A Lab for Innovation (UT News)

UT’s Austin Technology Incubator supports local businesses, prepares student leaders of the future

What starts at The University of Texas at Austin changes the world — and Austin has certainly changed over the past several decades, with a growing population and economy. The city is being called a new tech startup hub, but some may not know that the longest active tech incubator in the United States is UT’s Austin Technology Incubator (ATI).

Founded in 1989 by George Kozmetsky, former dean of the McCombs School of Business who also founded UT’s IC² Institute, ATI has played a key role in advancing entrepreneurship and innovation in Austin. ATI’s dual purpose is to serve the university as an education and research laboratory for entrepreneurship and technology venturing, and to serve as a regional catalyst for economic development.

“It’s an incredible learning lab for students,” says Erin Keys, ATI’s director of sustainability.