{"id":79434,"date":"2026-02-06T22:59:47","date_gmt":"2026-02-07T01:59:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tech.einnews.com\/article\/890186935"},"modified":"2026-02-06T22:59:47","modified_gmt":"2026-02-07T01:59:47","slug":"georgia-tech-computing-hosts-venture-capital-summit-to-push-research-beyond-the-lab","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/2026\/02\/06\/georgia-tech-computing-hosts-venture-capital-summit-to-push-research-beyond-the-lab\/","title":{"rendered":"Georgia Tech Computing Hosts Venture Capital Summit to Push Research Beyond the Lab"},"content":{"rendered":"<div><img data-opt-id=758893364  fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/research.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/news_first_image\/public\/news-images\/Venture-Capitalists-_86A0835-copy.jpg?itok=vHtO7kra&ssl=1&w=75&resize=75&ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/research.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/news_first_image\/public\/news-images\/Venture-Capitalists-_86A0835-copy.jpg?itok=vHtO7kra&ssl=1&w=100&resize=100&ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/research.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/news_first_image\/public\/news-images\/Venture-Capitalists-_86A0835-copy.jpg?itok=vHtO7kra&ssl=1&w=150&resize=150&ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/research.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/news_first_image\/public\/news-images\/Venture-Capitalists-_86A0835-copy.jpg?itok=vHtO7kra&ssl=1&w=240&resize=240&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/research.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/news_first_image\/public\/news-images\/Venture-Capitalists-_86A0835-copy.jpg?itok=vHtO7kra&ssl=1&w=320&resize=320&ssl=1 320w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/research.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/news_first_image\/public\/news-images\/Venture-Capitalists-_86A0835-copy.jpg?itok=vHtO7kra&ssl=1&w=500&resize=500&ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/research.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/news_first_image\/public\/news-images\/Venture-Capitalists-_86A0835-copy.jpg?itok=vHtO7kra&ssl=1&w=640&resize=640&ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/research.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/news_first_image\/public\/news-images\/Venture-Capitalists-_86A0835-copy.jpg?itok=vHtO7kra&ssl=1&w=800&resize=800&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/research.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/news_first_image\/public\/news-images\/Venture-Capitalists-_86A0835-copy.jpg?itok=vHtO7kra&ssl=1&w=1024&resize=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/research.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/news_first_image\/public\/news-images\/Venture-Capitalists-_86A0835-copy.jpg?itok=vHtO7kra&ssl=1&w=1280&resize=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/research.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/news_first_image\/public\/news-images\/Venture-Capitalists-_86A0835-copy.jpg?itok=vHtO7kra&ssl=1&w=1600&resize=1600&ssl=1 1600w\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/research.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/news_first_image\/public\/news-images\/Venture-Capitalists-_86A0835-copy.jpg?itok=vHtO7kra&ssl=1\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\"><\/div>\n<p>Newswise \u2014 The College of Computing is forging new relationships with Atlanta\u2019s venture capital community to advance entrepreneurial opportunities for students.<\/p>\n<p>Nearly two dozen venture capital (VC) leaders based in Atlanta and the Southeast participated in a half-day summit at the College on Jan. 21.<\/p>\n<p>Co-hosts Dean of Computing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/vsarkar\/\"><strong>Vivek Sarkar<\/strong><\/a> and Noro-Moseley Partners General Partner&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/alantaetle\/\"><strong>Alan Taetle<\/strong><\/a> organized the invitation-only summit. Their goals were to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Showcase the College\u2019s&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/research-areas\"><strong>research strengths<\/strong><\/a> and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/entrepreneurship-gt-computing\"><strong>entrepreneurial culture<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Deepen connections between academic innovation and startups<\/li>\n<li>Explore opportunities for collaboration, commercialization, and startup growth<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The summit\u2019s guest list included founders, partners, and leaders from VC firms. Many of these firms focus on early-stage startups in SaaS, fintech, cybersecurity, and other emerging technology markets.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Research with Commercial Impact<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Sarkar outlined the College of Computing\u2019s academic mission and research priorities during his opening remarks. He emphasized the College\u2019s role in advancing innovation in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), and other emerging research areas.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOne of the College\u2019s strategic pillars is what I call \u2018X to the power of Computing\u2019,\u201d Sarkar said. \u201cLook at any discipline or industry X to see where they&#8217;re innovating and where their advances are being made, and that\u2019s where Computing meets that discipline.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Along with remarks from the dean, the summit featured presentations highlighting Georgia Tech\u2019s entrepreneurial ecosystem and College-led research initiatives with strong commercialization potential.