{"691627":{"#nid":"691627","#data":{"type":"news","title":"New Model Teaches Workplace AI to Read More Like Humans","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EModern artificial intelligence (AI) platforms can summarize reports, analyze documents, and answer questions in seconds. But when information is spread across dozens of slides, charts, and tables, even advanced models can miss important details.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs many organizations and businesses are turning to AI to improve workplace efficiency, risk remains high. Between overlooked footnotes and misread graphics, small mistakes can have expensive consequences.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo address this challenge, researchers from Georgia Tech and J.P. Morgan developed SlideAgent. The new framework helps large language models (LLMs) better understand complex visual documents like presentation slide decks, brochures, and reports.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/arxiv.org\/abs\/2510.26615\u0022\u003ESlideAgent\u003C\/a\u003E works by breaking documents into multiple levels, allowing the model to analyze both the big picture and the fine details. This human-inspired approach leads to more accurate and reliable interpretation than existing systems.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBeyond improving workplace tools, SlideAgent also points to a broader shift in AI. Instead of building only larger and more powerful models, the work shows how smarter design and more efficient reasoning can improve performance.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMultimodal LLMs such as GPT, Gemini, and Claude, can save people time and reduce the mental effort required to understand these documents, but they remain imperfect,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ahren09.github.io\/\u0022\u003EYiqiao (Ahren) Jin\u003C\/a\u003E, a Ph.D. candidate in Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cse.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Computational Science and Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E (CSE).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIn high-stakes fields such as finance, for example, misreading a number, overlooking a footnote, or making an incorrect comparison across pages could affect reporting, risk assessment, or strategic decisions.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe researchers tested SlideAgent on a wide range of real-world documents, including financial presentations, technical slides, and visual question-answering datasets.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe system consistently outperformed leading commercial models and open-source tools throughout the evaluation. In some cases, it improved accuracy by up to 10%. The gains were especially strong on more complex tasks, such as comparing information across slides or understanding how visuals relate to each other on a page.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe found the results very encouraging. SlideAgent reaches an improvement of 7.9% over its proprietary base model and 9.8% over the evaluated open-source base models,\u201d said Jin, the project\u2019s lead researcher.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThese are meaningful gains given the strength of the underlying multimodal models and the difficulty of the tasks.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECurrent multimodal AI systems often process entire pages at once. This approach can lead to mistakes, such as miscounting items in a chart or overlooking important details in dense visuals.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESlideAgent addresses this by mimicking how people read documents. Instead of treating each page as a single unit, the system looks at information at three levels: the full document, individual pages, and specific elements like charts, tables, and text blocks.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA network of agents, each specialized for a specific level, divides and coordinates analysis. Then, SlideAgent combines outputs to build a structured understanding of the overall document. This allows it to answer questions more accurately and reason across multiple pages.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe central inspiration was how people naturally read a long presentation,\u201d Jin said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe first develop an understanding of the overall narrative, then identify the relevant pages or sections, and finally zoom in on individual charts, tables, or text blocks when precise evidence is needed.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe work highlights a growing challenge with AI. As systems become more popular and more powerful, users increasingly discover the technology\u2019s limitations. This is especially true for real-world tasks that require structured reasoning and contextual understanding.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESlideAgent shows that better performance does not always come from building bigger models. Instead, it points to smarter ways of organizing how AI processes information that can lead to improvement.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Association for Computational Linguistics (ACL) accepted SlideAgent for presentation at its annual meeting. The 64th \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/2026.aclweb.org\/\u0022\u003EACL 2026 meeting\u003C\/a\u003E took place July 2-7 in San Diego.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EACL is a scientific and professional organization for researchers in natural language processing (NLP). Its namesake conference is one of the world\u2019s leading venues for presenting NLP research.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EACL 2026 followed a year after Jin completed an internship at J.P. Morgan AI Research, where he worked on SlideAgent. He interned under \u003Cstrong\u003ERachneet Kaur\u003C\/strong\u003E, \u003Cstrong\u003EZhen Zeng\u003C\/strong\u003E, and \u003Cstrong\u003ESumitra Ganesh\u003C\/strong\u003E, all co-authors of the paper. School of CSE Associate Professor \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/faculty.cc.gatech.edu\/~srijan\/\u0022\u003ESrijan Kumar\u003C\/a\u003E advises Jin at Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlong with SlideAgent, Jin authored two other papers accepted at ACL 2026.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cConferences such as ACL are valuable not only for sharing results, but also for refining future project ideas with the broader community. Discussions across institutions and research areas can reveal limitations, suggest new evaluations, and spark collaborations that are difficult to develop in isolation,\u201d Jin said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cFor SlideAgent, I was particularly interested in feedback on how we can make the framework more computationally efficient without sacrificing accuracy or interpretability.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EModern artificial intelligence (AI) platforms can summarize reports, analyze documents, and answer questions in seconds. But when information is spread across dozens of slides, charts, and tables, even advanced models can miss important details.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs many organizations and businesses are turning to AI to improve workplace efficiency, risk remains high. Between overlooked footnotes and misread graphics, small mistakes can have expensive consequences.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo address this challenge, researchers from Georgia Tech and J.P. Morgan developed SlideAgent. The new framework helps large language models (LLMs) better understand complex visual documents like presentation slide decks, brochures, and reports.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESlideAgent works by breaking documents into multiple levels, allowing the model to analyze both the big picture and the fine details. This human-inspired approach leads to more accurate and reliable interpretation than existing systems.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBeyond improving workplace tools, SlideAgent also points to a broader shift in AI. Instead of building only larger and more powerful models, the work shows how smarter design and more efficient reasoning can improve performance.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The new AI framework called SlideAgent helps large language models (LLMs) better understand complex visual documents used in the workplace like presentation slide decks, brochures, and reports. "}],"uid":"36319","created_gmt":"2026-08-12 12:01:25","changed_gmt":"2026-08-12 12:09:10","author":"Bryant Wine","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-08-12T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-08-12T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680843":{"id":"680843","type":"image","title":"SlideAgent-Head-Image.jpg","body":null,"created":"1786536102","gmt_created":"2026-08-12 12:01:42","changed":"1786536102","gmt_changed":"2026-08-12 12:01:42","alt":"Yiqiao (Ahren) Jin ACL 2026","file":{"fid":"265169","name":"SlideAgent-Head-Image.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/08\/12\/SlideAgent-Head-Image.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/08\/12\/SlideAgent-Head-Image.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":96345,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/08\/12\/SlideAgent-Head-Image.jpg?itok=MXXpRJcQ"}},"680844":{"id":"680844","type":"image","title":"YJ_ACL2026.jpg","body":null,"created":"1786536492","gmt_created":"2026-08-12 12:08:12","changed":"1786536492","gmt_changed":"2026-08-12 12:08:12","alt":"Yiqiao (Ahren) Jin ACL 2026","file":{"fid":"265170","name":"YJ_ACL2026.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/08\/12\/YJ_ACL2026.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/08\/12\/YJ_ACL2026.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":48282,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/08\/12\/YJ_ACL2026.jpg?itok=Vns4uEGI"}},"680845":{"id":"680845","type":"image","title":"YJ_ACL2026.jpeg","body":null,"created":"1786536520","gmt_created":"2026-08-12 12:08:40","changed":"1786536520","gmt_changed":"2026-08-12 12:08:40","alt":"Yiqiao (Ahren) Jin ACL 2026","file":{"fid":"265171","name":"YJ_ACL2026.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/08\/12\/YJ_ACL2026.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/08\/12\/YJ_ACL2026.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":219002,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/08\/12\/YJ_ACL2026.jpeg?itok=inGoNwsP"}}},"media_ids":["680843","680844","680845"],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"50877","name":"School of Computational Science and Engineering"}],"categories":[{"id":"194606","name":"Artificial Intelligence"},{"id":"139","name":"Business"},{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"194609","name":"Industry"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"},{"id":"8862","name":"Student Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"654","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"166983","name":"School of Computational Science and Engineering"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"9153","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"10199","name":"Daily Digest"},{"id":"181991","name":"Georgia Tech News Center"},{"id":"170447","name":"Institute for Data Engineering and Science"},{"id":"176858","name":"machine learning center"},{"id":"9167","name":"machine learning"},{"id":"187812","name":"artificial intelligence (AI)"},{"id":"14646","name":"human-computer interaction"},{"id":"192863","name":"go-ai"},{"id":"194384","name":"Tech AI"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"},{"id":"39431","name":"Data Engineering and Science"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBryant Wine, Communications Officer\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:bryant.wine@cc.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ebryant.wine@cc.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"691608":{"#nid":"691608","#data":{"type":"news","title":"AI Can Help Make Complex IPO Filings Easier to Analyze","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFor investors trying to make sense of a company going public, one of the most important documents is often the most difficult to understand.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInitial public offering (IPO) filings are dense disclosures submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. They can stretch hundreds of pages and combine legal language, financial data, and visuals like charts and infographics. Even experienced analysts struggle to read them end to end, leaving many everyday investors relying on headlines or summaries.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENew research from \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/fintech.gatech.edu\/#\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s Financial Services Innovation Lab\u003C\/a\u003E reveals how artificial intelligence can make these critical documents more accessible and reveals where AI still has room for improvement.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIPO-Mine: A Toolkit and Dataset for Section-Structured Analysis of Long, Multimodal IPO Documents\u201d authors include Michael Galarnyk, Siddharth Lohani, Vidhyakshaya Kannan, Sagnik Nandi, Aman Patel, Liqin Ye, Arnav Hiray, Rutwik Routu, Prasun Banerjee, Siddhartha Somani, and Sudheer Chava.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMaking the Complex Understandable\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe authors developed \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/arxiv.org\/pdf\/2605.28714\u0022\u003EIPO-Mine\u003C\/a\u003E, an open-source toolkit and dataset designed to break IPO filings into manageable pieces. Instead of treating filings as a single document, IPO-Mine separates them into structured sections and extracts visuals like charts for analysis.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIPO filings are important public documents, but they are very difficult to work with at scale,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/siddharthlohani\/\u0022\u003ESiddharth Lohani\u003C\/a\u003E, a Georgia Tech computer science major \u201926, software engineer at Bloomberg, and co-first author of the study. \u201cWe wanted to make these filings easier to analyze systematically.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhy IPO Filings Matter\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIPO filings offer investors a detailed look at how a company operates before it goes public.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIPO filings give investors a clearer look at how a company makes money, what risks it faces, and how it positions itself before entering the public market,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/arnav-hiray\/\u0022\u003EArnav Hiray\u003C\/a\u003E, a Georgia Tech machine learning doctoral student in the Financial Services Innovation Lab, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/vip.gatech.edu\/teams\/entry\/1279\/\u0022\u003EAI for Financial Markets VIP instructor\u003C\/a\u003E, \u0026nbsp;and co-author. \u201cEven if everyday investors don\u2019t read the full filing, these documents can help them better understand a company\u2019s prospects.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor retail investors, that insight can help cut through marketing hype and offer a clearer sense of a company\u2019s underlying strengths and risks.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAI\u2019s Strengths\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EResearch shows that large language models and multimodal AI models can use their speed, scale, and pattern-recognition capabilities to offer significant advantages when analyzing IPO filings, including:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e80105b07d5b0d11faf071ba4a653dbdf\u0022\u003EProcessing massive documents: IPO filings can exceed hundreds of thousands of words, making manual review difficult. IPO-Mine structures the filings into sections and extracts visuals for analysis.