The Auburn University Kickstart Fund has awarded its inaugural round of grants to
two of Auburn’s most promising start-ups — both of which focus on empowering people
with disabilities and intellectual development challenges to lead more meaningful
lives.
Unanimously selected by the AU Kickstart Fund Investment Committee following a rigorous review process, Equip and StyleEp — while at different stages
of new business development — are dedicated to creating and delivering impactful solutions
to challenges facing communities with critical needs.
“While many applicants presented strong arguments for why they should be selected,
we are confident that these two entrepreneurs will make the best use of funds awarded
and the additional mentoring and support offered by the Kickstart Fund Investment
Committee and Entrepreneurs-in-Residence to accelerate their growth,” said Dan O’Keefe, Kickstart Fund manager and entrepreneur-in-residence at Auburn’s New Venture Accelerator (NVA).
Founded by serial entrepreneur and Auburn alumnus Trent Kocurek, Equip provides adults with disabilities and their professional caregivers with integrated
personal management tools to help them better navigate their day-to-day living. Auburn
student Lauren Harding-Smith's early stage start-up StyleEp is developing apparel
and accessories that conceal the electronic devices that epilepsy patients are required
to wear on their heads during diagnosis and treatment processes.
The AU Kickstart Fund is a designated fund within the Auburn University Foundation
that provides non-dilutive grants to Auburn-affiliated new businesses exhibiting best-in-class
potential. The Fund is designed to fulfill the financial needs of the new businesses
prior to their initial seed or Series A funding and is administered under the governance
and oversight of the Harbert College of Business and the New Venture Accelerator.
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