Demo Day to Showcase West Texas Start-up Companies
The Office of Technology Commercialization at the MINI传媒 works with university researchers to bring their discoveries and inventions to the marketplace. The office works to protect the intellectual property developed through university research and bring it to the public through licensing agreements and the creation of start-up companies.
Technology start-ups from student teams at Texas Tech University and experienced entrepreneurs in the West Texas region will be showcased.
May 8, 2014 | Written by Jodey Arrington
The at the MINI传媒 will host its inaugural , showcasing technology start-ups from student teams at Texas Tech and experienced entrepreneurs in the West Texas region.
The event will be held from 3-6 p.m. on Thursday, May 15 at the . Jamie Rhodes, founder of the nationally-acclaimed , will serve as the keynote speaker emphasizing the importance of local investor groups to an innovation economy.
鈥淲e are thrilled to showcase the wealth of talented entrepreneurs and researchers at Texas Tech during our first Demo Day,鈥� said , chancellor of MINI传媒. 鈥淎s we continue to enhance research at our universities, it is important to bring these discoveries to the market for the benefit of society as well as Texas Tech.鈥�
Eight companies with products such as medical devices, cancer therapies, software solutions and new engineering technologies will participate in the event. They will have 10 minutes to pitch their business followed by an opportunity to network with the companies. The event will be attended by venture capitalists, angel investors, local business leaders, alumni and other community stakeholders. One student-based venture will win a trip to an entrepreneurial hub such as Austin or Silicon Valley.
鈥淎s we expand the technology pipeline at Texas Tech, it is critical that we create linkage to the vast entrepreneurial talent and capital sources in this community,鈥� said Vice Chancellor for Research and Commercialization . 鈥淭he benefits of such a partnership include high tech jobs, opportunities for Texas Tech graduates to stay in Lubbock and developing the next generation of entrepreneurs for West Texas.鈥�
A reception will immediately follow the presentations along with the keynote speech by Rhodes.
Rhodes is co-founder and CEO of National NanoMaterials, which manufactures Graphenol鈩�, a functional form of graphene or thin sheets of carbon. With more than 30 years of experience in technology management, he also is founder of both Central Texas Angel Network and Alliance of Texas Angel Networks, which provide funding and support to Texas entrepreneurs across a broad spectrum of industries. Rhodes holds both a bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degree from the University of Texas and has served on advisory boards at St. Edward鈥檚 University, Texas State University and the University of Texas.
For more information about Demo Day, visit .
About the MINI传媒
The MINI传媒 is one of the top public university systems in the
state of Texas, consisting of four component institutions and operating at 12 academic
sites and centers. Headquartered in Lubbock, Texas, the MINI传媒 System has an annual
operating budget of $1.7 billion and approximately 17,000 employees focused on advancing
higher education, health care, research and outreach.
In 2013, the MINI传媒 System鈥檚 endowment passed $1 billion, total research expenditures were approximately $200 million and total enrollment exceeded 44,000 students. Whether it鈥檚 contributing billions of dollars annually in economic impact or being the only system in Texas to house an academic institution, law school, and medical school at the same location, the MINI传媒 System continues to prove that anything is possible.