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022ea54b334a7c419b3f02b3b99341559ff8\u0022\u003EStructuring unorganized data: IPO-Mine standardizes inconsistent sections across filings, making comparisons easier across companies and industries.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e081b77f8c34f03026ea81d13df00e0de\u0022\u003EAnalyzing text and visuals together: By extracting charts and images, AI can evaluate not just what companies say, but how they present information visually.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022eee168697d8050bf1cac161d049fa1ff2\u0022\u003EIdentifying trends at scale: Researchers can analyze patterns in disclosure practices across decades, industries, and thousands of companies.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETogether, these capabilities could help democratize financial analysis, giving more investors access to insights that were once limited to professionals.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA Key Finding\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne of the study\u2019s most striking findings is that IPO filings are evolving in two different directions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhat stood out was that the text and visuals appear to be moving in different directions,\u201d Lohani said. \u201cInvestors and researchers need to pay attention to both.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe research shows that written sections are becoming more standardized, while visual elements such as charts and infographics are becoming more complex and varied.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAs text becomes more standardized, more of a company\u2019s distinctive story shifts into its visuals,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/vidhyakshayakannan\/\u0022\u003EVidhyakshaya Kannan\u003C\/a\u003E, a Georgia Tech Financial Services Innovation Lab intern and co-author. \u201cBecause boilerplate language often looks the same across filings, charts and infographics are increasingly where companies differentiate themselves and make their case to investors.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor investors, that means understanding a company requires studying the visuals as carefully as the text; figures can\u2019t simply be skimmed or skipped over.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhere AI Struggles\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDespite its promise, AI is not yet a perfect solution.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e16599de6b5ed90a37957219cfb129f7a\u0022\u003EIPO filings are long: longer documents can reduce model performance, making it difficult for AI to maintain accuracy across an entire filing.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022eafdf1a735bfeac1eef2b40a946cd2d14\u0022\u003EIPO filings are visual: AI tools struggle to interpret visual data correctly.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e939c27f235f13b396533231783d65cd6\u0022\u003EIPO filings are multimodal: filings combine text, tables, and visuals in inconsistent formats. This makes them difficult for AI models to process reliably.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOur results show that even strong multimodal models can disagree with expert human judgments on financial charts, especially when they are misleading,\u201d Kannan said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Future of Financial Transparency\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAI can accelerate analysis and uncover patterns, but human judgment remains essential for interpreting the visuals companies increasingly use to tell their story. Even with these limitations, researchers believe tools like IPO-Mine could play an important role in shaping the future of financial transparency.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIPO-Mine can help researchers, regulators, and investors analyze IPO disclosures more systematically, revealing patterns in how companies communicate risk, performance, and strategy before entering public markets,\u201d said Hiray.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy making complex financial disclosures more accessible and actionable, AI-powered tools have the potential to broaden access to critical market information and support more informed investment decisions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Qs17Ta40JEY\u0022\u003EWatch the researchers explain IPO-Mine and its impact\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/arxiv.org\/pdf\/2605.28714\u0022\u003ERead More: IPO-Mine\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/centers-and-initiatives\/center-for-finance-and-technology\/about.html\u0022\u003ELearn More: Center for Finance and Technology\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech researchers developed IPO-Mine, an AI-powered toolkit that helps investors, researchers, and regulators analyze complex IPO filings more efficiently while highlighting the continued importance of human judgment when interpreting the visuals companies use to tell their story.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech researchers developed IPO-Mine, an AI-powered toolkit that helps investors, researchers, and regulators analyze complex IPO filings more efficiently."}],"uid":"36730","created_gmt":"2026-08-11 15:55:12","changed_gmt":"2026-08-11 16:07:06","author":"klowe36","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-08-11T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-08-11T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680836":{"id":"680836","type":"image","title":"IPO-Mine Researchers","body":"\u003Cp\u003EArnav Hiray, machine learning doctoral student; Vidhyakshaya Kannan, a Georgia Tech Financial Services intern; and Siddharth Lohani, a computer science major \u201926 and software engineer at Bloomberg.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1786463495","gmt_created":"2026-08-11 15:51:35","changed":"1786463629","gmt_changed":"2026-08-11 15:53:49","alt":"Three photos of Georgia Tech researchers Arnav Hiray, machine learning doctoral student; Vidhyakshaya Kannan, a Georgia Tech Financial Services intern; and Siddharth Lohani, a computer science major \u201926 and software engineer at Bloomberg.","file":{"fid":"265160","name":"ipo-mine.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/08\/11\/ipo-mine.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/08\/11\/ipo-mine.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":210135,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/08\/11\/ipo-mine.jpg?itok=Vx2WY_Je"}}},"media_ids":["680836"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/news\/2026\/ai-can-help-investors-decode-ipo-filings.html","title":"Read More"}],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"194606","name":"Artificial Intelligence"},{"id":"139","name":"Business"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"187812","name":"artificial intelligence (AI)"},{"id":"4175","name":"finance"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":["kristin.lowe@scheller.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"691073":{"#nid":"691073","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Data Centers Are Booming. Who Benefits?","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EArtificial intelligence is reshaping how businesses operate and driving a historic surge in data center construction across the United States. These sprawling facilities, sometimes spanning more than 1,000 acres, represent one of the largest waves of capital investment in American history.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor communities across the country, this growth hits close to home, and not without controversy. What do data centers actually deliver for the local economies that host them?\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=6497238\u0022\u003ENew research\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;from\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/directory\/faculty\/yue\/index.html?_gl=1*22ff1a*_up*MQ..*_ga*NjU1MDU4NDM5LjE3ODM2MTc4Nzg.*_ga_8XJDVR2ZKP*czE3ODM2MTc4NzckbzEkZzEkdDE3ODM2MTc4ODEkajU2JGwwJGgxNzkwMjU1NjAy\u0022\u003EDaniel Yue\u003C\/a\u003E, assistant professor of Information Technology Management at Georgia Tech\u2019s Scheller College of Business, and his co-author,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/directory\/faculty\/zeng\/index.html?_gl=1*1771i5w*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTM1MDIxNjE3NC4xNzgzNjE4MTk5*_ga_8XJDVR2ZKP*czE3ODM2MTgxOTkkbzEkZzAkdDE3ODM2MTgxOTkkajYwJGwwJGgxMTY0MTA2MjA4\u0022\u003EYiyang Zeng\u003C\/a\u003E, examines how data center openings affect local jobs, wages, business activity, and electricity prices. Their findings suggest that geography plays a decisive role in whether communities see meaningful economic gains.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cEnormous amounts of capital are flowing into specific communities, much of it tied to new construction, while rigorous evidence on the local benefits of these facilities has been thin,\u201d said Yue. \u201cCommunity pushback has organized rapidly across the country. Our paper begins to fill that gap by providing new evidence using detailed, facility-level data paired with county-level economic indicators.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA Historic Investment Wave\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere are more than 2,500 data centers, either active or under construction, across the United States. Individual hyperscale facilities often cost more than $1 billion to construct and can consume as much electricity as a small city. Is it all worth it?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn average, Yue and Zeng found that when a data center opens, the host county sees a measurable lift: Employment rises by about 3.5%, wages by 5%, business establishments by nearly 5%, and household income by about 2%. Building permits also increase sharply, reflecting construction activity tied to new facilities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese are real, economically meaningful gains. But Yue and Zeng discovered that these gains are much smaller than what might be expected from a large investment. And they\u2019re not evenly distributed.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhy Metro Areas Benefit More\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe researchers\u2019 clearest finding is that metropolitan areas capture most of the economic benefits from data centers, while rural areas see far fewer spillover effects. While metro counties saw increases in employment and new business growth, non-metro counties saw no measurable gains.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe reason comes down to what economists call \u201cagglomeration,\u201d or economic density.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EData centers don\u2019t operate in isolation. They rely on construction contractors, engineers, equipment suppliers, professional services, and a skilled workforce. Those connections are far easier to build in places that already have deep labor markets and established business networks.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMetropolitan areas are well-positioned to absorb the indirect spending that data centers generate. High-wage technical employees support restaurants, retail, and local services. Suppliers and contractors can scale up quickly. These spillover effects amplify the impact of the initial investment.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn rural areas, that amplification is much harder to achieve. Facilities tend to employ relatively few permanent workers \u2014 often fewer than 100 \u2014 and many specialized services are imported from outside the county. As a result, the broader economic ripple never materializes.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat doesn\u2019t mean rural communities see no benefit at all. The research finds a small but real drop in unemployment rates in non-metro counties, and local governments may still gain tax revenue or infrastructure investments. But the sweeping job and wage growth often promised during local recruitment efforts will not likely arrive on its own.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cLocation, not facility size, determines whether the local benefits show up,\u201d Yue said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Hidden Cost: Electricity Prices\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYue and Zeng\u2019s research also uncovers an important trade-off. Data centers use a lot of electricity. A single large facility can use as much power as roughly 80,000 homes. In areas where the researchers can cleanly measure price effects, electricity prices rise by about 5% after a data center enters.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhen the benefits to communities are small, even downsides like higher electricity prices that strain infrastructure will be felt by locals,\u201d Yue shared.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWho pays for the increased cost of electricity isn\u2019t straightforward. Yue and Zeng\u2019s research suggests communities should ask specific questions about who pays for new infrastructure and how those costs will be distributed. Local utility companies divide costs differently among homeowners, businesses, and large industrial users, including data centers. Because cost-sharing systems vary by state, each data center development is unique.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat Communities Should Consider\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs states and cities work to attract or push back against data center construction, Yue and Zeng hope their research will encourage more evidence-based decision-making.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor metro areas with strong labor markets and dense business ecosystems, data centers can deliver meaningful, though not transformative, economic gains. For rural communities, the positive impact is more complicated.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIn 10 years, communities will likely wish they had pressed harder on the quality of the decision itself, including whether the debate was evidence-based, whether their local economy was equipped to capture the gains, and whether the fine print aligned with residents\u0027 long-term interests,\u201d Yue said. \u201cIt\u2019s vital that communities look past flashy, headline incentive packages and focus on the details: tax abatement structures, electricity tariff arrangements, and who ultimately pays for infrastructure upgrades.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs data centers continue to dot the American landscape, understanding where they create shared value \u2014 and where they don\u2019t \u2014 will be critical for community leaders and policymakers alike.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=6497238\u0022\u003ERead More: The Local Economic Effects of Data Center Entry\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAs data centers expand across the U.S., new research by Daniel Yue, assistant professor of IT management, and his co-author, Yiyang Zeng, reveals that their economic benefits are real but uneven, shaped largely by local economic conditions and geography.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Data centers continue to expand across the U.S. Do the communities nearby really benefit?"}],"uid":"36730","created_gmt":"2026-07-09 17:25:59","changed_gmt":"2026-07-15 13:27:47","author":"klowe36","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-07-09T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-07-09T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680584":{"id":"680584","type":"image","title":"The economic impact of data centers","body":"\u003Cp\u003ELead story image for Scheller News story \u0022Data Centers Are Booming. Who Benefits?\u0022 A hazy photo of an electronic board, possibly an internal image of a data center.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1783617674","gmt_created":"2026-07-09 17:21:14","changed":"1783617834","gmt_changed":"2026-07-09 17:23:54","alt":"A hazy photo of an electronic board, possibly an internal image of a data center.","file":{"fid":"264862","name":"data-center.