Resources and Programs for UGA Students
The Innovation District provides community, resources, and funding to help you turn your best ideas into businesses and nonprofits. We find opportunities for you to work with outside companies on real-world business challenges.
This is where you become a versatile problem solver ready for the jobs and challenges of the knowledge economy.
Education & Networking
Boost your entrepreneurial skills and receive help launching your venture among fellow UGA student entrepreneurs
I would like to…
- Prepare to become a dynamic entrepreneur, ready to launch startups, nonprofits, or careers in venture capital or investment banking.
Receive education and training on what it takes to launch a successful entrepreneurial venture, including training on how to identify markets, secure funding, and build a successful team.
- Network and learn from successful entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and notable business and non-profit leaders.
Highly successful business leaders from a variety of industries share their experiences and perspectives of starting and running a business.
- Get objective feedback on your startup idea, while honing your communication skills.
A host of national and campus-wide pitch competitions help student entrepreneurs sharpen ideas, business plans, market conceptualizations, and investor pitches.
Startup Assistance
A variety of UGA programs provide students objective feedback, training, new skills, and support as they launch new ventures.
I would like to…
- Start or expand a business.
The Build/Test Accelerator is a six week-long program for Idea Accelerator alumni that provides funding for participants to further develop their business ideas by creating and testing major customer and product assumptions and developing a prototype or market test.
- Expand on my well-formed business plan and begin building my product or service.
In this six week-long program for Idea Accelerator alumni, participants further develop their business ideas by testing major customer and product assumptions in small groups with fellow entrepreneurs and faculty.
- Boost my startup’s revenue.
Designed for alumni of the Idea and Build/Test Accelerators, Summer Launch provides participants with funding and guidance on driving revenue growth.
Funding
Seed funding and external grants can help accelerate and expand your new venture.
I would like to…
- Request seed funding to advance my venture, conduct customer discovery, and hone my business plans.
The Georgia Kickstart Fund is a student-managed initiative that provides seed capital grants to students and faculty to support the launch or growth of a venture.
- 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.
Incubator Space
Located at the intersection of UGA and downtown Athens, Studio 225 offers meeting rooms, a maker space, a pitch deck and other multi-purpose collaboration spaces where students, mentors, and investors can discuss and plan new ventures.
I would like to…
- Use accessible collaboration, maker, and presentation spaces to get my business off the ground.
Located at the intersection of UGA and downtown Athens, Studio 225 offers meeting rooms, maker space, pitch desks and other multi-purpose collaboration spaces where students, mentors, and investors can discuss and plan new ventures.
Careers & Internships
Boost your skills by addressing real-world business challenges, or gain entrepreneurial experience working with an Athens startup.
I would like to…
- Work for a local entrepreneurial ventures.
The UGA Entrepreneurship Program facilitates connections between local and national startups and UGA students.
- Work on a team that creatively tackles real-world business challenges, while learning innovation and entrepreneurship skills.
Gain practical innovation, problem-solving, and teamwork experience while working on real-world industry challenges with the Student Industry Fellows Program.
For more information, contact
