With young companies driving job growth in most areas of the country, I thought you might be interested in learning about a major, new program in CT to help start and grow new companies and increase the state’s economic competitiveness. The program will be introduced by Governor Dannel Malloy and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Catherine Smith on Thursday, October 25, at a press briefing in New Haven at The Grove from 3:00-4:00 pm.
Known as “Innovation Ecosystem,” the approximately $5 million public-private partnership is aimed at making CT more attractive to entrepreneurs and start-ups and boosting CT’s future job growth. The program features four innovation hubs in cities across the state that provide financial, technical, professional and mentoring resources to young companies. It is part of the Governor’s continued efforts to support, grow and create ‘revolutionary’ businesses in CT as highlighted in the state’s still revolutionary marketing campaign.
In addition to the Governor and the Commissioner, three local executives that informed the creation of the Innovation Ecosystem will speak: Chuck Pagano, CTO, ESPN, Leonora Valvo, CEO, eTouches, and Tim Shannon, M.D., venture partner, of venture capital firm Canaan Partners.
All will be available for interviews following the briefing.
Among the areas they can discuss:
• CT’s plan to build a culture of entrepreneurship and a critical mass of young, highly innovative companies.
• Where does CT’s innovation economy currently stand?
• The role that innovation and high tech companies play in CT’s future job growth.
• Establishing CT as a hub of innovation and as one of the premier states for innovative companies to locate.
• Growing CT’s pipeline of quality companies for venture capital firms to invest in.
• The role of CT’s corporate leaders in the success of the program (Sikorsky, ESPN etc.)
