enable life sciences and biotech start-ups, recently completed a $6 million expansion. The new space increases the facility’s usable footprint to 17,000 square feet and adds five equipment rooms outfitted with $1.5 million in shared life science research equipment, including capabilities for flow cytometry, fluorescent imaging, real-time PCR testing, and cell culture.

The buildout also includes one large, shared lab as well as two medium-sized and eight smaller private labs, along with additional workspaces and storage to attract and support emerging researchers and commercialization in the bioscience industry. Additional cleanrooms are expected to go online in early 2024.

Developed and managed by Georgia Advanced Technology Ventures Inc., an affiliate of the university, BioSpark Labs is helping to advance the life sciences ecosystem in Atlanta. Strategically located in the Science Square district adjacent to Georgia Tech’s main campus in Atlanta, BioSpark Labs is already home to several bioscience start-ups, including Arnav Biotech, Exvade Bioscience, SynthBiome, and Karnelian X, an innovator in cancer treatment with significant expansion plans. Microelectronics startup Saras Micro Devices also occupies space in BioSpark Labs.

From Arizona State University:

Arizona State University’s (ASU) J. Orin Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute and the City of Chandler are partnering on what they are characterizing as a unique incubator model. While the traditional approach is to require entrepreneurs to apply, the new Chandler Endeavor Venture Innovation Incubator invites any entrepreneur in the community to join simply by registering. Then, they can collaborate with peers and get expert advice, according to Tracey Dodenhoff, the new Vice President of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at ASU. Click here to learn more.

From the University of Miami:

The Launch Pad is the University of Miami’s entrepreneur center that has multiple program thrusts.

• Women Making Moves (WMM) aims to build a support program for this largely underrepresented and underserved population. It offers mentorship, resources, and a collaborative environment where women can thrive and grow in their businesses. WMM provides women entrepreneurs with a platform through which they can connect, build relationships, and take their business leadership skills to the next level.
• The MVP Showcase is an event for entrepreneurs in all stages to promote their venture to an audience. Participants can take advantage of free coaching and guidance to capitalize on an opportunity and take their business to the next level.
• Finally, there’s Co-Working @ The Launch Pad that allows students to register during set hours to utilize the co-working space.

From the University of Delaware:

A new online educational training platform currently under development in Delaware aims to equip medical technology entrepreneurs with the skills, resources, and connections to avoid common pitfalls like creating something that no one else wants. The hope is to increase the number of biomedical technologies that make it to market where they can improve patient care.

Called I-RED University, the project is a collaborative effort of the University of Delaware, InsiteHub, and Delaware Sustainable Chemistry Alliance (DESCA) as part of the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) regional entrepreneurship development program for states that traditionally have received low levels of NIH funding for biomedical research. It is funded through a three-year NIH grant totaling up to $3.2 million, of which $982,729 will be directed to the university’s Office of Economic Innovation and Partnerships. The Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant is now in Phase I, with follow-on funding expected in Phase II.

Click here to learn more.

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