Driving Innovation and Academic Excellence
By bringing together private companies and University resources, the Innovation Enterprise provides internship and part-time employment opportunities to Louisiana Tech students in various fields of study. This model contributes to the University’s goal of driving a culture of academic excellence while advancing innovation to enhance educational quality.
The Innovation Enterprise has dedicated staff to help connect students and faculty to available opportunities with tenant-companies and partners. As a result, students receive experiential learning and faculty have opportunities to conduct applied research — all without leaving campus.
“Tech Pointe allows students to conveniently work throughout the year while simultaneously attending classes, due to its proximity to our classrooms.
My experience at BetaFlix, one of the companies at Tech Pointe, has helped me bridge the gap between academic theory and industry practice by directly applying concepts learned in class to real-world projects.”
Syed Hassaan Bukhari
Computer Science Major, Class of 2026
Resources for Businesses
Technology Business Development Center
The Technology Business Development Center (TBDC) provides assistance to entrepreneurs that are investigating or pursuing business enterprises based on useful new technologies or unique applications of technology that have high growth potential and the ability to generate high quality employment opportunities. This can include a business that leases, sells, or licenses proprietary technology, manufactures a technology related product, or devotes a high percentage of financial effort to research and development. Services are also extended to non-technology businesses that provide training and services to technology businesses, expand to include a technology product or service, or incorporate a substantial technology component into their nontechnology service or product. TBDC services connect entrepreneurs with the information, assistance, and resources needed to begin and pursue development of their businesses.
Louisiana Tech University Enterprise Center Incubator
Louisiana Tech’s Enterprise Center Incubator supports the creation of successful businesses by providing assistance and physical facilities to stimulate small business formation, growth and development. The Louisiana Tech Enterprise Center houses Louisiana Tech’s two Technology Business Incubators designed to facilitate and promote the growth of new and existing ventures in the I-20 corridor of north Louisiana. Providing a comprehensive set of resources, support, and facilities to start-up companies allows them to concentrate on research, marketing, productions, and growth of their enterprises.
Innovation Enterprise Fund
Awards seed funding for early development of innovative technologies, products, and business ventures spinning out of the University’s technology transfer activities or otherwise affiliated with the University’s business development efforts. Engagement of the regional business and investor community in the Innovation Enterprise Fund as donors, reviewers, and advisers increases the likelihood of new venture success and maximizes the local economic impact of new technology development.
- Inspires meaningful involvement of university in commercial business endeavors
- Stimulates progress for early stage ventures demonstrating commercial potential
- Builds venture capacity though expert review and network of panelists
- Awards $10,000 – $30,000 in seed funding
Significant boost in the early development stage helps strengthen viability and success for higher risk, innovative concepts.
Small Business Emerging Roundtable
A moderated peer group discussion for the founders of relatively new ventures operating and building capacity to accelerate and sustain growth in and around north Louisiana. The SEBD Roundtable engages business owners who are committed to their own professional development as they grow their companies. This group facilitates networking and interaction in a trusted environment for open discussion of key issues relevant to their companies, eliciting appropriate peer guidance on subjects familiar to roundtable participants, and introducing additional expertise and resources for subjects/issues identified as top priorities.
- Meet regularly (at least monthly)
- Engage in confidential, experience-based discussion
- Follow PEERspectives mentoring protocol developed by the Edward Lowe Foundation
- Gain insight from shared experience of group members
- Enhance understanding through discussion with experienced executives and professional advisers
Expanded vision and understanding gained through experience supports professional and personal success.
Expanding Partnerships
The Innovation Enterprise is actively working with the University to expand enterprise campus partnerships to provide students experiential learning opportunities, catalyze new research and scholarly initiatives, and generate regional economic impacts.
For companies developing intellectual property in a lab with commercial potential, funding opportunities such as Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs can help sustain research and move toward commercialization pathways.
The Innovation Enterprise provides access to faculty and staff to help organizations navigate this landscape. Support features include agreements for accessing campus assets, strategic partnerships, talent concierge services, proposal development support, and IP agreements.
Talent Pipeline Services
Student Employment Engagement (SEE) Program
The SEE program provides students with the opportunity to serve as interns under the supervision of the Innovation Enterprise’s talent pipeline coordinator and gain hands-on experience while meeting the needs of tenant-partners.
SkillBridge Program
The Department of Defense (DoD) SkillBridge program is an opportunity for service members to gain valuable civilian work experience through specific industry training, apprenticeships, or internships during the last 180 days of service. SkillBridge connects service members with industry partners in real-world job experiences, and provides an opportunity for separating service members to be eligible for placement within the construct of internships through the Innovation Enterprise.
As a SkillBridge participating organization by the DoD, the separating service member, the University, and Innovation Enterprise partners experience a variety of benefits. This program also provides transition assistance and learning opportunities for the service member, while furthering recruitment and talent pipeline for Innovation Enterprise partners.
Want to learn more about our talent pipeline services?
Email Katie McGowan at Katie@LATech.edu.