Spring has sprung at the Park, and we’ve got plenty going on! Here’s the latest edition of Park Points, a quick recap of news, information and events relevant to the mission and vision of KU Innovation Park.
If you’d like to get our newsletter (launching this spring), please subscribe here.
Spring into action at upcoming entrepreneurial events
There are plenty of options to get out and about this spring, pick up some new ideas for your startup or even make a pitch.
- March 5 and March 19 at 7:30 a.m.: The Uplift Coffee Truck will be at the Park with coffee and pastries to start your day.
- April 4 at 8 a.m.: The FBI & KU Cybersecurity Conference returns to KU Memorial Union. Hear from experts in the cybersecurity field representing the FBI, industry, workforce and research. Registration is $25, and attendees must pre-register here.
- April 25: The Douglas County CORE Pitch Competition is back for its second year. Fill out this interest form to let organizers know how you’d like to participate, from pitching your business and mentoring entrepreneurs to volunteering at the event.
Chatting with the Chamber
Earlier this month, the Park’s interim CEO, Adam Courtney, appeared on Chamber Chat, a show hosted by The Chamber of Lawrence’s Tiffany Hall, vice president of membership.
- Adam shared that the Park’s newest facility, Phase III, is officially full as of this month. “It contains many of the companies that were in our incubator facility who have grown, and to keep those companies here and growing, we need that specialized space for them,” he said.
- The development of The Crossing at KU will be integral in keeping talent in Lawrence. “We talk about brain drain a lot,” he said. “How do we capture more of those young professionals that are highly educated? We have to create jobs for them. But we also have to create spaces that they want to live and work and play in.”
- Listen to the entire interview here.
Park Company News
- KanREN is partnering with the Kansas Office of Broadband Development, KDOT, and other partners throughout the state of Kansas to build a 682-mile fiber optic network to connect Liberal to Garden City, Pratt to Wichita, Kismet to Minneola, Wichita to Pittsburg, and Pittsburg to Overland Park.
- Likarda’s CEO, Stella Vnook, was recently profiled by BioPharma-Reporter and shares insights on the company’s work and innovation.
- Mark Lukenbill, the founder and CEO of Mpruv Sports, was featured in Shoutout DFW since the company is expanding to Dallas in March.
- The Kansas Department of Transportation hosted an open house for KU engineering students in honor of National Engineers Week.
What We’re Reading
- McKinsey & Company: What to expect from medtech in 2024
- BioSpace: Biopharma invested just $65.B in vaccine development in last decade
Have news and notes to share? Let Lindsey Slater, vice president of strategic communications, know by clicking here.