On Friday, April 17, the University of Utah Technology Licensing Office hosted the second annual Startup Launchpad, featuring panels discussing various topics and resources useful to researchers, startup founders, and others locally involved in commercialization and innovation.
The keynote speaker was Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, who spoke with Troy D’Ambrosio, VP for Innovation at the U, on the city’s startup ecosystem. The two emphasized the collaborative culture that fuels the startup network and innovation ecosystem here in Utah.
Mayor Mendenhall advocated for the many city resources available to innovators, as well as resources the University of Utah offers to students, researchers, and other Utah residents that help innovation and small businesses thrive locally.
Recursion Pharmaceuticals founder Chris Gibson also shared the story of how Recursion began, and what it looked like to step away from his goal of becoming a doctor and take a step towards a startup that would potentially have a higher impact in the drug discovery field. Gibson discussed the importance of data and storytelling in building his business, and expressed his heartfelt appreciation for his team and the people who helped build Recursion into the company it is today.
Additionally, a panel focused on building AI-enabled companies discussed how business owners can leverage AI to change workflow, using those tools as a source of empowerment, rather than something to be intimidated by. Both panelists highlighted the continued importance of real people in the workplace, but framed AI as a cost-effective tool to enable operations, especially within small businesses.
Source: University of Utah hosts second annual Startup Launchpad – @theU
