The National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance (NCIIA) is working to support technology innovation and entrepreneurship at the University of Texas.  Since 1995, the NCIIA has partnered with over 200 colleges and universities across the U.S. to create experiential learning opportunities and to fund successful, socially beneficial innovations and businesses.

The NCIIA works closely Student Ambassadors from each university it partners with.  These students go through rigorous training to help them develop and enhance the entrepreneurial ecosystems on their campuses.  Mariel Bolhouse, UT’s first Student Ambassador, brought the popular lecture series “Talking Startups with Michael Dell,” as well as many other events focused on entrepreneurship to UT’s campus.

Isaac Sanchez, a Presidential Scholar and Mechanical Engineering student, has picked up where Mariel left off and is UT’s newest Student Ambassador to the NCIIA.  Isaac’s first order of business is to identify and promote existing on-campus programs that foster and facilitate the entrepreneurial spirit.

“Entrepreneurship is the design of the future.  New creations and innovations are required in order to progress; it’s why I became an engineer and it’s the driving mission of the NCIIA,” said Isaac.

Isaac helped launch the Longhorn Entrepreneurship Agency (LEA) last year.  The goal of the LEA is to engage the student body in supporting student entrepreneurs.  Their first big success came during UT Entrepreneurship Week in March of this year.

The NCIIA awarded a Program and Course Grant to UT to fund its “From Idea to Intellectual Property” course.  The class is being taught by Sriram Vishwanath and the director of ATI’s Wireless and IT portfolios, Kyle Cox.  The aim of the course is to evaluate real UT-generated technology based on market potential.  This will be the fifth year the course has been taught at UT.

“The NCIIA has a track record for supporting innovation and education on campuses across the country and we’re excited to be working with them to develop the next generation of technology entrepreneurs at the University of Texas,” said Kyle Cox.

Recently, the NCIIA announced its E-Team grants program, which provides early-stage support and funding of up to $75,000 for collegiate entrepreneurs working on market-based technology inventions.  Students and faculty from UT are encouraged to apply; the deadline this year is May 10^th.   

According to Inuit mythology, Aumanil is the god that controls the movement of the whales. Austin-based startup AuManil tracks the movement of a different type of whale: the gaming kind.  Not the Vegas high roller who can win or lose millions over a weekend, but the 1% of players that generate over 50% of revenues for gaming companies like Zynga.

Bart Bohn, former director of ATI’s IT/Wireless portfolio, is AuManil’s founder and CEO.  AuManil uses player-analytics to provide insights that help gaming companies proactively manage and engage their whale population–mission critical for businesses looking to sustain in the hyper competitive world of online games.

AuManil took home top prize at the ATI/CTAN Austin Startup Fast Pitch during SXSW Interactive and earned a six-month membership into ATI and complimentary admission to a CTAN (Central Texas Angels Network) funding cycle.  The company has also been generating a lot of buzz from tech blogs like VentureBeat and Gigaom as one of Austin’s most promising new startups.

“We’re CRM for whales.  We take game play data and mix it with predictive and social analytics so studios can proactively acquire, convert, retain and migrate financial and social whales,” Bart said.

AuManil’s use of analytics to drive strategy is reflective of a larger trend across all industries.  The amount of data in our world has increased exponentially as more and more consumers share personal information via social media and online transactions.  This valuable information is used by savvy businesses looking to capture hidden value and compete more effectively, and according to a report from the McKinsey Global Institute; the online gaming industry is in a particularly good position to benefit from the use of “big data.”

For Bart, big data is familiar territory.  His previous company, Ravel, developed social graph mining software that analyzed some of the largest online communities before it was acquired by W2O Group in 2012 for an undisclosed sum.

I caught up with Bart for a few minutes last week and asked if he had any advice for student or first time entrepreneurs:

“Be different.  Don’t do the same boring startup or clone an idea.  If your idea is unique it will do two things:  First, it will help the business stand out. Second, and perhaps more importantly, it will help you stand out, so even if the company crashes and burns—as many of them do—you will earn a reputation, which could lead to new opportunities.”

Each year, for the past four years, GigaOm blogger Stacey Higginbotham has published a list of “10 Austin startups you need to meet at SXSW.”  The idea behind the list is to identify the hottest new high-tech companies in town so that SXSW Interactive visitors can tap into the local startup scene during their stay in Austin.  Higginbotham has a good eye.  The startups she’s profiled have gone on to raise tens of millions of dollars and create some of the most exciting products in tech.

