About the ETX Launchpad

Improving Economies, Improve Lives

The ETX Launchpad’s primary mission is to improve economic development through robust entrepreneurship and innovation programs. We promote the simple philosophy that “Improving Economies Improve Lives.”

Program

Our targeted areas are economic development, entrepreneurship, and technology commercialization. We support all disciplines at UT Tyler as well as entrepreneurs and innovators outside the university. We offer cross disciplinary academic and entrepreneurial programs and the industry expertise necessary to bring new product ideas to the marketplace. Additionally, we actively seek opportunities that will create and strengthen existing and emerging innovation clusters. 

Mentoring

Our center plays an important role in developing professional networks to aid in the success of business opportunities. To that end we are continually building a strong venture mentoring program bolsters new and existing ventures at the university and in the community. With the help of our mentors we actively penetrate our diverse business ecosystem at different phases of the business lifecycle from ideation, validation, and cultivation of both lifestyle concerns and scalable ventures. 

Partners 

We work with our partners in the Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) to ensure firms understand the resources available to them in the form of SBA backed loans and other financial literacy projects. We also value our relationships with the federal, state, and other institutions that have helped underwrite many of our efforts. Our extensive partnerships with business leaders and investors are essential to the economic development of the region. We actively seek mutually beneficial relationships with municipal and regional organizations like the Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Centers, East Texas Council of Governors, Workforce Solutions, and others as they are a key part of our success.