WRITER: Alejandro Najera-Acosta, 575-646-2025, a_najera@nmsu.edu
The Scale Up New Mexico program, funded in part by the United States Economic Development Administration and housed at New Mexico State University’s Arrowhead Center, successfully completed its TechSprint 2023 cohort. The accelerator program, designed to guide tech startup founders through technology market validation, customer discovery and product-market fit, achieved significant milestones and empowered promising startups to make significant progress toward technology commercialization.
TechSprint is one of several modules under Scale Up NM, a suite of startup support programming during early-stage technology development. After an extensive selection process, New Mexico-based startups comprising the 2023 cohort embarked on an intensive journey of mentorship, education and networking.
Across a span of six weeks, the startups were enriched by invaluable counsel from an array of mentors and industry experts. These seasoned professionals offered practical support by imparting their expertise and perspectives, aiding the startups in honing their business models and presentation materials, as well as navigating the unique hurdles associated with introducing technology-driven innovations.
Moreover, the program encouraged synergies among the startups, enabling them to glean insights from one another's journeys and establish alliances with key participants within the ecosystem. This dynamic approach further amplified their potential for growth.
“We are thrilled to see the impressive strides made by the startups in our 2023 cohort,” said Carlos Murguia, Scale Up NM program manager. “By providing founders with the right tools and insights at these pivotal stages, we pave the way for innovation to flourish, ensuring that their solutions align precisely with market needs.”
The group of startups comprised a diverse range of sectors spanning climate technology, artificial intelligence, biotech, and health tech. Their pioneering concepts and technological advancements hold the promise of industry transformation.
“Our accelerator program takes great pride in its contribution to fostering the growth of these startups and aiding them in transforming their concepts into reality. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to our mentors, partners and sponsors whose unwavering support has been instrumental in every step of this remarkable journey,” said Dana Catron, deputy director of Arrowhead Center. “The pivotal role they’ve played in nurturing innovation has been a driving force behind TechSprint’s success.”
TechSprint created a vibrant setting in which participants interacted with seasoned entrepreneurs, established connections with advisors, and cultivated associations with potential investors. This environment empowered them to expedite their path toward triumph within the tech industry.
“Arrowhead's TechSprint has been the most helpful resource for entrepreneurs that I have encountered in seven years of running a startup. The program is very demanding, but the resources and advisers that are part of this are incomparable. You will get out of TechSprint what you put into it. If you put in the work, you will be richly rewarded,” said Paul Szauter, chief scientific officer at EquiSeq.
“As a participant in multiple accelerators, TechSprint provided a unique, personalized approach that provided clear insight and objectives and directly impacted the overall narrative about the company,” said Adam Halpern, founder at WaveOn Health.
For more information, contact Murguia at cmurguia@nmsu.edu or apply at https://arrowheadcenter.nmsu.edu/program/scale-up-new-mexico/techsprint/index.html.
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PHOTO CAPTION The Scale Up NM program, funded in part by the United States Economic Development Administration and housed at New Mexico State University’s Arrowhead Center, recently announced the successful completion of its TechSprint 2023 cohort. Cohort members included Paul Szauter, chief scientific officer at EquiSeq. (Courtesy photo)
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