hands-on learning

Four Startup Lab Students Selected for 2025 Immersive Cohort at SXSW

dgivens8 — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 14:10:41 +0000

Four Startup Lab Students Selected for 2025 Immersive Cohort at SXSW dgivens8 Fri, 04/04/2025 - 10:10

Four students from Startup Lab have been selected to join the 2025 immersive cohort at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas. Alex Aridgides (mechanical engineering and economics), Shinhai Chen (industrial engineering), Varuni Chopra (industrial engineering), and Christie Peng (computer science) are the first Georgia Tech students to be invited to the program.

The weeklong, all-expenses-paid program offers university-affiliated innovators the chance to refine their innovations, engage in customer discovery, and network with industry leaders and peers at SXSW. The annual festival celebrates technology, film, music, education, and culture. Students participated in a competitive application process, which involved submitting applications, meeting specific evaluation criteria, and being selected by a panel of industry experts, mentors, and SXSW organizers.

Yolanda Payne, the students’ Startup Lab instructor, presented the SXSW opportunity in class.

"My goal is to be their biggest cheerleader,” she explained. “I had great teachers who helped me get to where I am today, and I strive to emulate their support. I’m always willing to guide students toward new opportunities."

She learned about the SXSW immersive cohort from Nakia Melecio, director of the National Science Foundation I-Corps Southeast Hub. The $15 million initiative crosses nine major research universities in the southern U.S. and accelerates the translation of deep tech research into commercial ventures. The hub works closely with entrepreneurial faculty, students, and researchers to equip them with the tools, networks, and support to bring their innovations to market.

Melecio plays a central role in identifying and advancing strategic opportunities for university partners and their entrepreneurial teams. “When the opportunity to participate in SXSW arose, I recognized it as an ideal platform to showcase the talent and innovation coming out of our region.”

Melecio added that Startup Lab is ideal for amplifying NSF I-Corps’ goals because of the course’s proven track record of fostering hands-on learning and commercialization readiness. “Startup Lab helps prepare students not just to think entrepreneurially, but to act on their ideas with confidence and a structured path forward. It was a natural fit for this opportunity.”

Payne says the experience students gained in Startup Lab helped prepare them for the immersive cohort. “The knowledge is being solidified by an experience you’re having in my class and the real world.”

Chopra agrees that Startup Lab teaches essential business development fundamentals and customer discovery principles, skills that are relevant to the SXSW program. She recommends the course to other students and emphasizes the value of combining engineering or technical backgrounds with entrepreneurship skills.

“We take a lot of classes that are directly related to our major, and they're very technical. But when it comes to wanting to start something of your own or even understanding how startups work, it's completely different than the rest of our coursework.”

Startup Lab is a three-credit course that focuses on evidence-based entrepreneurship. This hands-on class covers ideation, teamwork, customer discovery, minimum viable products, the business model canvas, and other topics. Students learn how to launch a startup by integrating in-class lectures with practical, out-of-class activities, including interviewing potential customers and refining their startup ideas based on real-world feedback.

The program provides access to valuable resources, mentorship from seasoned entrepreneurs, and a supportive community to help students develop their startups. Startup Lab and NSF I-Corps are also exploring other industry showcases for student entrepreneurs like SXSW.

Chen chose Startup Lab to pursue his entrepreneurial interests. “I knew that Georgia Tech had a really good startup culture, so I researched what they had to offer, and Startup Lab was the first step." He also noted Payne's impact as an instructor. "The best part is how much she cares about the topic. She has a lot of background knowledge and is passionate.”

Startup Lab is unique because it "de-risks the business model,” Payne says. Many entrepreneurs first build their products and then talk to potential customers. However, Startup Lab students perform customer discovery, sharing their ideas with potential end users, listening to their needs and feedback, and then building the product.

Peng recalls a powerful moment of pitching an idea for an app to streamline MARTA operations. “I had a fun time coming up with this idea. We learned a lot about interviewing, coming up with possible solutions, and refining our idea,” she says. "Being surrounded by so many brilliant individuals at Georgia Tech makes it easy to get idea formation or networking connections you need for your idea to succeed."

Aridgides has ambitious post-program goals, envisioning creating change through entrepreneurship. "I want to start a company to change the world for the better and make a big impact. That's my life goal. I think through a company, I can achieve that."

Payne reminds students that they possess something many adults lack: time to explore different ideas. She also says Startup Lab can help students value and see their ideas in new ways.

“They don't recognize that the product they're working on could be pursued through entrepreneurship or think of themselves as entrepreneurs. And even if they don't pursue it, it helps them in all aspects of life because business and capitalism are part of what we do every day.”

If you’re a student interested in adding entrepreneurship to your course schedule, registration for the summer and fall semesters opens on April 15. In addition to Startup Lab, students also have the opportunity to build a prototype with support through Idea to Prototype and CREATE-X Capstone Design.

Summary sentence

Four Georgia Tech students—Alex Aridgides, Shinhai Chen, Varuni Chopra, and Christie Peng—have been selected for the 2025 immersive cohort at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas, where they will refine their innovations and network with industry le

Summary

Four Georgia Tech students from Startup Lab—Alex Aridgides, Shinhai Chen, Varuni Chopra, and Christie Peng—have been selected for the 2025 immersive cohort at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas. This weeklong, all-expenses-paid program allows university-affiliated innovators to refine their innovations, engage in customer discovery, and network with industry leaders. The students were chosen through a competitive application process and are the first from Georgia Tech to be invited. Their instructor, Yolanda Payne, emphasizes the importance of hands-on learning and entrepreneurial skills gained through Startup Lab.

