Arizona State University’s Venture Catalyst is launching a new startup accelerator which is aimed at individuals starting companies based on the University’s intellectual property. The plan for Furnace entails showcasing the many discoveries that ASU has developed in its research laboratories, with the intent that these technologies will form the basis for new high potential startups.
In partnership with the University’s Technology Transfer Office, Arizona Technology Enterprises (AzTE), the new accelerator will offer an intensive 6 month incubator program that will provide startup funding, space in the ASU SkySong facility and access to top mentors.
“This is a direct follow-on to the Rapid Startup School that is aimed at teaching commercialization to our graduate students, postdoctoral researchers and alumni” said Gordon McConnell, Executive Director of the ASU Venture Catalyst, which works with internal and external startup companies. “The overwhelming, positive response led us to the next logical step; creating a competition to seed fund and accelerate these new ventures based on university technology.”
