NEW VENTURE ACCELERATOR 2022-2023 IMPACT REPORT
new venture
accelerator
A MESSAGE FROM LOU BIFANO
“Entrepreneurship isn’t just about having an idea; it’s about understanding how to bring ideas to reality. At the New Venture Accelerator, we understand this challenge and are committed to helping young entrepreneurs by providing experienced mentoring, counseling, and support during each step of their journey. We believe our role as mentors improves the odds for a successful venture, and we take pride in being able to offer a variety of resources tailored specifically to the needs of college students. Our mission is simple - we help young entrepreneurs from all backgrounds reach their full potential. We share insights into what it takes for a business venture to be successful in today’s rapidly changing market conditions. In doing so, we bring a vibrant startup business environment where everyone has the chance to succeed.” Lou Bifano
Director, New Venture Accelerator
2
The New Venture Accelerator is jointly managed and governed by Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business and the Auburn Research and Technology Foundation.
04 GOALS 06 BUSINESS EXPERTISE 14 FACILITIES 16 STARTUP SUCCESS 18 STUDENT SUCCESS 32 COMMUNITY SUPPORT 36 WAYS TO ENGAGE 3 38 TENANT LISTING
01
03
To assist faculty members and the Auburn Research and Technology Foundation in their efforts to commercialize Auburn University research and intellectual property.
To provide the educational foundation, critical thinking skills, and techniques for developing ideas that will lead to a successful business.
02
04
To support outside economic development activities in order to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem in our community and state.
To provide physical space, workshops, mentoring, coaching, and experiential learning that will accelerate the development of new venture ideas.
OUR GOALS
4
5
IMPACT BUSINESS EXPERTISE ENTREPRENEURS-IN-RESIDENCE
To accomplish our goals, we are growing our team of seasoned business professionals who bring real world experience for the benefit of students, faculty, and the community at large.
Greg Cessna
Scott McGlon
Jennifer Nay
Bob Roblin
Dan O’Keefe
Ward Swift
6
“ As an engineer turned entrepreneur, with a strong technical background but relatively new to the business world, the NVA has taught me critical business skills such as developing a business model and market strategy as well as improving my presentation skills.
Parvin Fathi-Hafshejani Samuel Ginn College of Engineering
7
• An NVA internship is designed to give students a real-world experience that they can leverage when interviewing for jobs post-graduation. • An NVA internship affords experience that is relevant to marketing departments in a corporation as well as client relations experience that is required if working for an ad agency. • NVA interns are exposed to numerous types of businesses, products, services, and communication techniques. • NVA interns don’t just sit back and wait for direction. They embrace their own entrepreneurial sense of curiosity, urgency, and excitement for everything they’re involved in. • NVA interns are by first intent tasked to help people start a business or grow an existing one. IMPACT BUSINESS EXPERTISE STUDENT INTERNS
8
SARAH MAY SOPHOMORE, MARKETING
VALERIE HEFFERNAN SOPHOMORE, MARKETING
LIA JUNGHANS SENIOR, MARKETING
HOPE PETRUNIC JUNIOR, MARKETING
9
Auburn people always come back, and they always give back. From judges at pitch competitions, to participation in lunch & learns, to leveraging professional relationships, our alumni make real impact on our student led startups. IMPACT BUSINESS EXPERTISE ALUMNI & BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS
MARK FORCHETTE GUEST SPEAKER
10
TARA WILSON LUNCH & LEARN
WALT & GINGER WOLTOSZ MENTORSHIP & SUPPORT
JUDGES PITCH COMPETITIONS
LINDA REBROVICK ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION
11
IMPACT BUSINESS EXPERTISE EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT
Jimmy Soni, award-winning author, spoke about his new book titled, The Founders which examined the trials and tribulations of some of the greatest entrepreneurs of our lifetime, including Elon Musk, Peter Theil, Reid Hoffman, and Max Levchin.
10 12
Attorney Ben Finley (’88 Management) of The Finley Firm led a workshop on the topics of intellectual property, branding, and the implementation of new business plans.
