XLerator Network

About

The Southeast XLerator Network is a Regional Technology Transfer Accelerator Hub connecting biomedical researchers and administrators at 24 Universities in the Southeast with resources to commercialize innovations into products that improve human health.

The Hub supports biomedical faculty, staff and student researchers at all stages of product and business development from market testing through business launch to licensing and partnerships with established companies. 

Researchers, Faculty and Students  

Hub Resources for researchers include:

• An Innovator Self-Assessment tool to determine entrepreneurial fitness and technology readiness
• Curriculum for Lean Startup based business development, including topics addressing specific challenges within the Healthcare space
• Connections to:
  • Accelerator/Incubator spaces
  • Working spaces
  • Lab spaces
• Funding opportunities through Angel Investors and VCs
• One-on-One Support through:
  • Subject Matter Expert (SME) Matching Program
  • Executives-on-Roster (XOR) program

Administrators

Hub Resources for Tech Transfer Administrators include:

• TTO Startup tool kit containing templates and online resources for developing a Tech Transfer Office at your institution
• Train the Trainer sessions providing best practices training offered onsite at your institution

Goal

The goal of the Southeast XLerator Network is to move biomedical research discoveries and technologies in the Southeast IDeA state region out of the lab and into commercial products that address human health and increase SBIR funding in this “blue ocean” region of potential. This will be accomplished by leveraging the region’s collective experience, assets, and network of mentors.

Focus Areas

The Hub will focus on the acceleration of biomedical and healthcare innovations in the areas of pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, medical devices, and healthcare IT.

Impact

The impact of the Hub will be increasing:

• Market-ready technologies
• Patents
• SBIR/STTR submissions and awards
• Successful startups
• Biomedical technology acceleration

Federal Funding Support for IDeA States

In September 2018, XLerateHealth, small business recipient and the University of Kentucky, lead academic partner, were awarded a three year, $1.48 million grant from NIH’s NIGMS division to create the Southeast XLerator Network, an IDeA Regional Technology Transfer Accelerator Hub for the commercialization of Biomedical Innovations in the Southeast IDeA States region. The Southeast XLerator Network includes six states (AR, KY, LA, MS, SC, WV) plus Puerto Rico and 24 academic institutional partners, and is one of four IDeA State Region Hubs created through an NIH STTR program award. The four hubs are the: ASCEND Hub (Western), SHARPhub (Central), XLerator Network  (Southeast), and DRIVEN Hub (Northeast).