The Georgia Cyber Center and theClubhou.se have formed a strategic partnership in which the Augusta-based non-profit will provide support and services for the center’s incubator/accelerator.
Promoting cybersecurity innovation and entrepreneurship is one of the Cyber Center’s goals, and theClubhou.se boasts a proven record of helping technology startups succeed. Founded in 2012, theClubhou.se is a division of Hack Augusta, Inc., a 501(c)3 dedicated to growing a culture of innovation and collaboration. Over 25,000 people in the Greater Augusta MSA have been served through its events and programs. It has grown over 50 companies that created more than 150 jobs and generated an annual economic impact of $7 million in the Augusta community. theClubhou.se will be one of the first occupants of the Cyber Center’s Hull McKnight Building, which is set to open July 10, 2018, and where it will eventually occupy over 7,000 square feet.
“I’m truly excited about the opportunities our partnership presents for both our organizations,” said Calvin Rhodes, state chief information officer and executive director of the Georgia Technology Authority, which is overseeing construction and partner coordination for the Cyber Center. “Reaching outside state government for support of our incubator/accelerator mission allows us to benefit from the experience of the talented and creative team led by Eric Parker at theClubhou.se. We’ll be able to share resources with each other, reinforce each other’s work, and help ensure greater success for us both.”
“Growing businesses in mid-size communities involves distinct challenges,” according to Mr. Parker, founder and president of theClubhou.se. “In the last year, we’ve been able to bring $1.2 million in private grant and investment funding from outside of Georgia to support startup growth in Augusta and across the state. By partnering with the Cyber Center, we will be able to strengthen that growth.”
Both the Cyber Center and theClubhou.se share a statewide focus, and as part of the strategic partnership, the Cyber Center will help theClubhou.se expand its already existing programs into other areas of Georgia. The Cyber Center’s leadership and the state of Georgia have agreed to work toward establishing a fund to support incubator and innovation activities. Through an existing Kauffman Foundation grant program, theClubhou.se works with at least 10 startup entrepreneur projects each year.
In addition, the Cyber Center and theClubhou.se will work together to create a work-study student program that includes Augusta University, Augusta Technical College, and other state-funded institutions. theClubhou.se will also participate in a Cyber Center working group to be established and charged with identifying grants, prototyping, and other opportunities with university, technical college, and private-sector partners.