Resources and Programs for UGA Faculty
The Innovation District is where you take your ideas to ensure they make the greatest impact on our society.
Education & Networking
Boost your knowledge of entrepreneurship and innovation while engaging with successful entrepreneurs from across the nation.
I would like to…
- Learn how to turn my invention into a commercial project.
Innovation Gateway teaches the basics of commercialization to faculty and provides targeted skill-building and personalized coaching in entrepreneurship and innovation.
For more information, contact
- Get connected to entrepreneurs, mentors, and venture capitalists who can support my venture.
Seminars, bootcamps, lunch and learns, and social activities provide rich learning opportunities and plug you in to the entrepreneurial community at UGA.
For more information, contact - Learn more about working with industry.
The Office of Business Engagement helps faculty members partner with businesses on industry-sponsored research and development.
For more information, contact
Kyle TschepikowExecutive Director for Business Engagement and Innovation, Office of Business Engagement
Funding
Seed funding and external grants facilitated by the Innovation District can help accelerate and expand your startup.
I would like to…
- Find funding to advance my startup idea.
Innovation Gateway can help you find seed grants and other early stage funding to get your idea off the ground.
For more information, contact - Partner with industry to expand the impact of my research.
The Office of Business Engagement helps faculty member explore opportunities for industry-sponsored research.
For more information, contactKyle TschepikowExecutive Director for Business Engagement and Innovation, Office of Business Engagement - Pitch my early stage idea for funding.
Open to UGA students, employees, and community members, the Innovation Quick Pitch selects teams to pitch their great business ideas in 90 seconds. Winners get up to $1,000. Teams don’t need an ongoing business, revenue, a business plan, or even a product, just a really good idea.
Patenting and Licensing
Receive valuable assistance in understanding the commercial possibilities of your discovery and finding industry partners to utilize the technology.
I would like to…
- Gauge the commercial viability of your idea or discovery, or whether it is suitable for a patent.
Innovation Gateway can help evaluate inventions and ideas for patentability and commercial potential.
For more information, contact
Derek EberhartAssociate Vice President for Research and Executive Director, Innovation Gateway - Ensure that intellectual property is adequately protected.
Innovation Gateway helps UGA inventors protect intellectual property.
For more information, contactDerek EberhartAssociate Vice President for Research and Executive Director, Innovation Gateway - Get information on obtaining and managing a patent.
Innovation Gateway obtains and maintains patents, trademarks, copyrights, and plant variety protections on behalf of UGA faculty.
For more information, contactDerek EberhartAssociate Vice President for Research and Executive Director, Innovation Gateway - Find a company that will utilize my discovery.
Innovation Gateway engages industry partners to utilize UGA discoveries and bring them into the marketplace.
For more information, contactDerek EberhartAssociate Vice President for Research and Executive Director, Innovation Gateway
Startup Assistance
A variety of UGA programs provide faculty with objective feedback, training, and support as they consider launching new ventures.
I would like to…
- Make sure my startup idea is viable idea that can meet a clear market need.
NSF I-Corp is an eight-week accelerator program that provides participants with hands-on startup training, prototyping space, and customer discovery support.
For more information, contact - Get objective advice on my startup from an experienced entrepreneur.
Experienced startup veterans partner with new entrepreneurs to offer advice, guidance, and objective feedback on business starts. The Startup Mentor Program includes early-stage, sector-specific, and senior mentors.
For more information, contact - Sell my business idea.
Practical classes and workshops help new entrepreneurs learn how to sell business ideas by balancing logical argument with emotional persuasion.
For more information, contact - Translate my research agenda into commercial products and services.
The Innovation Fellows Program teaches faculty about the pathways to translate their research into commercial products.
For more information, contact - Get practical guidance to start my first company.
After completing I-Corps, UGA startups can enroll in Startup 101, a three-part business toolkit that will provide the basic skills to succeed in the early stages of a startup company.
Incubator Space
Access flexible offices, labs, and makerspaces to help drive your venture forward.
I would like to…
- Rent office space and supporting services to launch my new business.
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.
For more information, contact - Produce a mock-up of my product or service.
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.
For more information, contact
