Resources and Programs for the Athens Entrepreneurial Community

Entrepreneurs have access to one-on-one, no-cost consulting services, tailored to their business through the Small Business Development Center.

Training courses, webinars and professional development offerings help entrepreneurs develop and strengthen their business skills.

Using a wide range of databases, the Small Business Development Center helps entrepreneurs understand market characteristics, operating conditions, major industry participants, and key external factors affecting their business.

The Small Business Development Center helps entrepreneurs explore new markets, through international trade and exporting, procurement and government contracting, and specialty certifications.

The SBDC provides special attention to the needs of minority entrepreneurs by locating sources of capital, identifying procurement opportunities, and supporting the outreach efforts of minority businesses.

The Fanning Institute offers leadership development programming through training modules, coursework, and consultations, helping to strengthen communities, organizations, and individuals.

Events provide learning opportunities and skill development to those interested in launching their own venture or licensing new technologies.

Innovation Bootcamp teaches the basics of commercialization to underrepresented groups and provides targeted skill-building and personalized coaching in entrepreneurship and innovation.

Athensmade connects Athens entrepreneurs with opportunities, resources, and networks, while amplifying the stories of entrepreneurship in the local community and beyond.

To help entrepreneurs pursue their ideas at any stage, we provide leasable space ranging from collaborative co-working spaces to dedicated offices for new companies.

The Innovation Hub Prototyping Space assists startups in making and testing prototypes of new products and technologies. This space, also called The New Materials Innovation Center, was originally funded by an EDA i6 grant.

The UGA Entrepreneurship Program facilitates connections between local startups and UGA students involved in the Entrepreneurship Program.

The UGA Career Center connects UGA students with local businesses looking for interns and employees.

Gain access to UGA student talent and expertise to solve simple or complex solutions for actual, industry specific challenges through the Student Industry Fellows Program.

Partner with the New Media Institute on a capstone project or class initiative in which students will apply emerging media and digital technologies to address a business challenge.

With a talented interdisciplinary student base at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, the New Media Institute offers a series of project partnership opportunities to best suit your organization.

The College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is actively pursuing opportunities to work with commercial entities to create solutions that improve sustainable access to food, fuel, and fiber. We have over 250 faculty members and 2000 students across 9 departments and 21 majors that range from Applied Biosciences through Food and Hospitality Management. If your organization wants to work with the best academic partner in the country to create value in food, farming, or the environment, the University of Georgia is a great place to start. We will tailor a solution to your needs with the right engagement structure, and the right mix of students, world-class faculty, and facilities.

Gain practical innovation, problem-solving, and teamwork experience while working on real-world industry challenges with the Student Industry Fellows Program.

We welcome businesses, non-profits, and industry to connect with the UGA College of Engineering through a variety of outlets including working with students teams through capstone senior design projects to address industry needs, engaging in collaborative research with our distinguished faculty and hiring our diverse and high-achieving students for internships and co-op positions.