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/09\/data-center.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/09\/data-center.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":117567,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/07\/09\/data-center.jpg?itok=hj8qj4-z"}}},"media_ids":["680584"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/news\/2026\/data-centers-are-booming-who-benefits.html?_gl=1*3nsm4t*_up*MQ..*_ga*NjU1MDU4NDM5LjE3ODM2MTc4Nzg.*_ga_8XJDVR2ZKP*czE3ODM2MTc4NzckbzEkZzEkdDE3ODM2MTc4ODAkajU3JGwwJGgxNzkwMjU1NjAy","title":"Read More"}],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"194606","name":"Artificial Intelligence"},{"id":"139","name":"Business"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"168537","name":"Data Center"},{"id":"110561","name":"data centers"},{"id":"336","name":"information technology"},{"id":"602","name":"economics"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"106361","name":"Business and Economic Development"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":["kristin.lowe@scheller.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690069":{"#nid":"690069","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Inside CREATE\u2011X Startup Lab: A Foundation for Entrepreneurial Thinking","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EYou don\u2019t need an idea to begin. You don\u2019t need a co\u2011founder, a pitch deck, or a perfect plan. What you need is curiosity, a willingness to talk to real people, and a place where it\u2019s safe to learn by doing. That\u2019s exactly what CREATE\u2011X Startup Lab delivers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOmar Garcia Urdiales, CREATE\u2011X\u2019s associate director of Learn, brings a global entrepreneurial experience to Georgia Tech: founder and CEO of a startup operating in the AWS Accelerator Loft, longtime startup coach in Europe\u2019s major innovation hubs, lecturer across multiple universities, and an external doctoral researcher in entrepreneurship and digitalization. He brings this background to his teaching of Startup Lab\u2019s latest iteration \u2013 a significant redesign developed by VentureLab\u2019s Director Keith McGreggor. McGreggor created the course and has evolved it over many years, building on its initial success. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis new iteration of Startup Lab allows us to meet students exactly where they are,\u201d said McGreggor. \u201cBy doing this, we give them the strongest foundation possible, providing them with the tools to grapple with uncertainty and build their confidence.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStartup Lab has long anchored the Institute\u2019s entrepreneurial pathway with clearer structure, a unified language, and a deeper focus on reflective growth, so more Georgia Tech students can discover (and trust) their own entrepreneurial judgment.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStartup Lab is expanding responsibly, with six sections in Atlanta and additional global sections in France and Asia-Pacific taught by faculty trained in the curriculum. Students here benefit from a program that\u2019s learning across borders and bringing that learning back to campus.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cStartup Lab is not about becoming an entrepreneur, but about engaging in the unknown and adopting entrepreneurial behavior, which can be applied to all career paths,\u201d Urdiales said. \u201cStudents become better equipped to identify problem spaces and solve them through evidence-based building.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EStart Where You Are\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUrdiales emphasized that Startup Lab is built for students who are still exploring, uncertain, or are simply curious.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMany students tell us they\u2019re curious about entrepreneurship but feel not ready,\u201d he said. \u201cThey worry they\u2019re too introverted for customer interviews or assume Startup Lab is only for people with fully formed ideas. In fact, those are the most common misconceptions.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe course\u2019s first few weeks focus on training students to see struggles and patterns in the world. Then, they apply those skills on a team, exploring, designing, and testing a concept with real people. The nonnegotiable outcome isn\u2019t the best idea; it\u2019s a more confident, evidence-driven version of you.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cStartup Lab is strengthening that self-awareness. All of us who are entrepreneurs, we don\u2019t grow linearly. We have various iterations of how we see things,\u201d\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003EUrdiales said. \u201cThis ability to see patterns or to see problems with customer discovery, it\u2019s a learning process and a growth process.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EBuilding Muscle Memory\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUrdiales said that students won\u2019t have a passive experience in the lab.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cTo become an entrepreneur, you need to do it. You need to engage with customers. You need to get out of the building,\u201d he said. \u201cIt gives you the ability to incorporate theoretical frameworks into practical solutions and then understand these more practical outcomes.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAligning with CREATE-X\u2019s culture of continuous iteration, Startup Lab is tightening the hands-on core of the course around four simple, repeatable tools so that entrepreneurial thinking becomes muscle memory, not a one-off assignment. The new iteration of the curriculum, developed by McGreggor, helps students learn to:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EElicit grounded problem stories\u003C\/strong\u003E from real people (and separate observations from interpretations).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMake explicit strategic decisions\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u2014 who you serve, what you offer, how you deliver, how you get paid \u2014 and back them with discovery evidence.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EExternalize your logic\u003C\/strong\u003E with clear Business Model Canvas snapshots (hypotheses \u2260 decisions \u2260 open questions).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDesign minimum viable experiments (MVEs)\u003C\/strong\u003E that can \u003Cem\u003Efalsify\u003C\/em\u003E assumptions, not just confirm them.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhat we have is a frontier model in entrepreneurial education,\u201d said McGreggor. \u201cThe result is a course that teaches sound decision making and builds entrepreneurial confidence that rewards authentic discovery and iteration over performative polish. It creates a more solid foundation for entrepreneurial thinking and sets students up to engage more deeply with everything that follows in their CREATE-X pathway.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EReflection as a Feature\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs a part of Startup Lab, instructors integrate reflection throughout the semester, which helps students notice patterns of work, make small experiments, and adjust based on what\u2019s learned. Students often worry they\u2019re not the founder type or that their introversion will hold them back; Startup Lab reframes those worries as raw material for growth, including communication skill building and one-on-one interactions you won\u2019t always get in higher-level courses.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStartup Lab integrates HaradaLite \u2014 McGreggor\u0027s adaptation of the Japanese Harada Method \u2014 as a weekly reflection practice in which students keep a reflection log, helping them notice patterns of work, run small experiments, and adjust based on what\u0027s learned. With this approach, educators are able to measure the growth of entrepreneurial confidence by self-report, leading to a more quantitative approach to teaching.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EA Common Language Across CREATE\u2011X\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere\u2019s no mandated order for CREATE-X courses. Startup Lab simply makes the next steps clearer by providing a shared language and milestone structure across sections and instructors, so whatever comes next (I2P, Capstone, Launch, or an internship), you can carry forward a coherent, evidence- aware story of your work.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAll CREATE\u2011X Learn sections will work with the same milestone objectives,\u201d Urdiales said. \u201cStudents trained in Startup Lab are already trained in the muscles of entrepreneurship. They\u2019re more equipped to go into Make and Launch or be a leader within their industry.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EBuilt To Be Inclusive Across Disciplines and Needs\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStartup Lab is about becoming the kind of person who can see opportunities, reason from evidence, and make better decisions when the path isn\u2019t obvious.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EYou do not need an idea or a pre\u2011built team\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u2014 curiosity is enough.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EYou do not need special permits to enroll\u003C\/strong\u003E. Startup Lab is open to anyone ready to explore.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EYou can benefit from the course before \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eor\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E after I2P or Capstone\u003C\/strong\u003E, since there\u2019s no fixed order to the CREATE\u2011X pathway.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIntroverts are welcome\u003C\/strong\u003E. The course intentionally builds communication skills through structured, low-pressure interviews and guided interaction.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cStartup Lab helps students see the world\u2019s problems and fill the gaps with fresh ideas, teaching them to see and understand the important difference between evidence and inference,\u201d said McGreggor. \u201cThis lays the foundation that leads to good founders, and builds the entrepreneurial confidence needed to succeed.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EWhat You\u2019ll Actually Do\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStudents in Startup Lab can expect a workshop-heavy, conversation-rich semester with weekly artifacts, scenario-based decision prompts, startup reports, and quizzes that keep you honest about what you\u2019re learning. You\u2019ll assemble a Continuity Pack near the end: a compact bundle of your best discovery evidence, decisions, MVEs, economics, and final story slides so your future self (or your I2P\/Launch application) can pick up right where you left off.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe course also sets norms for modern tool use. AI is welcomed as a coach and organizer, after your own baseline thinking and research, and as an enhancement of the real conversations you have. That matters because Startup Lab\u2019s promise is that you build solid judgment under the test of uncertainty, critical to the world of today and the future that is being built.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EJump Into Startup Lab\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou don\u2019t have to have it all figured out. If you\u2019re a first-year student still exploring, a junior craving real-world projects, or a senior looking to stand out in interviews, Startup Lab is for you.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESeats fill quickly across all sections \u2014 and for good reason.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EThis course gives you the clearest, most supportive on\u2011ramp into CREATE\u2011X, with a global methodology, a unified curriculum, and instructors who believe deeply in your potential to grow. Learn how to think entrepreneurially. See the world differently. Build the confidence that will follow you long after the semester ends.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/create-x.gatech.edu\/learn\/startup-lab\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERegister for Startup Lab for Fall 2026\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ECREATE\u2011X Startup Lab serves as the foundation of Georgia Tech\u2019s entrepreneurial pathway, giving students a structured but low\u2011pressure environment to explore the unknown and develop entrepreneurial thinking. Recently updated curriculum provides clearer structure, shared language, and hands\u2011on tools that emphasize real\u2011world discovery, iteration, and reflection over polished pitches. Students learn by engaging directly with people, testing assumptions through minimum viable experiments, and documenting evidence\u2011based decisions they can carry into future courses or careers. By welcoming students from all disciplines, experience levels, and personality types, Startup Lab equips learners with confidence and transferable skills that extend far beyond entrepreneurship.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"CREATE\u2011X Startup Lab helps students build entrepreneurial confidence by learning how to navigate uncertainty, test assumptions, and develop sound judgment."}],"uid":"36436","created_gmt":"2026-04-30 13:39:04","changed_gmt":"2026-05-13 14:49:34","author":"bdurham31","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-30T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-30T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680124":{"id":"680124","type":"image","title":"Omar Garcia","body":"\u003Cp\u003EOmar Garcia, associate director of CREATE-X Learn, teaches Startup Lab.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1777554943","gmt_created":"2026-04-30 13:15:43","changed":"1777555243","gmt_changed":"2026-04-30 13:20:43","alt":"Omar Garcia gives a lecture in Startup Lab","file":{"fid":"264364","name":"image--7---1-.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/30\/image--7---1-.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/30\/image--7---1-.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":45834,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/30\/image--7---1-.jpeg?itok=JD38L1JD"}}},"media_ids":["680124"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/create-x.gatech.edu\/learn\/startup-lab","title":"Register for Startup Lab for Fall 2026."},{"url":"https:\/\/www.eventbrite.com\/e\/spring-startup-launch-showcase-tickets-1984784570078?aff=article","title":"Register for Startup Launch Showcase"}],"groups":[{"id":"583966","name":"CREATE-X"},{"id":"655285","name":"GT Commercialization"},{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"139","name":"Business"},{"id":"42911","name":"Education"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"}],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193658","name":"Commercialization"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"106361","name":"Business and Economic Development"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBreanna Durham\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMarketing Strategist\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["breanna.durham@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689913":{"#nid":"689913","#data":{"type":"news","title":"The Paradox of Familiarity: Karthik Ramachandran Shows How Team Dynamics Shape Product Success","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EPioneering development teams behind innovative products like the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer and SpaceX\u2019s reusable Falcon 9 rocket rely on complex interdisciplinary collaboration among engineers, designers, and project managers. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/directory\/faculty\/ramachandran\/index.html?