Stories of Technology, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship in the Southeast

From Florida State University:

Florida State University (FSU)-affiliated start-up companies took to the stage “Shark Tank” style last week, pitching their innovative ideas at the second annual “Discovery Challenge” event, and walked away with a combined $110,000 in new funding.

The high-energy event allowed three start-ups to pitch to four judges and the audience about their plans to take FSU-developed technologies to the next level of development and commercialization. The event was part of FSU Discovery Days, a week that celebrates FSU research, creativity, and innovation.

“Innovation is truly everywhere, and everyone has a part in that philosophy,” said FSU Vice President for Research Stacey Patterson. “This is just a really great opportunity for us to showcase not only the research that’s happening at FSU but also the FSU research that’s moved out into the marketplace and to startup companies to help move those technologies forward.”

Kyle Parella with Cypris Therapeutics took the first prize of $50,000 as well as the crowd favorite award of $10,000; Dave Williams with SeaD Consulting took home the second prize of $25,000; and runner-up Qianli Mu with AMRF Technologies also received $25,000.

From the University of Chicago:

In the spirit of its historical, unique, and little-known connection with what has become the modern family office, the University of Chicago Booth School of Business has announced the creation of a new Family Office Initiative (FOI) — one of the first comprehensive programs focused on family office leaders at a major academic institution.

In 1882, 10 years before John D. Rockefeller founded the University, he established what is largely considered the first full-service single-family office in the United States. A single-family office manages the wealth and affairs of wealthy families, handling investments, financial planning, taxes, estate management, and other services tailored to a family’s needs.

The creation of the FOI at Booth is driven by a significant surge in the family office sector and coincides with an era marked by the ascendance of entrepreneurship. It also emerges against the backdrop of an unprecedented demographic shift, with millennials poised to claim the mantle of the wealthiest generation in history over the next two decades. The initiative will support the education, research, and networks for current and future family office leaders throughout the world, allowing them to capitalize on the research-driven insights of Booth’s faculty, as well as the resources of the initiative’s collaborators.

From the University of Nebraska-Lincoln:

The Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln has selected 23 student entrepreneurs for the inaugural cohort of the Nebraska Entrepreneurship Accelerator. The program supports entrepreneurial students across the university through a comprehensive approach, combining individualized development plans with access to exclusive resources and structured peer groups.

“This inaugural cohort is full of go-getters, builders, doers, and innovators,” said Mallory Krenk, Student Engagement and Recruitment Coordinator for the center. “They’re solving real problems that will positively impact Nebraska and beyond.”

The 2024-25 cohort represents six colleges at the university. Over the academic year, the program provides a $1,000 scholarship – $500 per semester – to those selected.

From Winston-Salem State University:

NASCAR announced the expansion of its Campus Lab Program to Winston-Salem State University (WSSU), making the Historically Black College and University (HBCU) the first university in North Carolina to offer the program.

The announcement was made from the Bowman Gray Field House at a Memorandum of Understanding ceremony.

The program is built on three pillars: exposure, experience, and opportunity, said Caryn Grant, Senior Director of NASCAR Diversity and Inclusion. “The goal of the NASCAR Campus Lab Program is to provide exposure to the motorsports industry, and we were able to accomplish that over the past year and a half since launching the program. As a result, we’ve introduced career opportunity, experience, and guidance that has positively impacted participants,” she said.

Students accepted to the NASCAR Campus Lab Program will get real-world experience developing a marketing activation while managing a set budget provided by NASCAR, compete in a case study competition, get a behind-the-scenes view of careers throughout the industry, be paired with a mentor from NASCAR’s Black employee resource group, and receive resume and interview tips from human resources professionals.

“Our new partnership with NASCAR sets us apart as a leading institution in the State of North Carolina,” said WSSU Chancellor Bonita Brown.

From Florida A&M University:

Florida A&M University (FAMU) and Trimble recently celebrated the grand opening of the new Trimble Technology Lab (TTL) at the Tallahassee campus. This event marks a major milestone as FAMU becomes the first HBCU to host a TTL. The lab at FAMU is set to revolutionize the learning experience for students in architecture and construction engineering by providing access to state-of-the-art technology and software solutions.

“Trimble’s generous support will equip our students and faculty with state-of-the-art technology, while setting a historic precedent,” said Andrew Chin, Dean of FAMU’s School of Architecture & Engineering Technology. “We are honored by a gift that demonstrates a commitment to cultivating a diverse and technologically proficient generation of architects and engineers.”

In addition to the donation of software and hardware technologies from Trimble, the Trimble Foundation Fund — Trimble’s philanthropic donor-advised fund — provided a grant to support the renovation and refurbishment of classroom spaces to house the new labs. FAMU is the first institution to be a recipient of a grant from Trimble Foundation Fund in connection with the establishment of a Trimble Technology Lab.

“Establishing our first technology lab at an HBCU underscores our commitment to fostering a more diverse and inclusive construction workforce,” said Amy Northcutt, Director of Education and Outreach at Trimble. “By partnering with Florida A&M University and providing a grant from the Trimble Foundation to support facility renovations, we aim to create a more equitable environment in the industry. This initiative ensures that FAMU students have access to cutting-edge resources and tools, enhancing their education and preparing them for successful careers in construction.”

From Cornell University:

From its conception in the fall of 2023 to its launch in the spring of 2024, Gorges Ventures, a student-managed and financed investment club, met a resounding, enthusiastic response both from seasoned entrepreneurs who became the start-up’s advisors and from fellow classmates, the fund’s investors. Launched by three class of 2025 MBA students in the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management, this closed investment club is developing a fund to invest in companies founded by Cornell University students in the classes of 2024 and 2025.

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