PHILADELPHIA – (May 3, 2017) – University City Science Center President & CEO Stephen S. Tang, Ph.D., MBA is scheduled to testify before the U.S. House of Representatives Small Business Committee on Wednesday, May 3, 2017 at 11:00 a.m.
The hearing, titled “Empowering Small Businesses: The Accelerator Model,” will examine how business accelerators help entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses grow and create jobs. It will also offer Members of the Committee the opportunity to hear from organizations that are directly involved in offering private sector resources to small businesses. “We are strong believers in the accelerator model as an ideal vehicle for empowering small businesses,” Tang said in prepared testimony. “We have a saying in the industry - startups need to succeed or fail quickly, and cheaply… Accelerators force technologies to move quickly – and by offering multiple layers of expertise, services and support, accelerators often enable startups to pivot in a different direction, in response to market demand.”
In addition to Dr. Tang, witnesses include Starr Marcello, Executive Director, Edward L. Kaplan New Venture Challenge (NVC), Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, University of Chicago; Darrin M. Redus, Senior Vice President, Minority Business Accelerator, Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, Cincinnati; and Carolyn Rodz, Founder and CEO, Circular Board, Houston.
About the Science Center
Located in the heart of uCity Square, the Science Center is a mission-driven nonprofit organization that catalyzes and connects innovation to entrepreneurship and technology commercialization. For 50+ years, the Science Center has supported startups, research, and economic development in the life sciences, healthcare, physical sciences, and emerging technology sectors. As a result, graduate firms and current residents of the Science Center’s incubator support one out of every 100 jobs in the Greater Philadelphia region and drive $13 billion in economic activity in the region annually. By providing resources and programming for any stage of a business’s lifecycle, the Science Center helps scientists, entrepreneurs and innovators take their concepts from idea to IPO – and beyond. For more information about the Science Center, go to www.sciencecenter.org