_gl=1*vdwq98*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTQxMjI3NzYwOC4xNzc2Nzg3ODA5*_ga_8XJDVR2ZKP*czE3NzY3ODc4MDgkbzEkZzEkdDE3NzY3ODc4MTkkajQ5JGwwJGgyODY5NjQ4NDM.\u0022\u003EKarthik Ramachandran\u003C\/a\u003E, Dunn Family Professor of Operations Management, knows that breakthrough products often don\u2019t emerge from the solitary efforts of a lone genius. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn a new research article, \u201c\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3000522\u0022\u003EHelp or Hindrance? The Role of Familiarity in Product Development Teams,\u003C\/a\u003E\u201d Ramachandran and his co-authors \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sc.edu\/study\/colleges_schools\/moore\/directory\/tereyagoglu_necati.php\u0022\u003ENecati Tereyagoglu\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/muratunalphd\/\u0022\u003EMurat Unal\u003C\/a\u003E, show the crucial role familiarity plays in team dynamics.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cEvery creative organization deals with a fundamental tension,\u201d Ramachandran said. \u201cPeople love working with teammates they know well, but innovation often depends on fresh perspectives.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere is a lot to be said about familiarity. Famously, it breeds contempt. Previous studies have shown that repeat collaboration helps teams execute smoothly. But smooth operations don\u2019t always translate to commercial success. Ramachandran\u2019s research shows that it can breed a different kind of trouble \u2014 an environment free from friction, debate, and novelty. Those conditions may be comfortable, but they don\u2019t help creativity thrive. Video game development, it turns out, provides the perfect setting for productive tension.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cVideo games require both bold creative ideas and flawless execution,\u201d Ramachandran shared. \u201cThey blend art, engineering, storytelling, and software into a single product. We were curious about how familiarity impacts team dynamics within this industry. When does it help and when does it quietly get in the way?\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/news\/2026\/when-familiarity-hurts-innovation-karthik-ramachandran.html?_gl=1*grzkgs*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTQxMjI3NzYwOC4xNzc2Nzg3ODA5*_ga_8XJDVR2ZKP*czE3NzY3ODc4MDgkbzEkZzEkdDE3NzY3ODc4MTMkajU1JGwwJGgyODY5NjQ4NDM.\u0022\u003ERead More\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EKarthik Ramachandran, Dunn Family Professor of Operations Management, offers a smarter way to design product development teams, showing that familiarity can either fuel flawless execution or quietly stifle creativity.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Karthik Ramachandran, Dunn Family Professor of Operations Management, offers a smarter way to design product development teams"}],"uid":"36730","created_gmt":"2026-04-21 16:16:46","changed_gmt":"2026-04-21 16:24:51","author":"klowe36","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-07T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-07T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680013":{"id":"680013","type":"image","title":"Karthik Ramachandran","body":"\u003Cp\u003EKarthik Ramachandran, Dunn Family Professor, Operations Management\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1776787973","gmt_created":"2026-04-21 16:12:53","changed":"1776788107","gmt_changed":"2026-04-21 16:15:07","alt":"Karthik Ramachandran smiles in a navy suit coat","file":{"fid":"264246","name":"karthik-ramachandran.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/21\/karthik-ramachandran.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/21\/karthik-ramachandran.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":313116,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/21\/karthik-ramachandran.jpg?itok=tjle4QaL"}}},"media_ids":["680013"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/news\/2026\/when-familiarity-hurts-innovation-karthik-ramachandran.html?_gl=1*grzkgs*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTQxMjI3NzYwOC4xNzc2Nzg3ODA5*_ga_8XJDVR2ZKP*czE3NzY3ODc4MDgkbzEkZzEkdDE3NzY3ODc4MTMkajU1JGwwJGgyODY5NjQ4NDM.","title":"Read More"}],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"139","name":"Business"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"176908","name":"Operations Managment"},{"id":"43101","name":"Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business"},{"id":"182247","name":"team dynamics"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":["kristin.lowe@scheller.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689586":{"#nid":"689586","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Computing Associate Dean Cultivates Innovation With CREATE-X","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWhen Olufisayo \u201cFisayo\u201d Omojokun joined Georgia Tech, his teaching followed a familiar cadence. His courses were highly structured and consistent. Lectures, exams, office hours, and semester breaks were always known months in advance. The goals were clear, the outcomes known, and the educational journey largely mapped. Then, he heard about \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/createx.gatech.edu\u0022\u003ECREATE-X\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EA Spark of Curiosity\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2017, faculty conversations began circulating about a new kind of capstone experience, one driven by student discovery and entrepreneurial thinking rather than predetermined client requirements. The idea intrigued Omojokun.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI remember thinking, this is really different from anything I\u2019ve ever taught,\u201d he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn his previous courses, Omojokun took pride in providing the structured, rigorous framework students needed to master complex concepts. While those interactions were dynamic, the curriculum required a specific, focused trajectory. CREATE-X offered a different kind of challenge: the \u0022X\u0022 of the program, representing undefined, endless potential.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cCREATE-X is full of unknowns. You don\u2019t know what industry the students are diving into, what roadblocks they\u2019ll run into and navigate out of, or what small- to large-scale successes they\u2019ll achieve throughout the semester. It really had my blood pumping,\u201d he said. As someone who loves the challenge of academia, it was an invigorating way to help the next generation apply what they\u2019ve learned in a new context.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOmojokun co-taught the first CREATE-X Capstone section with College of Computing students in fall 2018 alongside Craig Forest, associate director of the Invention Studio. While the initial computer science cohort was small, the experience was immediately powerful.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt was humble beginnings but deeply eye-opening,\u201d he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn this new environment, students weren\u0027t just solving problems; they were seeking them and sometimes pivoting. Traditional client-driven capstones offer students invaluable experiences in delivering high-quality products, responding to clients\u2019 often evolving needs, and adhering to professional standards. CREATE-X added a layer of venture-validation, requiring students to identify a gap in the market and build something with commercial viability.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs the semesters continued, CREATE-X grew from a program with an interesting capstone course Omojokun enthusiastically co-taught to a professional inflection point for him. He found himself talking about it frequently, with colleagues, with students, even with prospective undergraduates who may not see a capstone for years.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe began encouraging prospective and incoming students to take CREATE-X pathways.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI would tell students, down to first-year students, when you get that opportunity to engage with CREATE-X, take it. You don\u2019t even have to wait until capstone, as there are multiple pathways; in fact, Startup Lab has no prerequisites. Whatever path you take, you\u2019ll remember it for years to come. Whether you officially take a problem solution to market or not, the entrepreneurial confidence gained is priceless.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003ESpreading CREATE-X Into the College of Computing\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy 2020, when the first Jim Pope Faculty Fellowship cohort opened, applying felt natural. He had already become an unofficial ambassador for CREATE-X, helping students navigate options, promoting programs in classes, and rallying colleagues to engage.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt was an opportunity to become more connected to this thing that I felt was changing the game on campus,\u201d he said. \u201cIt cemented my affiliation with CREATE-X.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe fellowship gave name and weight to the work he was already doing, while also expanding what was possible.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Jim Pope Faculty Fellowship provides faculty with $15,000 in discretionary funding, which can support a one-semester break from teaching, along with structured training in evidence\u2011based entrepreneurship, dedicated mentorship, and the opportunity to work closely with students launching startups.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe fellowship also equips faculty to become entrepreneurial instructors and mentors through the CREATE\u2011X ecosystem, giving them tools to integrate entrepreneurship into their coursework and curricula. Each cohort of fellows is trained to embed entrepreneurial methods, develop new innovation\u2011focused assignments, and serve as advisors within programs like Startup Lab, Idea\u2011to\u2011Prototype, and Startup Launch.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor faculty across Georgia Tech, the fellowship offers something rare: institutional backing, resources, and formal recognition for bringing entrepreneurship into their teaching and shaping how students learn to become problem\u2011solvers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOmojokun said he sees CREATE-X as the apex of applying technical fundamentals.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs part of the fellowship, Omojokun brought the program\u2019s ethos into his courses, even a foundational course like CS 1331: Introduction to Object Oriented Programming, where he created a CREATE-X\u2013branded final project. Students built a \u201cproblem database\u201d application as their final homework assignment, cataloging real issues they encountered in daily life, assessing their skills to solve them, evaluating markets and metrics, and then deciding potential pathways forward.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt\u2019s an innovation diary,\u201d he said. \u201cA tool that can get them closer to thinking like a founder.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe response from students, including many non-computing majors who take his section each semester, has been overwhelmingly positive. While the project is challenging, the open-ended nature and real-world relevance motivate deeper engagement.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhen students believe their work will solve a meaningful problem for a meaningful population, they bring passion to it,\u201d he said. \u201cThey start observing the world differently.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe more Omojokun saw, the deeper his enthusiasm grew.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EShaping the College of Computing\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEven as he stepped into the role of inaugural chair of the School of Computing Instruction in 2022, CREATE-X remained at the forefront of Omojokun\u2019s conversations. Interest in the program continued to grow significantly. Students stopped him in the hallways to talk about their ideas. Faculty reached out to ask about mentorship opportunities. And he continued championing the program in the many settings he entered.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt turns out that the most engaged group of students in CREATE-X is computing undergraduates,\u201d Omojokun said. \u201cI wanted to make sure that high involvement continued, no matter what size we are,\u201d he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOver time, Omojokun strengthened the partnership between the College of Computing and CREATE-X, weaving entrepreneurship deeper into the College\u0027s curricular fabric.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELast January, Omojokun was appointed as the associate dean for Undergraduate Education in the College of Computing. One of his priorities was highlighting CREATE-X\u2019s curricular impact. In coordination with key stakeholders \u2014 including Kelly Ann Fitzpatrick (computing), Craig Forest (mechanical engineering), and Raul Saxena (CREATE-X) \u2014 he nominated the program for the ABET Innovation Award. \u0026nbsp;The award honors programs that challenge the status quo in technical education and demonstrate a measurable impact on student learning in ABET-accredited disciplines, such as natural sciences, computing, engineering, and engineering technology. CREATE-X won.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EThe CREATE-X Advantage With Faculty\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen faculty are considering something like the Jim Pope Fellowship, Omojokun said the biggest barrier he hears about from them is time. With courses that can enroll 300 students per section and extensive responsibilities beyond the classroom, time is a scarce resource.\u003Cbr\u003EHe could relate.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThere are always lots of things on my physical and virtual desktop. I always warn people before they enter my office,\u201d he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHowever, Omojokun argued that participating in the fellowship program was time well spent because it helps them rediscover the most exciting parts of teaching.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt\u2019s worth the time. One of the goals of teaching is to see students passionate about what they\u2019re learning, and CREATE-X makes that happen consistently,\u201d he said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EThe Future With Technology\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs AI reshapes industries, Omojokun believes that CREATE-X equips students to navigate the unknown and forge new paths as existing ones shift, providing a versatile skill set that transfers to employment, potentially self-employment, and beyond.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of uncertainty with AI in the workspace, but CREATE-X gives students the confidence and skills to succeed at whatever comes,\u201d he said. \u201cWe are putting students through this process of finding a problem that\u2019s meaningful and matters to the world; mastering that allows them to lead in any environment.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EApplications Now Open: Become a Jim Pope Faculty Fellow\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gatech.co1.qualtrics.com\/jfe\/form\/SV_8cOnwIrm4eKEh9Q\u0022\u003E2026 Jim Pope Faculty Fellowship\u003C\/a\u003E is now accepting applications. For faculty who want to explore integrating entrepreneurship into their teaching, mentoring student founders, and helping shape a culture of innovation across campus, this fellowship offers resources and a supported pathway to begin. Faculty from all disciplines are encouraged to \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gatech.co1.qualtrics.com\/jfe\/form\/SV_8cOnwIrm4eKEh9Q\u0022\u003Eapply to the Jim Pope Fellowship\u003C\/a\u003E. Priority deadline: July 1; final deadline: Aug. 11.