The Center for Entertainment & Media Industries provides opportunities for innovators and entrepreneurs interested in the media and tech industries. Our focus is on facilitating access to these industries, mapping their presence in Austin, and researching their convergence to assess and improve labor conditions and equity issues. In addition to speaker series that hone entrepreneurial skills and build professional networks, we support and promote research, outreach, and innovation projects.

The Texas Performing Arts Fabrication Studios are a fully staffed production facility and learning laboratory. We construct scenic elements, painted backdrops, theatrical properties, displays, and installations for funded projects. We co-design projects with UT faculty, staff, and student organizations and fabricate with our professional staff and paid student interns.

The Foundry provides access to makerspace equipment such as 3d printers, a laser cutter, mills, a VR headset, and a recording studio. The Foundry is designed to train and service entry-level makers. Students can join the Canvas course to learn more about how to get certified on the equipment. The Foundry cannot support large events or classes as equipment is limited.

The Innovation Corps (I-Corps™) program offers $50,000 grants for Faculty and Grad Student/Postdoc researchers to reduce the time and risk associated with translating technologies from lab to market, quickly assessing the market potential of inventions developed from fundamental discoveries in science and engineering. Teams work directly with leadership from the Southwest I-Corps Node (SWICORPS) at UT Austin to gain eligibility and prepare for the NSF grant program through regional activities.

UT Entrepreneurs: Whether you're looking to see what other creative students are up to, have a business idea of your own, or are in search of co-founders to join your team, Startup Coffee Connect is the perfect event to kickstart your dream. From apps and software development to medical technology, innovative services, and retail goods, UT students are working on big things. Come by these monthly gatherings to meet others in the innovation space in a low-stakes, friendly environment.

Texas Biodesign is inspired by Stanford Biodesign’s process of front-end innovation development, in which interdisciplinary teams of researchers, engineers, business participants, and clinicians work to understand how to use needs-driven innovation to solve medical and business problems. Texas Biodesign is a collaboration between UT’s Texas Innovation Center and Texas Venture Labs, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, and NASA.

Texas Global Faculty Research Seed Grants support faculty with peer collaborators at institutions abroad to conduct research that addresses global challenges. Seed is available to pursue a new research project with a peer collaborator at a leading institution/organization with which UT has an existing partnership, or an institution/organization with which UT Austin would like to explore development of a new partnership. Projects focused on entrepreneurship and innovation are invited to apply.

Texas Immersive Institute’s mission is to provide access to emerging technology and research and design experiences for artists, scientists, and humanists who use storytelling to share solutions to big problems that are responsive, responsible and remarkable.

Our goal is to imagine the unknown into existence through the practice of Immersive. We strive to ensure our community lives at the intersection of culture and commerce such that consumers can engage through a blend of physical, digital and voice environments with ease.

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.

Texas Venture Mentoring Service (TEXVMS) has assembled over 100 expert mentors to support startups in the many entrepreneurship programs at UT Austin. TEXVMS's intensive team mentoring methodology surrounds startups with diverse expertise tailored to each company's unique needs. Mentors provide practical, actionable advice with a focus on developing the entrepreneur. Startups with any UT Austin connection may apply: university IP, faculty/student founder, or participation in another UT program.