the wireless business accelerator

Plugged In Monday, September 26, 2005 STARTUPS Technology incubator creates program to nurture wireless firms The Austin Technology Incubator, the nonprofit affiliate of the University of Texas that helps startups get off the ground, has created a specialized program devoted to wireless companies and formed a wireless advisory board. Separate funding for the organization will be announced Wednesday. Erin Defosse, the acting director of the incubator, takes on added responsibility as director of ATI Wireless, which has four member companies: Affinegy LLC, Sozotek Inc., gNumber Inc. and Monebo Technologies Inc. The Wi-Fi Alliance also is counted as a member of the organization, even though it is a business organization and not a product development company. The Austin Technology Incubator currently has 15 member companies involved in a range of technologies. The formation of ATI Wireless and the creation of an advisory board will help give more emphasis to developing young wireless companies. Innovent, a business incubator tied to cell phone giant Nokia Corp., also will work with ATI Wireless. Advisory board members include Richard Schwartz, CEO of Austin-based SoloMio Corp.; Ben Scott, venture partner with Austin Ventures; Stephanie Keller-Bottom, director of Nokia Innovent; Jim Lansford, chief technology officer of Alereon Inc.; and Ted Rappaport, director of the Wireless Networking & Communications Group at the University of Texas. Find this article at: http://www.statesman.com/business/content/business/stories/09/26plugged.htm