ATI partners with Austin Community College to support life science startups

The IC² Institute’s Austin Technology Incubator (ATI) and the Austin Community College District (ACC) have partnered to launch startup business mentoring services within ACC’s Advanced Commercialization ACCelerator.

The world-class facility, opening in late 2016 at the ACC Highland Campus, will offer state-of-the-art biotechnology equipment, specialized wet lab space, conferencing areas, and staff to help companies transform scientific discoveries into the breakthrough products of tomorrow. The project is supported by numerous local, state, and federal funding awards.

ACC Highland CampusATI was recently recognized by the Kauffman Foundation as one of eight elite business incubators nationwide for its exceptional entrepreneur education and startup business mentorship programs. This recognition combined with ATI’s best practices wet-laboratory effort, funded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration, will enable ATI to provide perspectives on key success factors to support life sciences startups.

“We are pleased to partner with ACC to launch this important laboratory element of the Austin life sciences ecosystem,” said Cindy WalkerPeach, Director of ATI’s Health/Biosciences Incubator. “We are extremely supportive of ACC’s efforts to develop laboratory space for life science startups.”

Specifically, ATI will provide strategic business mentoring and building within ACC’s Advanced Commercialization ACCelerator, including infrastructure development of systems, processes, governance, network of key individuals and funders. Additionally, ATI will aid in establishing a pipeline of prospective accelerator startup companies.

“ACC’s biotechnology program is a vital resource to Central Texas’ growing biotechnology sector,” said Tyler Drake, Advanced Commercialization ACCelerator director. “Collaborations with partners like ATI provide valuable insight and experience to further advance the commercialization of cutting-edge discoveries and technologies.”

Image credit: Austin Community College

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January 19, 2016