For UT Faculty and Staff
As a complement to The Navigator, the Innovation Concierge serves as a nexus for all innovation activity for faculty and staff across the UT campus. The Innovation Concierge is well informed on innovation resources both within the institution, as well as the broader Austin and Texas ecosystems. Faculty and staff are encouraged to connect as needed and the Innovation Concierge will provide a warm handoff to the correct point of contact.
Innovation Concierge Contact Information:
Matt Sorenson, Ph.D.
Innovation Program Manager
mrsorenson@austin.utexas.edu (preferred)
512-471-9690
For UT Students
The following units help students navigate innovation and entrepreneurship resources at UT.
Herb Kelleher Entrepreneurship Center
The Herb Kelleher Entrepreneurship Center promotes the development of entrepreneurial skills and supports exploration of the ways these skills can be applied to careers as founders or innovators within established firms. We do this by hosting speaker series, networking opportunities, workshops, pitch competitions, travel funding, startup grants, and our Forty Aces Founders Pre-Accelerator Program. Tap into our wealth of entrepreneurial resources to get started.
Office of Undergraduate Research
The Office of Undergraduate Research supports student engagement in the research and creative activity of the university. The Office of Undergraduate Research acts as a hub for resources and activities that help undergraduates 1) connect with faculty mentors to become involved in research, 2) obtain funding to carry out their projects, and 3) share their results with internal and external audiences.
The Kendra Scott Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute
The KS WEL Institute aims to empower & equip the next generation of female leaders & entrepreneurs through community, diversity, & inclusivity. The KS WEL Institute provides various opportunities for the UT Community, including sponsoring interdisciplinary courses, spotlighting female-owned startups through the Featured Female Founders program, hosting programs and events such as EmpowHER Hours & the annual Women’s Summit & Pitch Competition. It is truly an institute by students for students.
The LaunchPad at UT Austin
The LaunchPad at UT Austin is a resource hub that helps all undergraduate and graduate students explore entrepreneurship at UT. We help students identify where they are in their entrepreneurial journey – Explore, Ideate, Create, or Scale – then educate and connect them to resources across campus and in Austin. LaunchPad resources include events, coworking space, funding, bootcamps, accelerators, and other programs. We are a proud member of the global Blackstone LaunchPad Network of 46+ campuses.
Texas Innovation Center
The Texas Innovation Center offers a personalized environment for faculty and students to explore entrepreneurship that includes educational workshops, speaker series, coaching sessions, and direct guidance for technology commercialization pathways; from ideation to market validation to fundraising. We accomplish this through Startup-In-A-Box Resources, TxIC Friends and Mentors Network, Innovation Lab, and co-working space. A place to inspire, create and commercialize.