Entrepreneurial faculty members now have a space right on the University’s campus to develop their ideas.

This new 7,500-square-foot space, the KickStart Accelerator, is located on the second floor of the Genome Science Building and offers wet lab and office space that includes areas of collaboration across UNC-affiliated life sciences companies. The accelerator is part of a pilot program for the Institute of Convergent Science, which involves renovating more than 20,000 square feet of lab and collaboration space in the Genome Sciences Building to mobilize new diverse teams of researchers, designers, experts and entrepreneurs.

This initiative will help move promising technologies to market by offering proof-of-concept and prototyping capabilities, expert business development support, and connections to industry and strategic partners. Located on the same floor in the building, the ICS demonstration area and KickStart Accelerator will offer faculty working on promising research projects and those launching startups the chance to exchange ideas.

The accelerator is already home to five startups, with additional startups scheduled to move in this year.

“Proximity is key,” said Mireya Mckee, KickStart Accelerator interim director. “The accelerator will be a perfect place for interactions between faculty founders who have been successful in their startups as well as offer space for new collaborations.”

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