Everyone has a genius idea that they believe will change the world for the better – or so it seems. They proudly tout their new app that improves tracking public transportation routes or helps direct freshman struggling to find their way around school grounds at the touch of a button. The rise of innovation on campuses nationwide only continues to grow, and so, too, does the need for spaces dedicated to young tech talent to help groom their entrepreneurial skills.
Enter NuSpark, the promising new incubator adjacent to Virginia Tech.
Launching Monday night, NuSpark will focus on helping community members, students and local businesses pursue their dream ventures, acquire and captivate a profitable customer base and raise capital necessary for growth.
What sets NuSpark apart from other incubators in the area is that it focuses on the regional innovation ecosystem. NuSpark intends to connect the bright minds of the Roanoke and New River Valleys while supporting 10 new ventures and attracting $10 million in cash flow.
Sure, they seem like big goals for a brand spankin' new space, but NuSpark has an incredible amount of backing from the Virginia Tech Foundation; the Roanoke Blacksburg Technology Council; the Roanoke Blacksburg Innovation Network; the Corporate Research Center at Virginia Tech; VT Knowledgeworks; the Institute for Creativity, Arts and Technology; and the National Science Foundation's regional i-Corps program through Virginia Tech. So while NuSpark is just starting out, the incubator seems to have the support in place to create a sustainable, scalable business model.
You can join the local community in welcoming NuSpark to the neighborhood by attending the incubator's launch Monday, February 3 at 6 p.m at 460 Turner Street in Blacksburg, Va.
Of course, NuSpark isn't the only space in the region working towards cultivating the next generation of successful startup founders. In fact, there are many other area college incubators worth checking out – collaborative environments that welcome crazy, fantastical ideas with open arms.
Here are just a few:
