Stories of Technology, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship in the Southeast

From Arizona State University:

Two separate announcements out of the Arizona-based university.

• The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)-led Clean Energy Education & Empowerment (C3E) initiative has announced that Arizona State University (ASU) is joining the C3E Initiative as a partnering University. The Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory at ASU joins Massachusetts Institute of Technology Energy Initiative (MITEI) and the Stanford Precourt Institute for Energy as the third University to work with DOE to increase the participation, leadership, and success of women in clean energy. As a partnering University, ASU will work with DOE to manage the C3E Initiative, including holding annual meetings and opportunities to promote women’s leadership. The Global Futures Laboratory at ASU provides key engagement spaces for scientists, scholars, innovators and leaders to address pressing societal challenges and will bring this to C3E. ASU will collaborate with MITEI, Stanford, and DOE on the planning and implementation of C3E’s annual awards and symposium. The 13^th annual symposium will be held at Stanford University in November, and the fourteenth symposium will be held at ASU in 2025.
• In line with rapid innovations in business and technology, the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University (ASU) is launching several new programs for students seeking to make their mark in developing industries. Two new Bachelor of Science programs, one in artificial intelligence (AI) in business and the other in financial technology, will be offered at ASU starting this fall. As AI’s role in business operations becomes increasingly significant, ASU believes there is a growing demand for professionals with combined expertise in AI and business. The newly announced bachelor’s degree in AI in business will train a workforce that can leverage AI mindfully toward meaningful value creation within an organization. The goal of this program, offered on ASU’s Tempe campus, is to equip students with the necessary technical AI and business skills required to succeed in the constantly evolving landscape of technology and information systems.

1. Financial technology, commonly referred to as fintech, is a rapidly growing field that has revolutionized financial services. The permeation of technology into traditional banks and financial services firms has led to more efficient, convenient, and accessible financial products for consumers and businesses alike. Further, the use of technology in the provision of financial services has opened opportunities for innovation across the financial sector.
2. In the fintech program offered on ASU’s Polytechnic campus, students will gain insight into key concepts, technologies, and industry trends. They will analyze and evaluate the opportunities and challenges presented by innovations in the delivery of financial services. The new financial technology curriculum will build on core business subjects with courses in finance, programming and machine learning, preparing students to work in broad functional areas across the fintech ecosystem.

From High Point University:

High Point University’s (HPU) all-star lineup of global leaders in the Access to Innovators Program continues to expand with the addition of Mark Bradburn, the Founder and Co-Managing Financial Advisor of The Bradburn Group at Morgan Stanley in New York City. Bradburn is HPU’s Wealth Management Innovator-in-Residence.

“HPU is grateful to have Mark mentoring our students and sharing his insights on leadership and life skills as our Wealth Management Innovator in Residence,” said HPU President Dr. Nido Qubein. “Mark’s business knowledge and experience as a leading financial advisor and his passion for continuous professional development will help propel HPU students toward success and significance as they build their careers.”

HPU’s Access to Innovators Program connects students with global leaders for networking, mentorship, and experiential learning opportunities. Bradburn joins eight other individuals including: (1) Steve Wozniak, Apple Co-Founder and HPU Innovator-in-Residence; (2) Marc Randolph, former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Co-Founder of Netflix and HPU’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence; (3) Cynt Marshall, CEO of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks and HPU’s Sports Executive-in-Residence; (4) Russell Weiner, CEO of Domino’s and HPU’s Corporate Executive-in-Residence; (5) Sue Downes, CEO and Co-Founder of MyEyeDr and HPU’s Health Care Expert-in-Residence; (6) Dr. Ellen Zane, former CEO of Tufts Medical Center and HPU’s Health Care Executive-in-Residence; (7) JiNan Glasow George, CEO and Founder of Patent Forecast and HPU’s Intellectual Property Expert-in-Residence; and (8) Johnny Taylor, CEO of SHRM and Human Capital Expert-in-Residence.

From the University of Rhode Island:

The University of Rhode Island’s (URI) Library Innovation Lab is hosting MakerSpace Summer Camps in July and August for students ages 12 to 16, the first time a dedicated camp is being offered for middle and high school students in URI’s library MakerSpace. Campers can choose from three options for programs:

• 2D & 3D Design & Prototyping Camp July 8 to 15 where the students will be able to explore 2D and 3D software and a variety of maker tools to transform ideas into reality.
• Screen Printing & T-Shirt Making Camp August 13 to 16 which is a week-long camp for screen printing and t-shirt making.
• Young Women in STEAM Camp August 19 to 23 which is described as “an empowering STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) camp for girls ages 12 to 16.”

All camp days run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Students will pursue projects based on their own interests, build new skills, learn how their current interests can translate to future career paths, and gain experience working with others.

From the University of Chicago:

The Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation has announced the 15 start-ups selected to participate in the 2024 Polsky Accelerators, two 10-week summer programs open to all University of Chicago students and recent alumni. Teams selected this year represent a variety of units from across the University of Chicago including the College, Harris School of Public Policy, Chicago Booth School of Business, and alumni.

• Nine teams were accepted into the Build track of the accelerator, designed for early stage ventures. In this track, students spend their summer building the key elements of their venture and validating assumptions around their market or customers. Each Build team also receives a $7,000 non-dilutive grant.
• The other six teams were accepted into the Launch track of the accelerator, designed for investment-ready teams to focus on fundraising, selling, and gaining and maintaining momentum. It includes a $10,000 investment in the business, networking opportunities with venture capitalists, and assistance in building pitch and fundraising decks.

To learn more about the 15 start-ups selected, click here.

---