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWhen Olufisayo \u201cFisayo\u201d Omojokun first encountered CREATE\u2011X, it challenged the highly structured teaching model he was accustomed to by centering learning around uncertainty, discovery, and entrepreneurial problem\u2011finding. As a faculty member, Jim Pope Faculty Fellow, and now associate dean in the College of Computing, he has championed CREATE\u2011X as a powerful way to help students apply technical fundamentals in unpredictable, real\u2011world contexts. Through initiatives like CREATE\u2011X\u2013inspired course projects and cross\u2011college partnerships, Omojokun has helped embed entrepreneurship more deeply into computing education at Georgia Tech. He believes programs like CREATE\u2011X are essential in preparing students to adapt, lead, and innovate in a future increasingly shaped by emerging technologies such as AI.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Olufisayo \u201cFisayo\u201d Omojokun, Georgia Tech associate dean in the College of Computing, found new energy in teaching through CREATE\u2011X, where open\u2011ended entrepreneurship equips students to confidently navigate uncertainty and solve real\u2011world problems."}],"uid":"36436","created_gmt":"2026-04-09 13:46:31","changed_gmt":"2026-04-17 16:21:57","author":"bdurham31","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-09T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-09T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679902":{"id":"679902","type":"image","title":" Olufisayo \u201cFisayo\u201d Omojokun Associate Dean ","body":"\u003Cdiv\u003EOlufisayo \u201cFisayo\u201d Omojokun, associate dean in Georgia Tech\u2019s College of Computing\u003C\/div\u003E","created":"1775741406","gmt_created":"2026-04-09 13:30:06","changed":"1775742590","gmt_changed":"2026-04-09 13:49:50","alt":" Olufisayo \u201cFisayo\u201d Omojokun, associate dean in Georgia Tech\u2019s College of Computing","file":{"fid":"264123","name":"FisayoCloseUp-23-.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/09\/FisayoCloseUp-23-.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/09\/FisayoCloseUp-23-.png","mime":"image\/png","size":477042,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/09\/FisayoCloseUp-23-.png?itok=3qsEriy1"}}},"media_ids":["679902"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/gatech.co1.qualtrics.com\/jfe\/form\/SV_8cOnwIrm4eKEh9Q","title":"2026 Jim Pope Faculty Fellowship "}],"groups":[{"id":"583966","name":"CREATE-X"},{"id":"655285","name":"GT Commercialization"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"139","name":"Business"},{"id":"42911","name":"Education"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"}],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193658","name":"Commercialization"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"106361","name":"Business and Economic Development"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:breanna.durham@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EBreanna Durham\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EMarketing Strategist\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Tech\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689585":{"#nid":"689585","#data":{"type":"news","title":"CREATE-X Startup Brings Digital Access to the Unbanked","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWhen Victor Espinosa was an undergraduate student in Bogot\u00e1, he kept running into the same problem every time he tried to order books or basic items online: He didn\u2019t have a credit card. Instead, he had to give cash to someone who had a credit card and ask them to purchase for him. This wasn\u2019t strange in Colombia.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u201cIt was frustrating, but it showed me how many people were being left out of the digital world,\u201d Espinosa said. \u201cIn Colombia, only about two out of 10 people have a credit card. Cash is the main form of payment, but everything online requires digital access.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EThat gap sparked the idea that would evolve into Loto Punto, a fintech startup building self-service kiosks to bridge the physical and digital worlds for unbanked communities.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EFrom a Single Problem to a Scalable Platform\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EEspinosa began his startup as an online platform for buying lottery tickets. He saw that customers didn\u2019t trust the idea of a digital receipt because they were used to a printout, so he pivoted to a kiosk similar to the ones in U.S. grocery stores. Customers could walk up, insert cash, and print a lottery ticket instantly.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u201cIt worked, but it had a ceiling,\u201d Espinosa said. \u201cIt only served people buying lottery tickets. We knew it wouldn\u2019t scale.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ETo address this, he expanded the kiosks to handle mobile phone top-ups, bill payments, and basic banking services. Then, in 2024, the company incorporated advanced technologies such as biometric recognition and blockchain. Stellar Blockchain, first a partner, later became an investor of the startup, which helped Loto Punto to enable low-cost, real-time digital transactions and remittances.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ENow, users can convert physical cash into digital value or withdraw cash from digital wallets through a single machine.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EA Global Solo Founder\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EEspinosa is the sole founder of Loto Punto, supported now by a 10\u2011person team of highly specialized engineers, designers, and manufacturing experts. He is currently pursuing his master\u2019s degree in computer science at Georgia Tech while leading the company through its next chapter as part of the CREATE-X Startup Launch Spring 2026 cohort.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EFinding CREATE-X and Finding a Community\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EEspinosa learned about CREATE-X during his first semester at Georgia Tech. In 2024, CREATE-X widened its Startup Launch program to include a spring cohort to give founders, particularly graduating seniors, another chance to go all-in on developing their startup.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EEspinosa admits he didn\u2019t expect much when he first learned about the program.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u201cI didn\u2019t know universities had programs like this. In Colombia, we don\u2019t have accelerators embedded inside universities with venture support and dedicated staff,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I assumed CREATE X would be small, maybe one office helping a few students.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EWhat Espinosa found was different.\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u201cThey\u2019re leveraging every resource that Georgia Tech offers. They can help with any challenge by tapping the doors of the network they already have established,\u201c he said. \u201cIt\u2019s an ecosystem.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EAs a part of the Startup Launch program, CREATE-X brings in founders from its ecosystem to speak to participants and give them actionable insights \u2014 founders who have raised funds, been acquired, and have had other successes as entrepreneurs.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u201cThat\u2019s different,\u201d Espinosa said. \u201cThey\u2019ve brought successful founders who have walked the talk. It\u2019s different to interact with somebody who was already successful in doing what you\u2019re doing.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ETesting, Measuring, and Learning Through Startup Launch\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EEven as a remote participant, Espinosa has connected well with his mentor, who meets with him weekly, and his mini-batch. During the program, startup teams are grouped together. They share their strategies, successes, and struggles as they develop throughout the program. Teams have weekly sprints where they focus on one or two activities and then measure those activities, which Espinosa said is helpful for maintaining focus and actually executing on ideas.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u201cIf you, as an entrepreneur, start thinking of the whole world of activities that you must do to get somewhere with your startup, you won\u2019t start,\u201d he said. \u201cBy creating attainable goals, step by step, that\u2019s how it compounds to reach bigger goals. But, you have to begin with something.\u201d\u003Cbr\u003ETeams are also encouraged to take calculated risks.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u201cCREATE-X gives us a safe environment to test ideas,\u201d Espinosa said. \u201cAs an entrepreneur, it\u2019s a lonely road, but having someone who has been in your shoes before, it makes you brave to try things.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EOne of the first major tests he shared with the cohort was an ad campaign timed around the Super Bowl. In Startup Launch, Espinosa learned how to structure the experiment: defining KPIs, iterating audiences, and evaluating performance compared to industry benchmarks.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u201cWe got around 45,000 views and above-average click-through rates,\u201d he said. \u201cBut the biggest lesson was that brand awareness alone can\u2019t be our only marketing strategy.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EEspinosa said his mentor helped open doors for him and kept him accountable, and the program itself kept him from being overwhelmed by all that a founder has to do.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u201cIn Startup Launch, you see how different approaches fit different phases,\u201d he said. \u201cThey\u2019re creating a path to grow and execute on your goals as a founder.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EWhy Now Is the Easiest Time to Build\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EEspinosa also emphasized that the tools to build and test ideas have never been more accessible.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u201cWhen I started, we didn\u2019t have AI. You had to do everything by hand. It was harder, and it took more resources,\u201d he said. \u201cRight now, it\u2019s a matter of prompting. In one hour, you can file for a grant. Before, it took at least a week to get your documents together.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EHe said the ability to test quickly and learn has also become inexpensive.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u201cYou don\u2019t need millions of dollars to do this,\u201d Espinosa said. \u201cIt\u0027s very cheap to fail, right? If that doesn\u0027t work, you can just try again in the morning.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EAbove all, Espinosa encouraged budding founders to take advantage of the opportunities around them.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u201cAs a founder, you must tap every door that you have available to you. You have to explore different paths,\u201d he said. \u201cSome of those are networking, some are physical space, some are interest. Get your hands on every single resource that comes your way.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ELooking Ahead: The Future of Payments\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EAs he thinks about where the finance world is going, Espinosa said the payments industry is rapidly converging toward blockchain, stablecoins, and faster, frictionless user experiences.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u201cWe\u2019re seeing a lot of movement around stablecoins. We\u2019re seeing resource flow from one country to another. We believe things are converging to leverage blockchain and driving down the cost of moving money,\u201c he said. \u201cThat\u2019s how we see the future of our industry.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EMeet Loto Punto and the Spring Cohort at Startup Launch Showcase\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EEspinosa will travel to Atlanta for the first time in May to present Loto Punto at the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.eventbrite.com\/e\/spring-startup-launch-showcase-tickets-1984784570078?aff=article\u0022\u003ECREATE-X Spring Startup Launch Showcase\u003C\/a\u003E, where the public can meet founders and see their ventures firsthand. The event will be held in The Biltmore Ballrooms on Thursday, May 21, from 5 to 7 p.m.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EThe showcase will feature dozens of startups built by Georgia Tech students and alumni. Tickets are free but limited. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.eventbrite.com\/e\/spring-startup-launch-showcase-tickets-1984784570078?aff=article\u0022\u003ERegister for the showcase\u003C\/a\u003E today to grab your spot.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAfter experiencing firsthand how limited access to credit cards excluded millions from the digital economy, Victor Espinosa set out to bridge that gap by founding Loto Punto. The fintech startup uses self\u2011service kiosks that allow users to convert physical cash into digital transactions, expanding access to essential services like bill payments, mobile top\u2011ups, and remittances. As a solo founder in the CREATE\u2011X Startup Launch Spring 2026 cohort, Espinosa refined his venture through structured experimentation, mentorship, and weekly execution sprints. He credits CREATE\u2011X with providing both the accountability and community needed to test ideas safely and scale solutions for real\u2011world impact.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech master\u2019s student Victor Espinosa is building Loto Punto, a fintech startup using self\u2011service kiosks to help unbanked communities convert cash into digital financial access through the CREATE\u2011X Startup Launch program."}],"uid":"36436","created_gmt":"2026-04-09 13:26:31","changed_gmt":"2026-04-09 13:29:19","author":"bdurham31","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-09T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-09T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679901":{"id":"679901","type":"image","title":"Victor Espinosa Founder of Loto Punto","body":"\u003Cp\u003EVictor Espinosa, Founder of Loto Punto, stands in front of his product, pitching it on Columbia\u0027s Shark Tank\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1775740749","gmt_created":"2026-04-09 13:19:09","changed":"1775740994","gmt_changed":"2026-04-09 13:23:14","alt":"Victor Espinosa, Founder of Loto Punto, stands in front of his product, pitching it on Columbia\u0027s Shark Tank","file":{"fid":"264122","name":"STCOL_S5_EP16_12_TW.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/09\/STCOL_S5_EP16_12_TW.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/09\/STCOL_S5_EP16_12_TW.png","mime":"image\/png","size":899710,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/09\/STCOL_S5_EP16_12_TW.png?itok=TrsrUGf8"}}},"media_ids":["679901"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.eventbrite.com\/e\/spring-startup-launch-showcase-tickets-1984784570078?aff=article","title":"Register for Spring 2026 Startup Launch Showcase"}],"groups":[{"id":"583966","name":"CREATE-X"},{"id":"655285","name":"GT Commercialization"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"139","name":"Business"}],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193658","name":"Commercialization"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"106361","name":"Business and Economic Development"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBreanna Durham\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMarketing Strategist\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["breanna.durham@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689114":{"#nid":"689114","#data":{"type":"news","title":"ATDC Startups Secure Rare  FDA \u2018Breakthrough Device\u2019 Status ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIt\u2019s\u0026nbsp;uncommon\u0026nbsp;for any startup to receive the Food and\u0026nbsp;Drug\u0026nbsp;Administration\u2019s\u202f(FDA) Breakthrough Devices\u202fdesignation.