Kyle Cox talks about the Austin Technology Incubator
Where are you from originally?
Atlanta, GA. Moved to Austin in 2006, left in
2008 and came back in 2009.
What university did you go to?
BSEE, Georgia Tech
MBA, Emory University
What brought you to Austin?
St. Jude Medical relocated the US Sales
Division HQ here in Jan 2006 from Los Angeles
What is your group’s mission?
ATI has a dual mission of helping early-stage
technology companies interested in Austin as a base with focus in the areas of
BioSciences, Clean Energy, and IT/Wireless Enterprise Enabling Technologies
along with providing a commercialization opportunity for UT-Austin students and
faculty thru concepts and programs of applied entrepreneurship.
What need does it fulfill?
ATI is a resource for entrepreneurs in the IT / Wireless, Clean
Tech and Bio Tech industries or spaces at the University of Texas, the Central
Texas region or for those who choose to move to Austin from other cities,
states or countries. We get our member companies connected to
capital, talent, mentoring and professional services to make sure that their
technology startup company has the best chance for long term success.
What exactly does it bring to startups?
As mentioned above, we get our
member companies funded (ATI has an 85% success rate getting our member
companies funded over the past 5 years). We assist them in building
their teams and finding talent, connections and introductions to potential
customers, partners, professional services, mentors, talent and
money. We also assist them in the continuous discussion of
strategy and direction of these companies.
What type of startup would benefit from your
group?
Early-stage technology companies focused in the
BioSciences, Clean Energy, and IT/Wireless Enterprise Enabling Technologies. ATI’s “sweet spot” for bringing a startup company on board as
a member is one that is not too early or too late. That means the
founder(s) have spent some of their own money to get their idea into a
prototype stage and are at the point of needing seed funding and mentoring to
take their idea, product and company to that “next” stage.
What was the most challenging aspect of
starting up the initiative?
ATI had been in business and a part of The
University of Texas @ Austin for 24 years so we are not a start up and I was
not around when this initiative was started.
What advice do you have for entrepreneurs?
Find experienced, smart individuals and talk to
them about your idea and your plan for execution
What Austin-based resource have you found to be
the most helpful andwhy?
Bijoy Goswami and his leadership with the
ATXEntScene, Bootstrap, and the ATXEquation.groups
No comments:
Post a Comment