Author: Ethan Bochicchio
USC-Techstars Program Updates
This April 11 marks the beginning of Start-Up Week for the USC and Techstars Digital Economy Program. Open to USC faculty, staff, students, and alumni, aspiring entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to attend an immersive event where they will have the opportunity to learn from experts, expand their network, and acquire hands on experience. The USC and Techstars Digital Economy Program called the event a “chance to pitch, build and launch a business” adding, “Imagine what you can create with the right resources from USC Research and Innovation and Techstars.”
This is just the next exciting milestone for the USC and Techstars Digital Economy Program, an opportunity for pre-seed companies to gain unique experience and knowledge as well as access to the USC ecosystem. It is a 13-week accelerator program that takes place on-campus whose inaugural cohort launched in March this year. It is open to startups from any industry, focusing particularly on AI, bioscience, engineering, deep tech, health care, and media technology.
Accelerator Companies + Highlights
Last month, the Program announced the ten cohort companies taking part: Alsteni Medical, Inc., EasyShake®, Fluency, Henna, Native, Praxi, Prismia, Prosporus, Silver Spur Therapeutics, and VideoDraft AI. In their LinkedIn post announcing the cohort, the USC and Techstars Digital Economy Program said, “We’re beyond excited to see the innovation brought to the table and can’t wait to help them scale their ventures!”
The cohort is comprised of a diverse array of companies spanning various fields. EasyShake® fancies itself as “revolutionizing the way you fuel your body.” The company has developed a new, easier, and faster way of making protein shakes. Utilizing single-serve pods and rapid, clean mixing technology, EasyShake® in a matter of seconds mixes protein powder with whatever liquid you choose to create a smooth, shake without clumps. EasyShake® claims its mission is “to empower people to achieve their health and wellness goals with the utmost ease and efficiency.”
Praxi is an accounting platform, intent on cultivating efficiency and accuracy. A drag and drop platform, Praxi converts standard and non-standard documents into actionable checklists, memos, and journal entries. Praxi has pre-built and configurable workflows for revenue recognition, financial instruments, and lease accounting. As they note on their website, “Praxi minimizes costs while maximizing revenue, transforming the way you work.”
Techstars is the most active pre-seed investor in the world. Through its accelerator programs, participants are put in touch with mentors with experience in various fields, and a network of corporate partners, investors, and other entrepreneurs who have gone through an accelerator program. They offer funding and fundraising opportunities, workshops, and carefully selected resources, along with numerous occasions to learn from peers. They have collaborated with thousands of successful companies. In partnership with USC’s Office of Research and Innovation, the USC and Techstars Digital Economy Program is a unique step in USC’s efforts to support translation and entrepreneurship.
This collective effort is aimed at cultivating, engaging, and enhancing USC’s innovation ecosystem. Unique about this accelerator program is its immersion into university life, its headquarters placed in the offices of the USC Credit Union on Flower Street, walking distance from the main campus. As Techstars said of the partnership, “the university’s network of students, alumni, and faculty will access opportunities such as entrepreneurial-focused events, training, and programming that create a pathway for early-stage and aspiring founders to progress on their entrepreneurial journey.”