Fast Track

ASSET Initiative Provides FastTrac® TechVenture™ for Researchers

A new technology by itself doesn't constitute a company.  FastTrac® TechVenture™ helps researchers translate their discoveries into business opportunities. To succeed, entrepreneurs must develop a strong team, acquire capital, understand the market, and attract customers. This special two-day seminar/workshop helps new entrepreneurs define their target customers, develop business and marketing plans, determine the financing needed and where to access it, and assess and build a management team.  Arkansas ASSET Initiative is hosting a series of workshops to provide these skills through a grant to the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC).  

SBDTC will deliver this series of educational events that will provide training in the necessary skills and understanding of building a business from intellectual property developed in the laboratory.  While these activities target our EPSCoR faculty, they are open to all researchers either free or for a small fee.   FastTrac® TechVenture™ workshops will be offered regionally to provide easy access for researchers  on our three EPSCoR participating campuses.

FastTrac® TechVenture™ offers  a unique curriculum.  Researchers learn what to consider about starting, operating, funding, and growing a technology or life sciences-based business.  This special program of the Kauffman Foundation of Kansas City will be presented by Arkansas SBTDC in a 2-day workshop format on each campus.   The workshops will be held April 16-17 on the UALR campus, May 15-16 on the ASU campus, and June 18-19 on the UAF campus.  More information is available at www.ArkEPSCoR.org.  Registration fee is $190 for non-EPSCoR researchers.  Researchers interested in registering for this program should contact Laura Fine (lcfine@ualr.edu).