The Austin Technology Incubator (ATI) is proud to announce yet another strong showing for its companies on the 2013 list.  This year, an impressive 40% of the companies profiled have ATI DNA!  The 2013 list contains three ATI member companies and a company founded by former ATI IT/Wireless portfolio director Bart Bohn.  The companies are:

1. AuManil: Founded by former ATI IT/Wireless Director Bart Bohn, Aumanil analyzes huge sets of customer interaction data in the video game space, revealing who the most profitable players are and how to target and keep them engaged.
2. Toopher: Toopher has developed a technology that brings two-factor authentication to the mobile world.  Before joining ATI as a full member company, Toopher was part of ATI’s development portfolio.
3. Lynx Labs: Lynx Labs has developed a hardware and software solution that enables real-time 3D at a fraction of the cost of the current state of the art—LIDAR technology.  Lynx Labs is another ATI development portfolio company.
4. RideScout: RideScout’s mobile application aggregates ground transportation options, allowing users to compare different ride options in real time.  RideScout is also another member of the ATI development portfolio.

2013 is not the first year that ATI has had a strong showing on GigaOm’s watch list.  Since Higginbotham started compiling the list in 2010, ATI-connected startups have made up approximately 1/3^rd of companies profiled.  Of this subset, most have been ATI member companies like Calxeda, GameSalad, Ordoro and WheelInnovationZ.  Others include Gazzang—whose CEO, Larry Warnock, served as CEO for former ATI member company Phurnace—and Macheen, Inc.—whose president, Richard Schwartz, is a former ATI Advisory Board member.

Congrats to all of the companies on this year’s list!

Our last blog highlighted the events our member companies will be participating in at SXSW Interactive 2013.  In addition, ATI and its directors will be hosting several events throughout the week; here’s a look at what to expect:

Saturday, March 9

• Advances in Innovation in DC: Mitch Jacobson, co-director of ATI’s Clean Energy portfolio, will moderate a panel featuring four of the most influential politicians in the tech space: US Senator Jerry Moran, US Senator Mark Warner, US Senator Chris Coons and US Representative Darrell Issa.

             When: 12pm

             Where: Capital Factory Offices in downtown

• The Austin Startup Fast Pitch Competition:  Hosted by our very own Kyle Cox, director of ATI’s Wireless and IT portfolios, this competition will feature five finalists pitching their businesses to a panel of corporate, angel and venture investor judges.  Among the finalists are DejaSet, Circle Media and RideScout, which are all either residents of ATI or members of our portfolio.  Another finalist, AuManil, was founded by former ATI director Bart Bohn.  The winner will receive funding from the Central Texas Angel Network and a 3-month membership into ATI’s portfolio. 

             When: 12:30-1:30pm

             Where: Downtown Hilton

Sunday, March 10

• Longhorn Startup Showcase: Presented by the University of Texas and supported by ATI, this fast pitch competition is for UT Austin-based student startups.  ATI director Isaac Barchas will judge the pitches and provide feedback.

             When: 12:30-1:30pm

             Where: SXSW Startup Village

Monday, March 11

• Mobile Monday: A networking organization for the wireless technology scene and a community partner of ATI.  A great chance to meet the people behind Austin’s tech scene.  Several Austin-based mobile startups will be demonstrating as well.

             When: 6pm

             Where: Fogo de Chao

Sunday through Wednesday, March 10-13

• Interactive Trade Show: ATI will be hosting a booth on the floor of this year’s trade show alongside the hottest tech startups from across the country.  Come meet the people behind ATI including special visits by members of our current portfolio. 

             When: Sunday-Tuesday, 11am-6pm; Wednesday, 11am-4pm

             Where: Austin Convention Center, Booth #202

We’re excited to be so well represented in one of the most important events of the year.  Join us and learn about the emerging technologies that will shape our future.  Take part in this unique collection of people and ideas, and the creativity it inspires.

The fun starts tomorrow.

SXSW Interactive is an exciting time for tech aficionados.  Each year thousands of people descend on Austin to take part in the five-day festival of exhibitions, panels, trade shows and parties dedicated to all things tech.

