Applicant Selection Committee
A 5–7 person selection committee, consisting of representatives from the Harbert College
of Business, representatives from the Auburn Research and Technology Foundation, up
to two entrepreneurs-in-residence, and up to two members of the Auburn University
Entrepreneurship Advisory Council, will review each application for a criteria match,
make admission decisions, and notify applicants of their decisions.
Portfolio Diversity and Start-up Graduation Guidelines
The selection committee will strive to have an inclusive and diverse portfolio of
startup-teams resident in the New Venture Accelerator. When space considerations preclude
accepting all qualified applicants, the committee will strive to maintain a balanced
mix of student-teams, faculty-teams, Auburn University intellectual property licensees,
and revenue-generating commercial clients.
The New Venture Accelerator will operate with the intentionality of seeking out diverse
candidates to apply for acceptance into the accelerator and participate in its programs
and initiatives.
Applicants still at the early business idea stage will be encouraged to work initially
from the Harbert College Innovation Lab or other Auburn University locations fostering
innovation and entrepreneurship. The selection committee will periodically review
the usage pattern of existing New Venture Accelerator tenants to identify residents
no longer meeting eligibility requirements and to identify candidates for graduation
from the facility based on the success and growth of their business venture.
When all members of a student-team have completed their studies and graduated from
the university, the team will be given the option to convert to commercial tenant
status, paying a monthly fee.
In general, it is expected that teams growing beyond four to eight members will graduate
from the New Venture Accelerator to another location, possibly within the Research
Park. In addition, the City of Auburn’s economic development organization has a history
of actively collaborating with the university to find startup space for graduating
student teams.
Degrees & Programs
Faculty & Staff
Career Development
Recruiters & Industry
The New Venture Accelerator, which is jointly managed by the Harbert College of Business
and the Auburn Research and Technology Foundation, is one element of an overarching
strategy to foster entrepreneurship here at Auburn University.