USC Adds New Accelerator “Viterbi Startup Garage” to Silicon Beach
It is getting hot in here. So hot. USC has just thrown their hat into the ring of the flurry of startup activity happening in SoCal with the introduction of a new accelerator, the Viterbi Startup Garage. Viterbi, the engineering school at USC, has teamed up with United Talent Agency, and Silicon Valley VC firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Beyers to support new ventures by USC students and alumni.
The 12-week program is a technology accelerator that will provide $20k, work space, world-class mentorship, and hands-on product, marketing and legal support to those accepted. The program is open to current students and alumni who have graduated in the past 5 years.
Ashish Soni, the founding director of the Viterbi Student Innovation Institute, (a track that brings together business and engineering studies), hopes that this extra support will allow more Trojan startups to be built locally and remain in Los Angeles. This is another smart move by the powers that be in the community to nurture the burgeoning startup ecosystem.
It is no coincidence that Hollywood is coming knocking and wants in on the action. Hollywood is looking for ways to redefine itself, market content, and jump on the tech boom bandwagon. Brent Weinstein, head of digital for United Talent Agency said that this first of its kind partnership between a world-class university with a top engineering school, a powerhouse talent agency and a leading VC firm is part of a vision to help more large technology firms come out of Los Angeles.
Viterbi Startup Garage is accepting applications now.