Dateline

Fri, 04/04/2025 - 12:00

breanna.durham@gatech.edu

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Article by Alyson Key

CREATE-X Contact:

Breanna Durham

Marketing Strategist

Keywords

go-commercializationnews

startup lab

SXSW

innovators

customer discovery

networking

entrepreneurship

hands-on learning

application

NSF I-Corps

Research

commercialization

entrepreneurial skills

business development

startups

gt-commercialization

Georgia Tech Leads the Way in AI Literacy with OpenAI Academy Collaboration

admin — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 13:03:39 +0000

Georgia Tech Leads the Way in AI Literacy with OpenAI Academy Collaboration admin Thu, 03/27/2025 - 09:03

The demand for AI education is clear, and Georgia Tech, along with the new OpenAI Academy, is poised to meet this need by offering opportunities and resources to advance public knowledge in this emerging field.

This exciting new partnership between Georgia Tech and the OpenAI Academy is aimed at advancing AI education. This collaboration is part of the academy's initiative to create a publicly available, free online resource hub designed to support AI literacy and provide access to essential tools, best practices, and peer insights for effective and responsible AI use.

The OpenAI Academy, which initially focused on in-person programs for developers and technical users, is now expanding its reach to a broader community. This includes educators, students, and small business owners. The goal is to unlock new opportunities for learning, economic mobility, growth, and innovation by empowering more people to confidently use AI.

The new online hub will feature an expanding library of on-demand content, including educational materials created by partners like Common Sense Media. In the coming months, the academy will continue to grow its offerings, adding new resources and in-person AI literacy workshops. These workshops will be hosted in collaboration with higher education institutions such as Georgia Tech and Miami Dade College.

As part of Tech AI Fest 2025, Georgia Tech hosted an AI literacy workshop Tuesday, March 25. This event was Georgia Tech’s premier AI gathering, bringing together researchers, industry professionals, policymakers, and students for discussions on the latest advancements in artificial intelligence. The workshop, held at the East Architecture Building, provided hands-on learning experiences and showcased the practical applications of AI in various fields.

The partnership between Georgia Tech and OpenAI Academy underscores Tech's commitment to advancing AI education and ensuring that AI literacy is accessible to everyone. By participating in this initiative, the Institute aims to provide learners with the confidence and skills needed to thrive in an AI-powered economy, ultimately benefiting local communities and fostering innovation.

Summary sentence

New OpenAI Academy at Georgia Tech offers education and resources to advance public knowledge in one of the top fields globally.

Summary

Georgia Tech has teamed up with OpenAI Academy to transform AI literacy through an innovative online resource hub and dynamic hands-on workshops. This pioneering initiative aims to democratize AI education, reaching a diverse audience that includes educators, students, job-seekers, and nonprofit leaders. The collaboration kicks off with an exciting AI literacy workshop at Tech AI Fest 2025, where participants will engage in practical learning experiences and explore cutting-edge AI applications. By making AI education accessible and empowering individuals to thrive in an AI-driven economy, Georgia Tech is leading the charge in shaping the future of technology and innovation.

Dateline

Thu, 03/27/2025 - 12:00

media@gatech.edu

Contact

Georgia Tech Media Relations

Institute Communications

Keywords

OpenAI Academy

Georgia Tech

AI literacy

AI education

Tech AI Fest 2025

online resource hub

Workshops

hands-on learning

innovation

economic mobility

community learning

Educators

students

job-seekers

nonprofit leaders

small business owners

AI-powered economy

partnership

expanding library

on-demand content

News room topics

Business and Economic Development

Campus and Community

Science and Technology

Georgia Tech Leads the Way in AI Literacy with OpenAI Academy Collaboration

admin — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 01:05:41 +0000

Georgia Tech Leads the Way in AI Literacy with OpenAI Academy Collaboration admin Tue, 03/25/2025 - 21:05

This exciting new partnership between Georgia Tech and the OpenAI Academy is aimed at advancing AI education. This collaboration is part of the academy's initiative to create a publicly available, free online resource hub designed to support AI literacy and provide access to essential tools, best practices, and peer insights for effective and responsible AI use.

As part of Tech AI Fest 2025, Georgia Tech hosted an AI literacy workshop Tuesday, March 25. This event was Georgia Tech’s premier AI gathering, bringing together researchers, industry professionals, policymakers, and students for discussions on the latest advancements in artificial intelligence. The workshop, held at the East Architecture Building, provided hands-on learning experiences and showcased the practical applications of AI in various fields.

Summary sentence

New OpenAI Academy at Georgia Tech offers education and resources to advance public knowledge in one of the top fields globally.

Summary

Dateline

Tue, 03/25/2025 - 12:00

media@gatech.edu

Contact

Georgia Tech Media Relations

Institute Communications

Keywords

Georgia Tech

OpenAI Academy

AI literacy

AI education

Tech AI Fest 2025

online resource hub

Workshops

hands-on learning

innovation

economic mobility

community learning

Educators

students

job-seekers

nonprofit leaders

small business owners

AI-powered economy

partnership

expanding library

on-demand content

News room topics

Business and Economic Development

Campus and Community

Science and Technology

hands-on learning

Four Startup Lab Students Selected for 2025 Immersive Cohort at SXSW

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Georgia Tech Leads the Way in AI Literacy with OpenAI Academy Collaboration

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Georgia Tech Leads the Way in AI Literacy with OpenAI Academy Collaboration

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