There will be several events at SXSW Interactive showcasing ATI portfolio companies and partners.  Here is a list of those events so you can be sure to come check it out:

Saturday, March 9

•  The Austin Startup Fast Pitch Competition:  Hosted by our very own Kyle Cox, director of ATI’s Wireless and IT portfolios, this competition will feature five finalists pitching their businesses to a panel of corporate, angel and venture investor judges.  Among the finalists are DejaSet, Circle Media and RideScout, which are all either residents of ATI or members of our portfolio.  Another finalist, AuManil, was founded by former ATI director Bart Bohn.  The winner will receive funding from the Central Texas Angel Network and a 3-month membership into ATI’s portfolio.

             When: 12:30-1:30pm

             Where: Downtown Hilton

Sunday, March 10

• Music, Meet Tech: DejaSet and Rockify, two of ATI’s growing number of music-tech companies, will host a party featuring live music from The Whiskey Shivers, The Kicks, Alpine and The Octopus Project. 

            When: 9pm-Midnight

            Where: Bourbon Girl

Monday, March 11

• The TechTainment Lounge: Rockify will host its 2^nd annual TechTainment event, which brings together entrepreneurs, investors, artists and professionals in one place for a relaxing getaway from the frenzy of SXSW.

            When: 2-10pm

            Where: Downtown Rooftop VIP Lounge

• “You Are Exposed-Current State of Online Security”: Josh Alexander, CEO of Toopher, one of ATI’s newest member companies, will share his insights regarding online security.  After participating in last year’s SXSW Accelerator, Toopher received $2 million to fund its innovative security technology.

            When: 3:30-4:30pm

            Where: Austin Convention Center Room 10AB

Tuesday, March 12

• The FADER Fort: A popular event featuring food, drinks, live music and a live feed kicking off the F1 racing season in Melbourne, Australia.  This event showcases the technologies and products shaping the music industry today.  It will also be the first time Rockify and Austin City Limits unveil the new ACL Access app, featuring loads of cool content Austin City Limits has created over the years. 

            When: 8:30-Midnight

            Where: The FADER Fort, 1101 E. 5^th St

SXSW Interactive is a unique opportunity to discover the newest technologies and innovations from around the globe (not to mention a great time to party).  ATI’s member companies are sure to make a big impact at this year’s festival, don’t miss your chance to come see them in action.

Last year Dell created the $100 million Innovators Credit Fund to provide startups with additional financing as well as technological support.  This has the dual benefit of letting startups use investor capital towards revenue-generating activities rather than technology improvements and allowing startups to keep their equity for future business needs.

As part of this project, Dell has created Tech Innovators Day, where they invite 10 innovative tech startups to pitch their companies to decision makers including Dell’s President and Chief Commercial Officer, Steve Felice.  There’s also the possibility that companies could become Dell vendors, partners or potential acquisitions.

“Events like Tech Innovators Day are a great opportunity for early-stage companies to develop the business relationships that will help them grow,” said ATI director Mitch Jacobson.

ATI will be well represented at this event with two member companies participating.  Both InXero and Lynx Labs were selected out of the hundreds of promising applicants to visit Dell’s campus in Round Rock and take part in this unique opportunity.

Good luck guys!

BlackLocus, who graduated from ATI’s Landing Pad Program at the beginning of 2012, was recently acquired by The Home Depot for an undisclosed sum.  BlackLocus uses disruptive techniques to analyze massive amounts of data that online retailers use for everything from price optimization to revenue management.  They will continue to work in Austin as The Home Depot’s Innovation Lab.

Last year was the first ‘formal’ year of ATI’s Landing Pad Program.  The goal of the Landing Pad is to assist early-stage tech startups acculturate to the Austin business ecosystem.

“The ATI folks received us with open arms.  They introduced us to a lot of important people in the Austin community and gave us office space to work from while we were settling in,” said BlackLocus CEO Rodrigo Carvalho back in 2012.

Austin is a popular place for tech startups.  The community is collaborative, the talent pool deep, and the local market is saturated with businesses in need of enterprise software solutions.

Rodrigo Carvalho couldn’t be happier with BlackLocus’ decision to relocate from Pittsburgh, “The technology companies here and the people behind them want to see others succeed.  Everyone has been so helpful.  It comes down to networking, the resources, and top-tier talent.  Austin was our top pick.”

We agree.

Austin-based Ideal Power Converters, a graduate of ATI’s Clean Energy Incubator, recently raised $4 million in funding to help bring its innovative photovoltaic inverters to market.  A photovoltaic inverter converts DC power from solar modules to AC power used on a power grid. There are a number of other functions including optimization of DC power harvesting and providing safety to the power grid.  Ideal Power’s inverters are used on everything from solar and wind energy systems to electric vehicles.

