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New Venture Accelerator
Building the Auburn Entrepreneur Community
The New Venture Accelerator, which is jointly managed by the Harbert College of Business
and the Auburn Research and Technology Foundation, is one element of an overarching
strategy to foster entrepreneurship here at Auburn University.
Our Goals
- Provide an educational foundation and critical thinking skills for our students on the techniques for developing ideas for new products or services, evaluating whether those ideas represent a viable business opportunity, and understanding how to turn that opportunity into a successful business.
- Provide physical space, workshops, mentoring, coaching, and experiential learning for our students to apply what they have learned and to accelerate the development of their new venture ideas while pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree. That happens in our 7,000+ square foot New Venture Accelerator.
- Assist faculty members and the Auburn Research and Technology Foundation in their efforts to commercialize Auburn University research and intellectual property.
- Link to city and State of Alabama economic development activities and efforts to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem in our state.
Our goals are to create a space for students, faculty, and recent graduates to cultivate and develop their entrepreneurial research, skills, and techniques. Here, new ideas can be tested, evaluated, and potentially turned into successful business ideas.
We want to assist our student and faculty entrepreneurs to INNOVATE, ACCELERATE, and SOAR!
Mission and Role of the New Venture Accelerator
The mission and role of the New Venture Accelerator is to support Auburn University and the Auburn Research and Technology Foundation's innovation and entrepreneurship programs by assisting student-entrepreneurs, faculty and staff start-ups, and early-stage commercial ventures with their business ideas and development.
Read More About Our Mission and Role
Joining New Venture
All Auburn entrepreneurs are invited to join New Venture. If you would like to apply for a working space, you will be required to complete an application for admission in addition to filling out other related documents. In addition, you will be asked to submit a summary of your business plan and performance milestones.
Current Highlighted Start-ups
- Massoud Mahjouri-Samani, Samuel Ginn College of Engineering - founder NanoPrintek.
A transformative dry printing technology. - Zakariya Veasy, Samuel Ginn College of Engineering – founder of OMNIS.
A crowdsource banking platform. - Scott Rowe, Aviation Management – founder Rodopto.
Using drones to plant cover crops that can be converted to renewable diesel fuel.
Launched Start-ups
- Chris Maurice, Harbert College of Business – founder of Yellow Card,
The leading cryptocurrency exchange on the African Continent. - Zac Young, Samuel Ginn College of Engineering – founder of Vulcan Line Tools
Hardware/software system to measure sag, tension, and temperature in power lines. - Brooks Fuller, Harbert College of Business – founder of Room2Room Movers.
Providing a simple, affordable, and efficient moving service for college students. - Dr. Michael Zabala, Samuel Ginn College of Engineering – founder of XO Armor
System for smartphone scanning and 3D printing that provides custom protective sporting gear fitted to athletes. - Blair Chenault, Ginn College of Engineering – founder of Flashtract,
A construction payment management software system.
Have Questions?
Contact Us
Lou Bifano
Director of New Venture Accelerator
- 334-844-7498
- ljb0022@auburn.edu
- 540 Devall Dr., Suite 101