13
IMPACT BEST-IN-CLASS FACILITIES FOSTERING INNOVATION & COLLABORATION
14
The New Venture Accelerator has 7,000 square feet of office space designed to foster innovation and startup business ideas. The NVA is currently at 100% capacity with 18 full-time tenants.
15
IMPACT STARTUP SUCCESS FUNDS RAISED
Teams mentored at the NVA have gone on to raise over in seed funding. $88 million
The founders of Yellow Card were some of the first participants in what is now known as the New Venture Accelerator.
16
FEATURED NVA STARTUPS
The leading cryptocurrency exchange on the African continent.
A system for scanning and 3D printing of custom protective sporting gear.
The world’s first “dry multi-material printer” that transforms the 3D printing of functional materials and devices.
The world’s first autonomous tennis assistant which uses computer vision and machine learning to detect balls and clear the court.
An agricultural company dedicated to sustainable crop production utilizing advancements in drone technology.
One of the fastest growing players in the electric utility industry.
17
IMPACT STUDENT SUCCESS HALLOWEEN PITCH COMPETITON
READ ABOUT THE 2022 HALLOWEEN PITCH COMPETITION HERE
18
AbGlo is a physical fitness device that provides visual feedback to correct lumbar posture .
Snake Puddin’ is a paste formulated as a skin protectant and treatment of skin irritations.
Holli Michaels & Marianne Madsen, Samuel Ginn College of Engineering.
Will Jordan, College of Agriculture
19
IMPACT STUDENT SUCCESS 9 TH ANNUAL TIGER CAGE PITCH COMPETITION
“
”
THE PRIZE POOL FOR THE 2024 TIGER CAGE PITCH COMPETITION WILL INCREASE FROM $55,000 TO $80,000
20
2023
PARVIN FATHI-HAFSHEJANI DROPLLEL FIRST PLACE $25,000 SAMUEL GINN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
SCOTT ROWE RODOPTO SECOND PLACE $12,000 HARBERT COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
ZAKARIYA VEASY OMNIS THIRD PLACE $8,000 SAMUEL GINN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
SHAY PILCHER ARCHANGEL DEFENSE FOURTH PLACE $5,000 SAMUEL GINN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
21
IMPACT STUDENT SUCCESS PARTNER SUPPORT
THOMAS WALTER CENTER TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT for at AUBURN UNIVERSITY
Dropllel was the recipient of the Thomas Walter Center for Technology Management special award in the amount of $4,000 that can be used for hardware or software prototyping.
22
“Tiger Cage has pushed me in ways that have made my business better as a whole. You don’t know what you don’t know and that is what presenting a business idea in Tiger Cage is all about.” - Zakariya Veasy, OMNIS Samuel Ginn College of Engineering
OMNIS was the winner of the Burr & Forman legal services in-kind award in the amount of $5,000 .
23
IMPACT STUDENT SUCCESS EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
“
This is by far one of the coolest things I’ve ever been privileged to be part of. Tiger Cage was certainly a memory I will not soon forget. The lessons it has taught me will be carried through- out my career. The people who have helped me along this journey don’t realize how important they were.
24
2023 TIGER CAGE PARTICIPANTS
AbGlo Archangel Defense Atlas Esports Consulting Bump Dream Mentorship Academy Dropllel Dropout Flags Flavivirus Resource Center Flight Foods Gym Rat U Hyper Transort MenuMatch OMNIS RNA Rodopto Snake Puddin’
Jessica Bloodsworth, Harbert College of Business. for people with varying types of dietary restrictions. MenuMatch is a mobile application
25
IMPACT STUDENT SUCCESS TIGER CAGE JUDGES/MENTORS
JESSIE CHANNON Chief Growth Officer, Columbia Care
KRISTIN COOPER Solutions Architect, SHL TIM DENISON President, GDI L.L.C. PARKER DUFFEY Co-Founder & CEO, Chptr
SAM ESKILDSEN Mainstreet Family Care MARK ESPOSITO President, Esposito Private Equity Group DR. JOHN EVANS Samuel Ginn College of Engineering BEN FINLEY Managing Partner, The Finley Firm DAVE GRAY Founder, BISO Collective BRIA JOHNSON Chief People Officer, TaxxWiz LARKIN JONES Alabama Small Business Development MATT KEMPH InQtel
26
Special recognition and appreciation go to the judges who support our student entrepreneurs.