\u0026nbsp;For the\u0026nbsp;roughly 40%\u0026nbsp;of applicants who receive the designation, it\u0026nbsp;shows that\u0026nbsp;the technology has real potential to improve patient outcomes and should get priority attention from the agency.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/atdc.org\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EAdvanced Technology Development Center\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;(ATDC)\u0026nbsp;in Georgia Tech\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/commercialization.gatech.edu\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EOffice of Commercialization\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/a\u003Eannounced two of its\u0026nbsp;health technology\u0026nbsp;(HealthTech) portfolio\u0026nbsp;companies,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/nephrodite.com\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ENephrodite\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.orthopreserve.com\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EOrthoPreserve\u003C\/a\u003E, earned\u0026nbsp;the designation.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAchieving this rare milestone\u0026nbsp;underscores\u0026nbsp;the caliber of founders, science, and support in ATDC\u2019s\u0026nbsp;30-company\u0026nbsp;HealthTech\u0026nbsp;portfolio, the incubator\u2019s largest focus\u0026nbsp;area.\u0026nbsp;It\u2019s\u0026nbsp;also a\u0026nbsp;win for\u0026nbsp;Georgia\u0026nbsp;because it\u0026nbsp;reflects\u0026nbsp;the strength of the state\u2019s\u0026nbsp;health\u0026nbsp;innovation\u0026nbsp;ecosystem.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis designation is one of the strongest signals the FDA gives that\u0026nbsp;a technology\u0026nbsp;could change the\u0026nbsp;standard of care,\u201d said\u0026nbsp;Greg Jungles, HealthTech catalyst at\u0026nbsp;ATDC.\u0026nbsp;\u201cFor ATDC to\u0026nbsp;have two in the same year is remarkable.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe\u202fBreakthrough Device\u202fProgram\u0026nbsp;doesn\u2019t\u0026nbsp;waive evidence requirements, but it\u202faccelerates learning\u202fwith the FDA, ATDC\u2019s Jungles said. \u201cThat means shorter response times,\u202fmore frequent meetings, and\u202fprioritized review. Teams avoid dead ends and align earlier on study designs and endpoints.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor the founders\u0026nbsp;of both startups,\u0026nbsp;their technologies\u0026nbsp;come one step closer to moving their innovations to market.\u0026nbsp;Nephrodite\u2019s\u0026nbsp;technology\u0026nbsp;improves\u0026nbsp;the lives of dialysis\u0026nbsp;patients.\u0026nbsp;OrthoPreserve\u2019s\u0026nbsp;device addresses challenges faced by\u0026nbsp;those who suffer from chronic knee pain.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENephrodite: Advancing Continuous Artificial Kidney Technology\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDr. Nikhil\u0026nbsp;Shah\u0026nbsp;and Dr. Hiep Nguyen,\u0026nbsp;cofounders\u0026nbsp;of\u0026nbsp;Nephrodite, aim\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;improve\u0026nbsp;care for dialysis patients\u0026nbsp;with end-stage kidney disease\u0026nbsp;who need transplants. These patients\u0026nbsp;often\u0026nbsp;spend\u0026nbsp;three to four hours in a\u0026nbsp;dialysis\u0026nbsp;clinic\u0026nbsp;up to\u0026nbsp;three times a week. Being\u0026nbsp;tethered to stationary machines\u0026nbsp;with needles\u0026nbsp;drawing blood via arm grafts\u0026nbsp;complicates\u0026nbsp;everyday\u0026nbsp;activities\u0026nbsp;\u2014\u0026nbsp;from work\u0026nbsp;tasks\u0026nbsp;to the ability to travel.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDialysis addresses chronic kidney disease, which means kidneys no longer work properly. The treatments filter out toxins,\u0026nbsp;waste, and other fluids in the blood. Kidney disease\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/kidney-disease\/ckd-facts\/index.html\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Ecosts Medicare\u0026nbsp;$124.5 billion\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And those costs are expected to rise because of increasing rates of kidney failure and chronic kidney disease.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cDialysis, while lifesaving\u0026nbsp;when it was pioneered\u0026nbsp;in 1952, is incredibly burdensome,\u201d Shah said.\u0026nbsp;Besides being\u0026nbsp;a long process\u0026nbsp;that keeps the patient in a fixed location,\u0026nbsp;it\u2019s\u0026nbsp;physically tiring.\u0026nbsp;\u201cTaking out your blood\u0026nbsp;continually\u0026nbsp;many, many times over, and over the course of four hours\u0026nbsp;is the equivalent of running\u0026nbsp;the Boston Marathon, hitting the finish line, and then someone saying, \u2018You\u0027re not done;\u0026nbsp;go do\u0026nbsp;it again,\u2019\u0026nbsp;\u201d\u0026nbsp;he said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA surgeon by training,\u0026nbsp;with\u0026nbsp;expertise\u0026nbsp;in transplantation and oncology, Shah\u0026nbsp;is also an adjunct associate professor\u0026nbsp;in\u0026nbsp;Tech\u2019s School of Interactive Computing. He\u0026nbsp;worked with\u0026nbsp;Nguyen\u0026nbsp;to develop a\u0026nbsp;continuously\u0026nbsp;functioning mechanical artificial kidney, leading to\u0026nbsp;Nephrodite\u2019s\u0026nbsp;formation.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe\u0026nbsp;FDA\u2019s\u0026nbsp;breakthrough designation\u0026nbsp;on\u0026nbsp;its\u0026nbsp;artificial kidney\u0026nbsp;allows the company\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;pursue approvals to\u0026nbsp;begin tests in\u0026nbsp;human trials.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe company traces its beginnings to a German aerospace facility outside Munich,\u0026nbsp;where\u0026nbsp;Nguyen and\u0026nbsp;Shah\u0026nbsp;watched engineers\u0026nbsp;demonstrate\u0026nbsp;a pediatric artificial heart\u0026nbsp;\u2014\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.berlinheart.com\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EBerlin Heart\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThat\u2019s\u0026nbsp;how we got started,\u201d Shah said.\u0026nbsp;\u201cSeeing\u0026nbsp;an artificial heart that led us to\u0026nbsp;think about doing this for kidneys\u0026nbsp;\u2014\u0026nbsp;because the kidney space has been largely ignored for 70 years.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBacked by a German federal grant,\u0026nbsp;Nephrodite\u0026nbsp;grew, moving from Germany to Boston, Massachusetts, then\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;Austin, Texas, before calling Atlanta home.\u0026nbsp;The\u0026nbsp;company joined\u0026nbsp;ATDC\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;tapped\u0026nbsp;into other Georgia Tech programs.\u0026nbsp;This\u0026nbsp;included\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/medtech.gatech.edu\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ECenter for MedTech Excellence\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;and the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gamep.org\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGeorgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;Nephrodite\u0026nbsp;also\u0026nbsp;drew on\u0026nbsp;student talent as\u0026nbsp;the researchers\u0026nbsp;quietly\u0026nbsp;worked\u0026nbsp;on\u0026nbsp;their\u0026nbsp;continuous mechanical artificial kidney.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENephrodite\u0026nbsp;began\u0026nbsp;interviewing\u0026nbsp;patients\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;find out what they wanted\u0026nbsp;the artificial kidney needed to solve.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThey learned patients\u0026nbsp;want\u0026nbsp;the ability to be mobile.\u0026nbsp;Patients also\u0026nbsp;desire\u0026nbsp;an alternative\u0026nbsp;therapy to large needles being inserted into arm grafts\u0026nbsp;because the injection sites are prone to\u0026nbsp;infection\u0026nbsp;and the grafts can fail. In addition, the process\u0026nbsp;can\u0026nbsp;be\u0026nbsp;painful and disfiguring. Finally,\u0026nbsp;patients want\u0026nbsp;a quality of life\u0026nbsp;independent of\u0026nbsp;machines.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThose\u0026nbsp;quality-of-life\u0026nbsp;needs, especially being free and mobile,\u0026nbsp;were\u0026nbsp;absolutely universal,\u201d Shah said.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENephrodite\u0026nbsp;began developing the technology to\u0026nbsp;build\u0026nbsp;its device\u0026nbsp;\u2014\u0026nbsp;a filter surgically implanted in the pelvis area.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe developed an implant designed to run\u0026nbsp;constantly, connected to larger blood vessels\u0026nbsp;in the pelvis\u0026nbsp;to\u202favoid arm graft failures, and paired with an external interface that lets patients sleep at night while the system removes toxins and excess fluid,\u201d Shah\u0026nbsp;explained.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe device also has\u0026nbsp;built-in sensors, with\u0026nbsp;data uploaded to the cloud,\u0026nbsp;enabling\u0026nbsp;medical care teams\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;remotely\u0026nbsp;monitor\u0026nbsp;their patients\u0026nbsp;while freeing\u0026nbsp;patients from frequent\u0026nbsp;in-clinic\u0026nbsp;visits.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShah said\u0026nbsp;Nephrodite\u2019s\u0026nbsp;device\u0026nbsp;could restore everyday\u202findependence,\u0026nbsp;while potentially\u202flowering infection risk.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt\u0027s like having an actual kidney, but\u0026nbsp;without\u0026nbsp;all the issues\u0026nbsp;of an unhealthy one,\u201d Shah said.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOrthoPreserve: Innovating a Minimally Invasive Meniscus Implant\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EOrthoPreserve\u2019s technology aims\u0026nbsp;to address issues\u0026nbsp;from\u0026nbsp;people have with their meniscus,\u0026nbsp;the C\u2011shaped piece of cartilage in a knee joint that acts as a shock absorber between the thigh bone and shin bone.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThough\u0026nbsp;patients undergo a now-routine surgery to address it,\u0026nbsp;incomplete recoveries are\u0026nbsp;also\u0026nbsp;common.\u0026nbsp;An estimated\u0026nbsp;quarter\u0026nbsp;of\u0026nbsp;patients\u202flater experience\u0026nbsp;recurring knee pain.\u0026nbsp;No FDA-approved implant\u202fcurrently exists for this population.\u0026nbsp;Now,\u0026nbsp;OrthoPreserveis developing a minimally invasive,\u202fartificial meniscus implant\u202fto\u202frestore cushioning,\u0026nbsp;relieve pain, and\u202fdelay\u0026nbsp;\u2014\u0026nbsp;or even\u0026nbsp;prevent\u0026nbsp;\u2014\u0026nbsp;knee replacement\u202ffor\u0026nbsp;some patients.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThere are a million meniscus\u0026nbsp;surgeries every year, and 25% of those patients still live with recurring pain,\u201d said Jonathan Schwartz,\u0026nbsp;OrthoPreserve\u2019s\u0026nbsp;founder and CEO.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPatients\u0026nbsp;can\u0026nbsp;face\u202fdaily pain\u202ffrom\u0026nbsp;ordinary activities, such as\u0026nbsp;prolonged\u0026nbsp;standing\u0026nbsp;or\u0026nbsp;walking\u0026nbsp;a dog. Other activities like\u0026nbsp;jogging and\u0026nbsp;recreational sports\u0026nbsp;can\u0026nbsp;trigger flares\u202fthat\u0026nbsp;can lead to\u0026nbsp;swelling and\u0026nbsp;prolonged\u0026nbsp;discomfort, Schwartz said.\u0026nbsp;\u201cThose patients have\u202fno\u0026nbsp;reliable\u0026nbsp;options today,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re building a minimally invasive implant to\u202frestore cushioning\u202fand help people get back to the activities they love.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOrhoPreserve\u2019s\u0026nbsp;durable implant\u0026nbsp;restores cushioning, and it\u0026nbsp;could help people\u202freturn to normal activities\u0026nbsp;and\u202fdelay invasive knee replacement. Along with this comes\u0026nbsp;potential cost and recovery benefits for the healthcare\u0026nbsp;system.\u202f \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESchwartz\u202fcreated the implant as his\u202f\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/tech-alum-launches-meniscus-implant-startup\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech master\u2019s thesis\u003C\/a\u003E\u202fin the lab of\u202f\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/ku\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EDavid Ku\u003C\/a\u003E\u202fin\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;Lawrence P. Huang Endowed Chair for Engineering Entrepreneurship and Regents\u0027 Professor\u0026nbsp;in\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering. After industry experience,\u0026nbsp;Schwartz\u0026nbsp;returned to\u0026nbsp;further\u0026nbsp;develop\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;technology,\u0026nbsp;building on Georgia Tech\u2019s translational\u0026nbsp;expertise\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOrthoPreserve\u0026nbsp;has completed\u202fmechanical testing and a successful\u202fstudy. The company\u0026nbsp;is raising a\u202f$2 million seed\u202fto complete validations and begin human trials, which Schwartz expects to start in\u0026nbsp;18 months.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe\u0026nbsp;FDA\u0026nbsp;breakthrough designation validates that nothing like this\u0026nbsp;technology\u0026nbsp;exists,\u0026nbsp;and that it has the potential to disrupt the standard of care,\u201d Schwartz\u0026nbsp;said,\u0026nbsp;adding the\u0026nbsp;U.S.\u2019\u0026nbsp;market\u0026nbsp;opportunity\u0026nbsp;is\u0026nbsp;roughly\u0026nbsp;$1.5 billion. \u201cWe finally have a minimally invasive\u0026nbsp;option to bridge the gap between meniscus surgery and knee replacement.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat FDA Breakthrough Designation Means for\u0026nbsp;ATDC\u2019s\u0026nbsp;HealthTech Startups\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHaving a\u0026nbsp;faster\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;clearer path is a\u202fderisking milestone\u202ffor investors\u0026nbsp;who are\u0026nbsp;evaluating\u0026nbsp;capital intensive\u0026nbsp;medical\u0026nbsp;device\u0026nbsp;technologies,\u0026nbsp;Jungles\u0026nbsp;said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis\u0026nbsp;breakthrough device designation is a really big deal for medical\u0026nbsp;device companies,\u201d Jungles said, adding\u0026nbsp;that\u0026nbsp;startups often fear navigating the FDA\u0026nbsp;approval\u0026nbsp;process.\u0026nbsp;\u201cBut this designation\u0026nbsp;adds to the legitimacy of their technologies\u0026nbsp;and the problemsthey are solving. The designation will help them get to market faster, assuming their data continues to meet expectations.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EATDC launched its\u202f\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/atdc.org\/industry\/healthtech\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EHealthTech vertical\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;in 2018,\u0026nbsp;which is\u0026nbsp;now\u0026nbsp;sponsored by\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/catalyst.wellstar.org\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ECatalyst by Wellstar\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;ATDC\u2019s HealthTech\u0026nbsp;portfoilo\u0026nbsp;companies\u0026nbsp;include\u0026nbsp;medical devices, biotech, and digital health, among other segments.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EATDC\u2019s Role in Accelerating HealthTech Innovation\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENephrodite\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;OrthoPreserve\u2019s\u0026nbsp;founders\u0026nbsp;noted\u0026nbsp;ATDC\u2019s\u202fcoaching\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;programming\u0026nbsp;as critical in navigating fundraising and regulatory milestones.