IBM to Work with White House to Help Startups
Tech major IBM says it will invest $150 million in 2011 to fund programs that promote entrepreneurs and new business opportunities in the United States. The announcement was made as part of the White House-led Startup America campaign launched today, Jan.31.
“The investment will help us greatly expand the work we’re doing to build business skills and provide market opportunities for the most innovative new companies in the country,” said James Corgel, general manager, IBM Developer and Academic Relations. “These start-ups are tackling some of the country’s most pressing challenges and opportunities.”
Since launching its Global Entrepreneur initiative last year, IBM has helped launch more than 500 new businesses in key areas such as green energy, health care and transportation, says the company.
[ Also Read: Low Scores for White House on Transparency ]The new investment will be used to:
- Coach and mentor start-up businesses throughout the United States;
- Expand education, build skills and mentorship programs in collaboration with the academic and venture capital communities;
- Provide skills and business opportunities to the growing community of software developers who collaborate on emerging technologies.
Next week, the IBM Innovation Center in the Boston area is hosting “Connecting Companies with Capital.” The event will bring together health care and life sciences start-up companies with local venture capitalists.
The goal of the event is to connect local entrepreneurs looking to raise capital with potential sources of funding. Participants will also have access to panel discussions from leading experts in the field of health care and life sciences. The program is one of the many planned in 2011.
[ Also Read: Midsize Outfits Increasing Tech Budgets: IBM ]Among the new American start-ups working with IBM are:
Streetline: A San Francisco-based company that uses the latest sensor technology to help citizens find inexpensive parking quickly, while helping cities to manage their parking resources more efficiently.
Sproxil: A Boston-based company that identifies counterfeit medicine in emerging countries using cell phone technology at point of purchase to validate genuine drugs.
CareCloud: A Florida-based cloud computing software and services company that streamlines the financial, administrative and clinical functions of a medical practice.
To help build start-up communities and harness the innovation of academic communities, IBM is also launching its 2011 Skills Tour that will visit 15 college and university communities in 10 states over the next 100 days.
Advertisements:
Business Proposal
Digital Media Campaigns
Raman Media Network: Connecting Communities
Each event brings together students and professors with business, government, venture capital and non-profit leaders from the area to discuss the skills needed for leadership jobs in the 21st century.
As part of the Startup America program, IBM will collaborate with other participants as the company works to expand its 100,000-member partner community. More information about the Startup America Partnership is available at www.startupamericapartnership.org.
Photo courtesy: IBM
