Texas Border Business
Austin, Texas – Sputnik ATX, an Austin accelerator focused on growth companies, today announced a collaboration with the University of Texas at Austin. The Sputnik ATX curriculum, designed to teach aspiring entrepreneurs how to launch their own companies, will be available university-wide.
“Sputnik is proud to partner with an institution that matches our dedication to fostering the entrepreneurial spirit,” said Oksana Malysheva, CEO and Co-Founder of Sputnik ATX. “Together with UT Austin, we will equip more entrepreneurs with the tools and guidance they need to succeed. This partnership marks another step towards our vision of growing the startup ecosystem in Austin and helping founders reach their fullest potential. We are excited to see the positive impact this collaboration will have on our community.”
As part of the collaboration, Sputnik ATX will host one UT Austin student with every cohort, allowing him or her to learn the curriculum from Sputnik executives, alongside startup founders. Sputnik will also be making a version of its curriculum available online, exclusive and tailored to UT Austin students.
“We are pleased at the opportunity to partner with Sputnik ATX to help UT Austin’s budding entrepreneurs address the challenges of starting their own companies,“ said Les Nichols, Interim Director of the Office of Technology Commercialization at UT Austin. Providing entrepreneurs with business skills not only helps them on a personal level, but entrepreneurial innovation is also essential for society. New enterprise helps us to be globally competitive and is an engine for economic growth and prosperity.”
Sputnik ATX selected its second cohort of startup companies in July 2018. The participating founders are currently in the midst of completing the three-month structured curriculum, which will conclude with a ‘Demo Day’ presentation to a panel of investors in October.
Sputnik ATX will open its next application round this Fall. Entrepreneurs living within a 300-mile radius of Austin (including San Antonio, Dallas and Houston), or those who agree to move their businesses within that radius if accepted are eligible to apply. Applicants are required to have a minimum viable product and at least one paying customer.
