Vanderbilt now has designated space at the Nashville Entrepreneur Center’s new downtown incubator at 41 Peabody Street in the city’s historic Rolling Mill Hill area.
The VU@EC program was developed in conjunction with the School of Engineering and the Center for Technology Transfer & Commercialization. The program will place faculty, staff and students with innovative ideas and entrepreneurial aspirations in dedicated Vanderbilt space at the NEC.
Engineering Dean Philippe Fauchet said the collaboration with the CTTC and the partnership with the NEC will benefit Vanderbilt innovators and entrepreneurs as they navigate the challenges of new venture creation.
As part of this initiative, CTTC is developing programming, networking and educational events on campus to support Vanderbilt innovators working at the NEC space. Some of this programming will be tailored for engineering and other students.
“We also look forward to leveraging the NEC’s proven mentorship programming,” Fauchet said. The NEC will provide training in how a business is conceived, formed, built, scaled up and funded. This training program is designed to enhance the likelihood of success for these new enterprises.
Specific objectives of the VU@EC program include:
- Use of shared space at the state-of-the-art NEC facility to accelerate the transformation of promising innovations into regional businesses that will benefit society, and enhance company productivity, community and learning.
- An opportunity for Vanderbilt innovators to receive one-on-one mentoring with highly experienced entrepreneurs and executives who have significant experience in new venture development, business startup, entrepreneurship education and a demonstrated history of innovation in high growth industries.
- Access to educational networking events, workshops and lectures relevant to high tech companies in the greater Nashville area that focus on technology commercialization, financing strategies, business development and marketing.
- Opportunity to participate in the NEC Accelerator Program – a rapid accelerator focused on helping technology startups build a solid foundation for success in 14 weeks. Created by Michael Burcham, CEO of the NEC and senior lecturer in entrepreneurship at Vanderbilt’s Owen Graduate School of Management, this program will provide startups with the essential resources and counsel they need to become successful, self-directed businesses.
- Access to members of the investment community.
Click here to learn more about eligibility and guidelines.