MARK LEDBETTER Senior Vice president, Solutions Engineering LOGAN LOOMIS Founder, Logan Loomis Consulting KHIARI MCALPIN-KNOX Founder, Vinehouse Nursery MARK METTELMAN Founder, Triad Advisors LUKE OEDING Department of Mathematics & Statistics RALPH RUNGE RSquare Consulting RON SCHIER Owner, Yet Another Broken Egg DANNY STRICKLAND Retired Chief Innovation Officer, Coke MARK WAISELE Managing Partner, Ninety10 Partners JASON WILSON CEO, Coldwater Mountain Brew Pub WALT WOLTOSZ Chairman and CEO, Simulations Plus
27
IMPACT STUDENT SUCCESS 9 TH ANNUAL TIGER CAGE PITCH COMPETITION
28
... it was the best Tiger Cage ever!
29
IMPACT STUDENT SUCCESS EXTERNAL RECOGNITION
READ THE STORY
As featured in Bham Now, “Meet the Auburn students behind three innovative startups”
BROOKS FULLER Room2Room Movers
ZAKARIYA VEASY OMNIS
CONNOR LEWIS Class Cash
30
Zakariya Veasy was the winner of Alabama Upstarts and was one of the Top 5 Finalists for Alabama Launchpad in their inaugural Social Impact Competition.
31
The NVA recently received a Federal grant that expands our coaching, counseling, and mentoring offerings from the classroom to the local community. The U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development named 50 organizations from 26 states to receive grants which support programs that fuel innovation and economic development. The amount awarded to Auburn University (Co-Principal Investigators Cary Chandler and Lou Bifano) under the Venture Challenge is a combined $1.3 million. IMPACT COMMUNITY SUPPORT EDA GRANT
32
AYSHIA GREEN-CALLOWAY EDA Grant Administrator
VALERIE CANADY Grandma Val’s Lemonade
ANGELA STEELE Good Dog Treats
KERMIT FARMER Village Paths
CYERA BIBBS Hoop Love Custom Jewelry
33
IMPACT COMMUNITY SUPPORT BUSINESS WORKSHOPS
2022 - 2023 COMMUNITY IMPACT BY THE NUMBERS 8 WORKSHOPS CONDUCTED 113 UNIQUE
ATTENDEES
65 % WOMEN ATTENDEES
39 % MINORITY ATTENDEES
39 % LOW INCOME ATTENDEES
71 % LOCAL COMMUNITY ATTENDEES
& MENTORING 7
NVA TENANTS
ONGOING COACHING
11
BUSINESSES
34
35
IMPACT WAYS TO ENGAGE
HELP THOSE LOOKING TO START A NEW BUSINESS OR WHO MAY NEED HELP GROWING AN EXISTING ONE - BE IT A GIFT OF TIME,
FOLLOW US!
@auentrepreneurship
Auburn University Entrepreneurship
TALENT, OR TREASURE.
36
TIME & TALENT
MENTOR A STUDENT JUDGE A PITCH COMPETITION BE A GUEST SPEAKER HOST A LUNCH & LEARN LEAD A WORKSHOP TELL YOUR STORY
TREASURE
SCHOLARSHIPS STUDENT INTERNS
PITCH COMPETITION SPONSOR EARLY-STAGE SEED FUNDING ENTREPRENEURS-IN-RESIDENCE NAMING OPPORTUNITIES
37
NEW VENTURE AC CURRENT TENANT LISTIN
EDA GRANT & COMMUNITY LED TEAMS: Aero to the People
STUDENT LED TEAMS: Archangel Defense Dropllel EV Charger Flavivirus Resource Center MenuMatch OMNIS Rodopto Snake Puddin’
Class Cash Eula Mae’s Grandma Val’s Lemonade Hoop Love Room2Room Movers Village Paths OTHER: Alabama Small Business Development
2153
FACULTY LED TEAMS: NanoPrintek XO Armor
38
CCELERATOR NG
39
WHERE INNOVATION BEGINS.
new venture
THE PARK
accelerator
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40Powered by FlippingBook