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TechSquare Labs has joined forces with Google for Entrepreneurs to bring the tech giant’s vast resources to startups in the Southeast.
The partnership will make Techsquare Labs (TSL) the program’s sole tech hub partner in Atlanta and one of only 26 in the world. The initiative will enable the midtown incubator to connect startup communities and local entrepreneurs across more than 125 countries, from Chicago to London to Shanghai.
Google will provide members of TechSquare Labs with mentorship and funding opportunities and training on Google products. This includes the Google Cloud Platform for Startups and the Google for Entrepreneurs Global Passport, giving entrepreneurs immediate access to global networks and coworking spaces around the world.
UrbanGeekz’s Randi Bohler with Bridgette Beam, Google’s Head of Global Programs and Operations
The announcement, which was made at a VIP and media reception at TechSquare Labs last week, was greeted with a wave of excitement. High profile figures such as Mayor Kasim Reed were in attendance.
“I really couldn’t be more excited,” said Mayor Kasim Reed in an interview with UrbanGeekz. “The partnership is going to launch more businesses than people imagine, so moments like today make being a mayor very worthwhile,” says the Mayor.
“Our focus is really on the high-quality communities with great spaces and a mission that aligns with us,” said Bridgette Beam, head of global programs for Google for Entrepreneurs (GFE), in a face-to-face interview with UrbanGeekz. “And we focus on building a tech ecosystem that can be vibrant, produce great startups, jobs, funding, and great technologies. Our hope is that we can help amplify the work at TechSquare Labs.”
For nearly two decades, the founding team at TechSquare Labs has been contributing to the development of Atlanta’s entrepreneurial ecosystem – first as startup founders and today as ecosystem builders and investors. The Midtown innovation and startup entrepreneurship hub will now open its 25,000-square-foot space to entrepreneurs from around the globe and provide Atlanta-based startups with access to Google’s global network and resources.
“It’s a great nod to Atlanta for all the work that’s been happening across Georgia Tech and other places in the city, and all the activity and success that entrepreneurs here have had,” said Paul Judge, co-founder of TechSquare Labs in an interview. Judge added that he was excited about the future partnership and “that Google has acknowledged Atlanta one of the cities within their tech hub network.”
In addition to a cluster of corporate innovation labs and startups, Atlanta is swarming with top tech talent from Georgia Tech, the Savannah College of Art and Design, University of Georgia, Emory University, Morehouse College and Spelman College, making it ideal for the Google for Entrepreneurs Tech Hub Network.
TechSquare Labs focus is to “Build Something From Nothing” with companies ranging from novice startups to the more established companies. Members of the network range from freshman coders to Fortune 500 CEO’s. With the team being at the current location – a former Office Depot – for about of year, the trendy innovation center is filling up rapidly with entrepreneurs, invaluable resources, and innovative ideas.
Rodney Sampson, partner of TechSquare Labs thinks the partnership with Google signifies huge bounds for “Atlanta and the entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems.”
“Google is the epitome of the startup startups, so we are incredibly excited about that partnership,” he said. “They’ve been an amazing partner and investor in some of our companies and now they are extending it forward as well. It’s a really great day, but now the work starts.”
Sampson is no amateur to the world of technology and entrepreneurship having 4 startups and 2 exits of his own. Some of Sampson’s achievements include launched Opportunity Hub (OHUB), a platform designed to facilitate diverse and inclusive innovation, entrepreneurship and investment ecosystems. In October 2015, OHUB merged with TechSquare Labs.
In 2015, more than 200,000 entrepreneurs were actively engaged in the Google for Entrepreneurs partner communities, creating over 6,000 jobs and raising more than $1B in capital.
Follow Randi Bohler on Twitter@RandIjourn