\u0026nbsp;Another\u0026nbsp;factor, they said,\u0026nbsp;was\u0026nbsp;ATDC\u2019s\u0026nbsp;connection\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;Georgia Tech\u2019s\u0026nbsp;labs and facilities\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;prototyping support and clinical advisors\u0026nbsp;from\u0026nbsp;across\u0026nbsp;metro\u0026nbsp;Atlanta.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe meet with ATDC coaches every two to four weeks to troubleshoot and plan,\u201d Schwartz said. \u201cHaving that level of seasoned guidance, all\u0026nbsp;without consultant-level costs,\u0026nbsp;has been huge.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJungles added\u0026nbsp;that\u0026nbsp;two\u0026nbsp;Breakthrough device\u0026nbsp;designations in the same year\u0026nbsp;reflects\u0026nbsp;ATDC\u2019s selection rigor, noting\u0026nbsp;he\u2019s\u0026nbsp;evaluated hundreds of technologies since the HealthTech vertical launched.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt reflects the caliber\u0026nbsp;of the companies in\u0026nbsp;ATDC, specifically in the medical\u0026nbsp;device space,\u201d Jungles said. \u201cIt\u2019s the strength of their teams, the persistence of the founders, and the collaboration of the ecosystem in Georgia and Atlanta.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFDA Breakthrough Device designation is rare for health technology startups.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Milestone designation signals strong potential to reshape care for dialysis patients and those with chronic knee pain."}],"uid":"28137","created_gmt":"2026-03-20 21:15:57","changed_gmt":"2026-03-24 15:34:46","author":"P\u00e9ralte Paul","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-20T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-03-20T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679705":{"id":"679705","type":"image","title":"Shah and Nguyen headshots","body":"\u003Cp\u003EDr. Nikhil\u0026nbsp;Shah\u0026nbsp;and Dr. Hiep Nguyen,\u0026nbsp;are cofounders\u0026nbsp;of\u0026nbsp;Nephrodite, an ATDC startup.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1774043491","gmt_created":"2026-03-20 21:51:31","changed":"1774043761","gmt_changed":"2026-03-20 21:56:01","alt":"Shah and Nguyen headshots","file":{"fid":"263896","name":"Screenshot-2026-03-20-at-17.49.33.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/20\/Screenshot-2026-03-20-at-17.49.33.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/20\/Screenshot-2026-03-20-at-17.49.33.png","mime":"image\/png","size":289138,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/20\/Screenshot-2026-03-20-at-17.49.33.png?itok=tG6Q9aU1"}},"679703":{"id":"679703","type":"image","title":"Jonathan Schwartz headshot","body":"\u003Cp\u003EJonathan Schwartz,\u0026nbsp;OrthoPreserve\u2019s\u0026nbsp;founder and CEO.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1774042486","gmt_created":"2026-03-20 21:34:46","changed":"1774042827","gmt_changed":"2026-03-20 21:40:27","alt":"Headshot of Jonathan Schwartz.","file":{"fid":"263894","name":"J-schwartz-headshot_W.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/20\/J-schwartz-headshot_W.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/20\/J-schwartz-headshot_W.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":514027,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/20\/J-schwartz-headshot_W.jpg?itok=fyQrz_1r"}}},"media_ids":["679705","679703"],"groups":[{"id":"655285","name":"GT Commercialization"},{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"},{"id":"139","name":"Business"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"}],"keywords":[{"id":"4238","name":"atdc"},{"id":"194965","name":"Greg Jungles"},{"id":"194966","name":"Catalyst by Wellstar"},{"id":"14713","name":"FDA"},{"id":"189701","name":"breakthrough device designation"},{"id":"194967","name":"Nephrodite"},{"id":"194968","name":"OrthoPreserve"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193658","name":"Commercialization"},{"id":"193654","name":"Enterprise Innovation Institute"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"106361","name":"Business and Economic Development"},{"id":"71891","name":"Health and Medicine"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EP\u00e9ralte C. Paul\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:peralte@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Eperalte@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E404.316.1210\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["peralte@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688745":{"#nid":"688745","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Mentor Spotlight: Alison Sizer \u2014 From Apple and Nike to Supporting Founders ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAlison Sizer started as someone who loved innovation and problem-solving. For 14 years, she worked at Apple and Nike, where she learned how to blend innovation with customer insight: how to spot patterns, translate problems into opportunities, and turn ideas into strategies for growth.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EApplying what she\u2019d learned along the way, Sizer started Growth Impact to support startups and stakeholders in the innovation ecosystem. As a part of her business, she created partnerships and networks between the U.S. and South Africa, bridging the gap between startups and corporations to encourage co-creation and pilot projects. During this time, she saw how much early\u2011stage founders needed clear frameworks, honest guidance, and hands\u2011on support.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI started Growth Impact to support startups and stakeholders such as venture studios, investors, and accelerators. I support early-stage startups in finding product-market fit, customer understanding, go-to-market strategy, and business model development,\u201d she said. \u201cI also help startups with fundraising readiness and enterprise readiness. I support stakeholders by helping to assess viability, and de-risk new ventures, as well as connecting startups to enterprises.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEventually, her work brought her in contact with Georgia Tech. She was working with a South African innovation lab to enable pilot projects between startups and enterprises with the goal of facilitating the co-creation of digital solutions, which led her to Rahul Saxena, director of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/create-x.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ECREATE-X\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESizer said she reached out to see if any potential CREATE-X startups or enterprises would want to connect to the companies she was working with in South Africa.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOver the last few years, there\u0027s been quite a lot of interest in Georgia Tech and Atlanta in terms of a tech and innovation hub in the U.S., and there\u0027s a lot of investment happening too, in both the city of Atlanta and in Georgia Tech, in entrepreneurship and innovation and technology,\u201d she said. \u201cI think it\u0027s an interesting market.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOnce connected, she kept meeting Georgia Tech founders, many from CREATE\u2011X.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EQuietly, she began helping where she could, making introductions for CREATE-X founders outside of Atlanta. For Augment Health, she made investor and potential partner introductions. For the founder of Strapt, she made introductions to investors, shared market insight, and highlighted the company in her own newsletter, which has an audience of innovation ecosystem stakeholders, including more investors. And for ZenVR, she made a connection to WeFunder for funding, which resulted in $250,000 raised. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECollaborating with CREATE-X on a webinar, Sizer also taught \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/create-x.gatech.edu\/launch\/startup-launch\u0022\u003EStartup Launch\u003C\/a\u003E alumni about customer understanding and segmentation, value proposition, and other topics for health and wellness founders. Beyond connecting, Sizer shaped mindsets.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn her business, one founder she worked with was building non\u2011toxic performance apparel for women \u2014 a product selling through Amazon, REI, and even the U.S. military. The founder had ambition but struggled to balance DTC (direct to consumer) sales, retail, and B2B opportunities. Sizer helped her analyze her data, identify her real early adopters, and rebuild her value proposition and messaging. With a clearer customer understanding and stronger brand direction, the founder revamped her website and refined her pitch.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI love that thrill of them being excited about implementing some of the ideas and things we talk about, seeing the growth in their business, and the positive change in their business. That really excites me,\u201d she said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAtlanta is an enterprise-heavy city with Fortune 500 companies, SaaS (Software as a Service) companies, and a growing biotech sector. The startup ecosystem is growing in Atlanta, and with that comes advantages.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI have noticed that there\u0027s a lot of strong support for Atlanta and Georgia entrepreneurs from other Atlanta and Georgia entrepreneurs,\u201d she said. \u201cThey all support each other.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOver the years, Sizer has advised or mentored over 100 startups and built investor connections. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMy business is Growth Impact, because growth and impact are part of my core values. I\u0027m glad to give back and support early entrepreneurs, sharing knowledge, tools, and resources,\u201d she said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs a founder, Sizer went through her own learning curve. When she first launched her company, she assumed her target customers would be venture capital firms and spent months talking to pre\u2011seed and seed investors, only to discover that VCs either didn\u2019t fund the kind of operational support she offered or they expected founders to pay for it themselves. Meanwhile, the founders she spoke with said they needed her help but didn\u2019t have the budget. She said it was a classic chicken\u2011and\u2011egg problem.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI said, OK, this is not my target customer. The target customer is the startup,\u201d she said. \u201cThat\u0027s where the pivot point was for me.\u201d\u003Cbr\u003EThat shift reshaped her entire business and reinforced the same advice she now gives students: Talk to customers, listen deeply, and don\u2019t be afraid to adjust when the data points you in a new direction.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShe officially joined the CREATE\u2011X mentor community last year to help more founders, guiding them in finding product-market fit, and understanding who needs this solution and why.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne thing Sizer emphasized, however, is the need for founders to continue to take initiative and be resilient in the face of challenges.\u003Cbr\u003E\u201cA mentor can guide you or ask the right questions, but the founder has to find the path,\u201d she said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EReady to build something real?\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMeet mentors like Alison Sizer in Startup Launch, where you can develop a startup to solve real-world problems and build entrepreneurial skills. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/airtable.com\/appaTqlTL2zQkXBBR\/pagdkIvjQbvDbSD2F\/form\u0022\u003EApply to Startup Launch\u003C\/a\u003E today; applications close Tuesday, March 17.\u003Cbr\u003EInterested in mentoring?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EWant to mentor and support the next generation of Georgia Tech founders?\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFill out our \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/airtable.com\/app1gcnb0ECVgdEF4\/pag4g0e8mxV9qWn8k\/form\u0022\u003Eengagement form\u003C\/a\u003E to join CREATE\u2011X\u2019s mentor network.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003EAlison Sizer brings more than a decade of innovation experience from Apple and Nike to her work supporting early\u2011stage founders through her company, Growth Impact. After building cross\u2011continental partnerships between the U.S. and South Africa, she connected with CREATE-X and began advising founders on customer insight, product\u2011market fit, and go\u2011to\u2011market strategy. She has since made high\u2011impact investor and partner introductions, taught customer discovery frameworks, and helped entrepreneurs rethink their value propositions through data\u2011driven guidance. Now an official CREATE\u2011X mentor, Sizer continues to champion founders by sharing tools, networks, and honest insight to help them build resilient, customer\u2011focused ventures.\u003C\/div\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Alison Sizer, a former Apple and Nike strategist turned founder of Growth Impact, now mentors CREATE\u2011X startups by helping them deepen customer understanding, refine value propositions, and build pathways to growth through her global innovation network."}],"uid":"36436","created_gmt":"2026-03-05 15:20:30","changed_gmt":"2026-03-19 19:25:50","author":"bdurham31","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-04T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-03-04T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679530":{"id":"679530","type":"image","title":"Alison Sizer ","body":"\u003Cdiv\u003EThe image shows Alison Sizer \u0026nbsp;standing in a modern, well\u2011lit workspace with open shelving, plants, and a large \u201cLet\u2019s...\u201d wall sign visible in the background. She\u0027s wearing a light gray blazer over a teal top and is posed with one arm resting on a wooden table. The setting includes contemporary furniture, natural light from large windows, and a neutral, inviting color palette that conveys a professional yet relaxed environment.\u003C\/div\u003E","created":"1772722040","gmt_created":"2026-03-05 14:47:20","changed":"1772723141","gmt_changed":"2026-03-05 15:05:41","alt":"Alison Sizer in a blazer standing in a modern workspace with wooden tables, open shelving, and natural light.","file":{"fid":"263703","name":"Alison-TRT_3162.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/05\/Alison-TRT_3162.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/05\/Alison-TRT_3162.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":103307,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/05\/Alison-TRT_3162.jpeg?itok=lco1cU-e"}}},"media_ids":["679530"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/airtable.com\/appaTqlTL2zQkXBBR\/pagdkIvjQbvDbSD2F\/form","title":"Apply to Startup Launch"},{"url":"https:\/\/airtable.com\/app1gcnb0ECVgdEF4\/pag4g0e8mxV9qWn8k\/form","title":"Mentor with CREATE-X"}],"groups":[{"id":"583966","name":"CREATE-X"},{"id":"655285","name":"GT Commercialization"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"139","name":"Business"},{"id":"42911","name":"Education"}],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193658","name":"Commercialization"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"106361","name":"Business and Economic Development"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:breanna.durham@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EBreanna Durham\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMarketing Strategist\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688282":{"#nid":"688282","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Launches Pilot Program to Support Rural Arts Organizations","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBeginning this March in Perry, Georgia, the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/innovate.gatech.edu\/gain\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorgia Arts Innovation Network (GAIN)\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;will support arts\u2011related nonprofits and small businesses in\u0026nbsp;Perry, Houston County, and surrounding counties in Middle Georgia. The six\u2011month pilot is funded by a\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.arts.gov\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENational Endowment for the Arts (NEA)\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;Our Town\u0026nbsp;grant and is the first EI\u00b2 program dedicated specifically to the arts.