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[[{{Institution|Image= Owlspark.png|Caption=OwlSpark Logo|Name=OwlSpark|Type=University Accelerator|City=Houston|URL=http:Owl Spark//entrepreneurship.rice.pngedu/accelerator/|Cohort Size=33|Percent Funded= 0%|Percent Acquired= 0%|Percent IPO= 0%|Number of Directors=5|Experienced Directors=0|200x200pxDate Founded=2013}}Part of the [[Start-Up Guide (Issue Brief)]]Series
*This page ==About==<onlyinclude>OwlSpark is referenced a Houston-based, non-profit university accelerator founded in [[Rice Entrepreneurship]]2013. It advertises a wide array of services, including funding, access to experts, office space and mentorship. OwlSpark has five directors, none of whom have direct entrepreneurship experience as an established entrepreneur. Of the 33 startups which have enrolled in the OwlSpark program, none have received venture capital funding. No company which has participated in the OwlSpark program has been acquired or exited in an IPO. </onlyinclude> ==Contact Information=={| class="wikitable"|-|Website|http://entrepreneurship.rice.edu/accelerator/|-|Address|Janice and Robert McNair Hall, Loop Rd, Houston,TX 77005|-|Email|Upon Request|} ==Portfolio=={| class="wikitable"! style="text-align:left;"| Name! VC?! Acquired?! IPO?|}
==Team=====Past Teams===
===Board of Directors===
*[http://business.rice.edu/Brad_Burke/| Brad Burke], Managing Director, Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship
*Kaz Karwowski, Executive Director, Rice Center for Engineering Leadership
*[http://business.rice.edu/Tom_Kraft2/| Tom Kraft], Director of Technology Ventures Development, Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship
*[http://www.ece.rice.edu/simar.aspx| Ray Simar], Professor in the Program, Rice Center for Engineering Leadership
*[http://business.rice.edu/Kerri_Smith/| Kerri Smith], Director of Programs, Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship and Acting Managing Director, OwlSpark
For more detailed information, see OwlSpark's [http://www.owlspark.com/founders-2/|Board of Directors website]==Management==
no edit summary
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
! colspan=“1”| OwlSpark Acquired
|-
! target || acquirorname || enterprisevalatannouncementmil || enterprisevaleffectivedatemil || equityvalatannouncementmil || dateannounced || dateeffective || acquirorind || targetind || status || acquirorcity || targcity
|-
| Nexus Software Inc || Diebold Inc || np n || p || || 10/18/99 || 10/18/99 || Computer and Office Equipment || Prepackaged Software || Completed || North Canton || Raleigh
|}
==Directors==
{| class="wikitable"
! style="text-align:left;"| Name
! Bio
! Class
|-
|Yael Hochberg
|Head of Rice Entrepreneurship Initiative, Ralph S. O’Connor Associate Professor in Entrepreneurship
|None
|-
|Abby Larson
|Director, Entrepreneurship Initiative Research and Undergraduate Education
|None
|-
|Eric Floyd
|Assistant Professor
|None
|-
|Haiyang Li
|Professor
|None
|-
|Doug Schuler
|Associate Professor
|None
|}
==Services Provided==
{| class="wikitable"
|Funding
|-
|Experts
|-
|Office Space
|-
|Mentoring
|}
=Old Stuff=
==About==
Founded in 2013, [[OwlSpark ]] is a program that allows Rice students, faculty, staff, and recent alumni to launch their own companies. As a university accelerator, OwlSpark provides entrepreneurship education, teaches business fundamentals, pairs teams with knowledgeable mentors, features office hours with successful entrepreneurs, and provides connections for high-growth, technology-based ventures. By providing a platform in which students have access to curriculum, collaborative co-working space, a monthly living stipend, and relevant industry mentorship, OwlSpark provides founders with the hands-on understanding of what it takes to launch a startup.
The program is as follows:
#monthly living stipend
#industry mentorship
*Following the summer program, startup teams participate in the [http://bayoustartupshowcase.com/| Bayou Startup Showcase] to showcase their businesses
OwlSpark also works in collaboration Houston’s startup community to promote entreneurship entrepreneurship and innovation at the city and state levels.
==Apply[http://www.owlspark.com/apply/ | Apply]==
===Eligibility===
*Open to all Rice undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and staff, and alumni (up to 5 years after graduation)
*Startup teams of 2-5 people, one of whom must be affiliated with Rice. The Rice affiliate is considered the team leader.
===Program Requirements[http://www.owlspark.com/apply/|Program Requirements]===
*Completing pre and post-assessment surveys
**Technology: explain your technology or business idea in a simple, specific statement
**Team: demonstrate each founder’s relevant, but diverse, skill set, attributes, and contribution to the team.
*Review comprehensive list of application questions [http://www.owlspark.com/apply/application/ | here]
*Submit one application per team. The application must be submitted by the team leader. There is no option to save the application and finish later, so teams are encouraged to review application questions prior to beginning the application itself.
*If selected, an OwlSpark Leadership Team member will contact you to move on to the next phase of the application process.
*Apply for OwlSpark 2016 [https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/owlspark2016 | here]
====2013 Cohort====
A total of nine teams, ranging from software to consumer products to social ventures:
#Sweat Analyzer
#Village Innovators
*Video highlights from [https://youtu.be/1sWIlEmBb4Q | opening remarks]*Video highlights from [https://youtu.be/nyXfT4sQrEk | closing remarks]
====2014 Cohort====
A total of eight teams, ranging from IT, medical, consumer products and sports, and education/social enterprise:
#Wholistic Advisors: Wholistic Advisors is a web-based platform that connects conventional and holistic practitioners.
#Ziel Solutions: Ziel Solutions develops wearable devices for reducing the risk of injury from physical activity.
===Leadership===
*Andy Zhang
For more detailed information, see OwlSpark's [http://www.owlspark.com/leadership-team/|Leadership website]
==Contact==
*[https://twitter.com/RiceOwlSpark?lang=en | Twitter]*[https://www.facebook.com/OwlSpark/ | Facebook]
*Subscribe to the [https://mailman.rice.edu/mailman/listinfo/owlspark | listserv]
*For general information: [http://www.owlspark.com/ Official Website]
*For specific questions about OwlSpark: [http://www.owlspark.com/contact-2/ Direct Questions]
[[Category: Public]]
[[Category:Ecosystem]]