Founded in 2007, Ideal Power Converters joined ATI in 2008 and graduated from the incubator at the beginning of this year.

“The Austin Technology Incubator was instrumental in getting us started in the right direction,” said CEO Paul Bundschuh.  ”They were helpful in refining our business plan, capturing awards from Austin Energy and Texas’ Emerging Technology Fund, and building strong local relationships.”

While a member company of ATI, Ideal Power was able to secure grants from the U.S. Department of Energy and Texas’ Emerging Technology Fund totaling $3.5 million.

Their product has created a buzz within the green tech industry.  Other inverters weigh up to 1200 pounds and require a concrete silo, but Ideal Power’s converter comes in at just under 100 pounds and can be mounted on a wall or placed atop a roof.  Production of these systems will create thousands of jobs in Central Texas.

“Although Ideal Power Converters graduated from ATI, we continue to work closely with them as an alumni company,” according to Mitch Jacobsen, director of ATI’s Clean Energy Incubator.  ”Their product will disrupt the inverter market and I know they will continue to do great things in the future.”

Please continue to check out our blog for more updates on ATI member companies.

Editor’s Note:  The funding was mistakenly put at $750,000, which was secured a couple of months ago and was part of the most recent funding round of $4 million.

Austin start up Toopher, a member of ATI’s development portfolio, recently announced it has risen $1.1 million as part of a $2 million Series A funding round.  Toopher’s CEO Josh Alexander, an adjunct professor of finance at the University of Texas’ McCombs School of Business, founded the company in 2011 with his high school friend Evan Grim (they finished runners-up in the 1999 Tom Clark High School Talent Show).  The company currently employs 8 people out of its offices on the UT campus.

Toopher’s product saves consumers and businesses billions by preventing online fraud and identity theft.  The average online user has between 30 and 40 accounts that require passwords.  If you told me the name of your street, pets and children I could probably guess yours and instantly have access to personal photos, bank information, emails or anything else that may be online; which these days means everything.  Toopher’s mobile app uses your phone’s GPS capabilities to check  your location and verify that it’s you in front of the keyboard and not a would-be criminal.  Once Toopher has learned your normal locations, you don’t even have to take your phone out of your pocket.

It’s been a busy year for Toopher.  They secured beta users after joining ATI in January and launched nationally at the DEMO Spring 2012 conference in Silicon Valley.  Josh has been touring the pitch competition circuit since SXSW Interactive in March and took home first place at the business plan and pitch competition during the 10th annual Texas Wireless Summit.  Toopher was also just selected to join the Austin A-List by the Austin Chamber of Commerce.

KLRU’s Capital of Innovation, a documentary series dedicated to Austin entrepreneurs and startups, recently profiled Austin’s video game industry.   Over the past few decades, the video game industry has become larger than the music and film industries combined, and Austin has played an integral part in the industry’s development.  In fact, since 2005, gaming and digital media grew faster than any other creative industry in Austin.

One of the businesses featured on Capital of Innovation was GameSalad, who graduated from the Austin Technology Incubator in 2011.  Their product, the GameSalad Creator, allows users to create mobile games without writing a single line of code.  What once took months and a team of software developers can now be done by anyone with a computer in a matter of days.  Currently, GameSalad-generated games account for over 60 of the top 100 games in the U.S. app store.  A 14-year-old boy from Kuwait designed and launched his game, Doodle Destroy, in three days using the GameSalad Creator.  What started as a dare from some of his classmates turned into a game that was downloaded over 900,000 times and became a featured story on CNN.

Thanks to companies like GameSalad, games can now be brought to market very quickly and at minimal cost.  This makes it difficult for traditional game makers to differentiate themselves.   The recent difficulties of gaming-giant Zynga highlight the difficulty companies can have to remain profitable and relevant.  However, this democratization of creation has created new opportunities for innovative companies like GameSalad to flourish.

Austin-based AuManil has also adopted a flanking approach to the market.  They provide metrics for social and mobile game developers who want to target the 2% of users that account for almost 100% of all revenue generated by games; similar to the way casino hosts cater to the high-rolling “whales” in Las Vegas.

With the mobile gaming market expected to reach $54 billion by 2015, there is plenty to play for.