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cArts organizations contribute so much to the vibrancy of a community,\u201d said\u0026nbsp;Caley Landau, program manager for GAIN and marketing strategist at EI\u00b2. \u201cThey help create a sense of place and provide the \u2018something to do\u2019 that small cities and towns want to offer residents, new workers, and prospective businesses. Our hope is to enhance the arts and cultural ecosystem in Middle Georgia by providing training and technical assistance to the organizations that produce art in the region.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA Rural Community Already Investing in Placemaking\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPerry was selected as the pilot location in part for its active downtown revitalization work and commitment to placemaking. Through the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.georgiacitiesfoundation.org\/placemaking\u0022\u003EGeorgia Economic Placemaking Collaborative\u003C\/a\u003E, Perry city staff partnered with EI\u00b2\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cedr.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ECenter for Economic Development Research\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;to develop strategies for arts\u2011based community development.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWorking alongside the Georgia Tech team has been a wonderful experience,\u201d said\u0026nbsp;Alicia Hartley, downtown manager for the City of Perry. \u201cWe hope that participants walk away from the cohort inspired and empowered to activate their organizations in creative and meaningful ways.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EListening First, Then Providing Targeted Support\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe program will begin with a listening session to understand participating organizations\u2019 needs. EI\u00b2 will then design tailored workshops drawing from experts at Georgia Tech and beyond. Every other month, cohort members will meet for sessions on business practices, digital tools, operational efficiency, marketing, placemaking partnerships, and other areas that support long\u2011term sustainability.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThey sound like great ideas \u2014 murals, pop\u2011up exhibits, outdoor performances \u2014 but how do you really get down to the nuts and bolts of making them happen?\u201d Landau said. \u201cAnd how do you bring the right partners to the table? That\u2019s what we\u2019ll explore together.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA Statewide Mission, Strengthened Through the Arts\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs Georgia Tech\u2019s economic development arm, EI\u00b2 administers programs that support entrepreneurs, manufacturers, communities, and municipalities across the state and around the world.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cGAIN represents an important part of EI\u00b2\u2019s comprehensive approach to economic development,\u201d said\u0026nbsp;David Bridges, vice president of EI\u00b2. \u201cIt gives us another way to create impact in Georgia by applying our expertise to serve arts organizations that are vital to Georgia communities.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJason Freeman, associate vice provost for Georgia Tech Arts, noted that the pilot aligns with the Institute\u2019s broader commitment to supporting arts, culture, and creativity statewide.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThrough GAIN, I\u2019m excited to learn more about the arts ecosystem in Middle Georgia,\u201d Freeman said. \u201cThe lessons we learn will inform both statewide collaborations and new initiatives emerging through our\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/arts.gatech.edu\/creative-quarter\u0022\u003ECreative Quarter\u003C\/a\u003E innovation district on campus.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EProgram Funding and Support\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe pilot is funded through the NEA\u2019s\u0026nbsp;Our Town\u0026nbsp;program, which supports projects integrating arts, culture, and design into community development. The\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gaarts.org\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Council for the Arts\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;is partnering with EI\u00b2 on cohort recruitment, curriculum development, and arts\u2011based placemaking strategies.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERecruitment has begun.\u0026nbsp;Arts nonprofits and arts\u2011based businesses in Middle Georgia may apply at\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/innovate.gatech.edu\/gain\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Einnovate.gatech.edu\/gain\/\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"NEA Our Town grant supports Middle Georgia initiative"}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/innovate.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEnterprise Innovation Institute\u003C\/a\u003E (EI\u00b2) is launching a new pilot program to help rural arts organizations strengthen operations, adopt new technologies, and deepen their role in local community and economic development.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"NEA \u201cOur Town\u201d grant supports Middle Georgia initiative"}],"uid":"28137","created_gmt":"2026-02-16 19:23:27","changed_gmt":"2026-02-27 14:01:22","author":"P\u00e9ralte Paul","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"PERRY, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-02-24T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-02-24T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679410":{"id":"679410","type":"image","title":"Perry Players","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EA production of the Perry Players, in Perry, Ga.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1771954765","gmt_created":"2026-02-24 17:39:25","changed":"1771956406","gmt_changed":"2026-02-24 18:06:46","alt":"Theater group on stage.","file":{"fid":"263572","name":"600279566_1401542021982073_3327861092957966357_n.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/24\/600279566_1401542021982073_3327861092957966357_n.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/24\/600279566_1401542021982073_3327861092957966357_n.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":714495,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/24\/600279566_1401542021982073_3327861092957966357_n.jpg?itok=GY5ckgdk"}}},"media_ids":["679410"],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"42941","name":"Art Research"},{"id":"194568","name":"Arts and Performance"},{"id":"139","name":"Business"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"42891","name":"Georgia Tech Arts"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"194917","name":"Georgia Arts Innovation Network"},{"id":"194918","name":"Caley Landau"},{"id":"3671","name":"Enterprise Innovation Institute"},{"id":"194919","name":"Middle Georgia"},{"id":"184294","name":"Center for Economic Development Research"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193654","name":"Enterprise Innovation Institute"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"106361","name":"Business and Economic Development"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMEDIA CONTACT\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EP\u00e9ralte Paul\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:peralte@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Eperalte@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGAIN PROGRAM CONTACT\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECaley Landau\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:caley.landau@innovate.gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ecaley.landau@innovate.gatech.edu\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["peralte@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688493":{"#nid":"688493","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Augusta Positioned to Become a Leader in Medical Device Entrepreneurship","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Georgia Institute of Technology and Augusta University have launched a collaborative effort to boost the city\u2019s medical device innovation ecosystem.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Augusta region is already a major hub for health and life sciences, boasting five hospitals and the Medical College of Georgia, the nation\u2019s 13th oldest medical school and one of its largest.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAdditionally, the advocacy nonprofit \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.galifesciences.org\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Life Sciences\u003C\/a\u003E designated the region a BioReady Gold community. This ratings system recognizes its existing bioscience assets and its commitment to expanding infrastructure and commercialization, marking Augusta as a desired choice for biotech companies looking for suitable sites to expand.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELeading the work at Georgia Tech are the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gamep.org\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership\u003C\/a\u003E (GaMEP) and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/atdc.org\/\u0022\u003EAdvanced Technology Development Center\u003C\/a\u003E (ATDC).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGaMEP is a program of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/innovate.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEnterprise Innovation Institute\u003C\/a\u003E, Tech\u2019s chief economic development arm. It brings a\u0026nbsp;dedicated team with the unique skills required to help innovators clearly understand the requirements needed to bring medical devices to market.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhen entrepreneurs gain insight into the regulatory and quality requirements early in development, they can make informed, strategic decisions that can significantly reduce both time and cost,\u201d said\u0026nbsp;Sarah Jo Tucker, industry manager for GaMEP\u2019s medical device group. \u201cWe partner closely with innovators throughout the process and bring deep expertise in the regulatory requirements while they bring expertise in their technology. Together, we can move products efficiently and confidently from concept to commercialization.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EADTC, part of Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/commercialization.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EOffice of Commercialization\u003C\/a\u003E, is the state\u2019s premier technology incubator and the oldest university-based incubator in the country. ATDC provides guidance and resources for entrepreneurs and founders to successfully launch and scale their technology companies.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESince its founding in 1980, ATDC\u2019s startup graduates have attracted more than $6.2 billion in investment and generated over $14 billion in revenue in Georgia. Through the partnership with Augusta University, ATDC uses its expertise to serve\u0026nbsp;entrepreneurs in the medical device field.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Medical innovation across the state of Georgia is critical for our health tech industries to thrive,\u201d said Chris Dickson, ATDC\u2019s startup catalyst in the Augusta region. \u201cWe identify investment-ready medical technology startups and provide the support needed while they are scaling their businesses.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA major hub for the life sciences, Augusta University is home to a wealth of researchers in the biomedical and related fields. This makes the institution ideally situated to help facilitate medical device commercialization.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGuido Verbeck understands this dynamic firsthand. A\u0026nbsp;professor of chemistry and biochemistry at Augusta University, he is also an entrepreneur and medical device innovator.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAcademia is a fantastic platform for launching ideas, but there must be an understanding of how to bring a device to market,\u201d said Verbeck. \u201cPhysicians and practitioners who are also academics are solving problems in real time, but they often lack the resources and support to get their ideas to production and commercialization.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELynsey\u0026nbsp;Steinberg, director of innovation for Augusta University\u2019s strategic partnerships and economic development team, summed up collaboration\u2019s goal.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhen we tap our depth of talent, innovation, and community collaboration, this region has what it takes to become a launchpad for medical device startups \u2014 a place where bold ideas find the purpose they need to succeed to solve real-world problems,\u201d she said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s GaMEP medical device commercialization team\u0026nbsp;and the Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC)\u0026nbsp;are now working directly with Augusta researchers, clinicians, and entrepreneurs to help move medical device ideas from concept to commercialization.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A partnership between Georgia Tech and Augusta University supports the effort ."}],"uid":"28137","created_gmt":"2026-02-24 17:16:53","changed_gmt":"2026-02-24 17:25:03","author":"P\u00e9ralte Paul","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Augusta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-02-24T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-02-24T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679409":{"id":"679409","type":"image","title":"Downtown Augusta ","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThe city of Augusta is a major hub for health and life sciences, boasting five hospitals and the Medical College of Georgia.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1771953448","gmt_created":"2026-02-24 17:17:28","changed":"1771953675","gmt_changed":"2026-02-24 17:21:15","alt":"Aerial view of downtown Augusta","file":{"fid":"263570","name":"AdobeStock_466386413.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/24\/AdobeStock_466386413.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/24\/AdobeStock_466386413.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":10707782,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/24\/AdobeStock_466386413.jpeg?itok=SgNSyEj_"}}},"media_ids":["679409"],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"},{"id":"139","name":"Business"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"16331","name":"GaMEP"},{"id":"3671","name":"Enterprise Innovation Institute"},{"id":"4238","name":"atdc"},{"id":"2579","name":"commercialization"},{"id":"9535","name":"medical device"},{"id":"172575","name":"Augusta University"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193658","name":"Commercialization"},{"id":"193654","name":"Enterprise Innovation Institute"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"106361","name":"Business and Economic Development"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EEve Tolpa\u003Cbr\u003Eeve.tolpa@innovate.gatech.edu\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}