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Expanding Support for Student Founders<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/jenniferwhitlow\/\"><strong>Jen Whitlow<\/strong><\/a> leads Community Partnerships at Fusen, a global platform for student founders created by Atlanta philanthropist&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/chklaus\/\"><strong>Christopher W. Klaus<\/strong><\/a>. She described Klaus\u2019s support for student entrepreneurship, including GT Computing\u2019s annual&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/klaus-startup-challenge\"><strong>Klaus Startup Challenge<\/strong><\/a>. In 2025,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/klaus-startup-challenge-showcases-georgia-techs-rising-entrepreneurial-talent\"><strong>Klaus awarded five winning teams $150,000 each<\/strong><\/a> to cover startup costs.<\/p>\n<p>Whitlow also updated guests on Klaus\u2019s commitment to covering the incorporation costs for any graduating student who aspires to launch a startup,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/news.gatech.edu\/news\/2025\/05\/02\/tech-visionary-chris-klaus-empowers-georgia-tech-grads-launch-startups\"><strong>a commitment announced in May 2025<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMore than 600 graduates from last year\u2019s Spring and Fall Commencements have accepted the gift, and more than 225 recent graduates have completed their incorporation to date,\u201d Whitlow said. She added that a second cohort of Fall 2025 graduates is being processed over the next few weeks.<\/p>\n<p>Offering an enterprise-level view, <a href=\"https:\/\/create-x.gatech.edu\/\"><strong>CREATE-X<\/strong><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/saxenar\/\"><strong>Rahul Saxena<\/strong><\/a> presented recent updates to commercialization at Georgia Tech and efforts to streamline entrepreneurial processes.<\/p>\n<p>Saxena emphasized the launch of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/commercialization.gatech.edu\/velocity\"><strong>Velocity Startups<\/strong><\/a>, an accelerator that provides the resources and infrastructure student startups need to bring their innovations to market.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Building the Pipeline from Research to Startup<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Following these updates, GT Computing faculty delivered lightning-round presentations highlighting the College\u2019s research strengths in AI, cybersecurity, and high-performance computing.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe tighter the local investing community is with Georgia Tech, the better off both are,\u201d said Taetle, who has been a member of the College\u2019s Advisory Board for more than 20 years.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s critical in this super-competitive world that we do everything that we can to support this fantastic university.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Taetle added that the summit was part of a broader effort to strengthen the College\u2019s entrepreneurial pipeline.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere are some really big ideas here, which could turn into really big companies,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ve made some great strides on the commercialization front, but we still have that opportunity and challenge in front of us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The afternoon concluded with a discussion of next steps and engagement opportunities, led by Sarkar and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/jzwang\/\"><strong>Jason Zwang<\/strong><\/a>, GT Computing\u2019s senior director of development. The discussion focused on research partnership opportunities, startup formation, and student involvement.<\/p>\n<p>Zwang emphasized the importance of investing in Atlanta\u2019s innovation ecosystem, citing the city\u2019s strong fundamentals and pro-growth climate for entrepreneurship.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis gives us a unique opportunity to start working more closely with the local VC community, and it\u2019s also great for our students,\u201d Zwang said.<\/p>\n<p>Sarkar agreed, saying, \u201cThere\u2019s no downside for students to get involved in a startup. It might take off and be a bonanza. If not, the experience makes you a more competitive hire because of the breadth of experience you gain at a startup.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>To foster these opportunities for students, Zwang said that a key priority is to establish earlier, more intentional connections among students, startups, and investors.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is a pivotal moment,\u201d he said. \u201cWe can determine how to connect students with the VC and startup community earlier and ensure these investors remain involved with the College.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>College leaders said the summit underscored Computing\u2019s commitment to fostering an entrepreneurial culture and to building lasting relationships that can help accelerate the real-world impact of its research beyond the Institute.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGeorgia Tech is a force multiplier for entrepreneurship,\u201d said Sarkar. \u201cWe\u2019re here to change the world. We want to inspire a culture of bold, big entrepreneurial thinking, and look forward to the next steps that will follow this VC summit.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/blockads.fivefilters.org\"> <\/a><\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/blockads.fivefilters.org\/acceptable.html\"> <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8230; fintech, cybersecurity, and other emerging <span class=\"match\">technology<\/span> markets. Research with Commercial Impact &#8230; summit featured presentations highlighting Georgia <span class=\"match\">Tech<\/span>\u00e2\u0080\u0099s entrepreneurial ecosystem and &#8230; updates to commercialization at Georgia <span class=\"match\">Tech<\/span> and efforts to streamline &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-79434","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","wpcat-1-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79434","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=79434"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79434\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=79434"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=79434"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=79434"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}