Demo Day to Showcase West Texas Start-up Companies
The Office of Technology Commercialization at the Texas Tech University System 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 Office of Technology Commercialization at the Texas Tech University System will host its inaugural Demo Day, 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 Rawls College of Business. Jamie Rhodes, founder of the nationally-acclaimed Central Texas Angel Network, will serve as the keynote speaker emphasizing the importance of local investor groups to an innovation economy.
“We are thrilled to showcase the wealth of talented entrepreneurs and researchers at Texas Tech during our first Demo Day,” said Kent Hance, chancellor of Texas Tech University System. “As 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.”
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.
“As 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,” said Vice Chancellor for Research and Commercialization Jodey Arrington. “The 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.”
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™, 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’s and master’s degree from the University of Texas and has served on advisory boards at St. Edward’s University, Texas State University and the University of Texas.
For more information about Demo Day, visit http://innovatetexastech.com/demoday/.
About the Texas Tech University System
The Texas Tech University System 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 TTU 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 TTU System’s endowment passed $1 billion, total research expenditures were approximately $200 million and total enrollment exceeded 44,000 students. Whether it’s 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 TTU System continues to prove that anything is possible.