Texas State University (TXST) is launching BobCatalyst, a new university-wide initiative designed to help faculty, staff and students transform impactful research and ideas into market-ready innovations.
BobCatalyst leverages the university’s expanding network of innovation, commercialization, and venture-support programs. Led by Matthew Sorenson, Ph.D., director of Venture Development in the Office of Innovation, Commercialization and Engagement, BobCatalyst provides a continuum of support and resources from idea generation and validation through prototyping and launch.
Participants can receive training and support for customer discovery and market validation, funding for prototyping, and further development of their novel technology or ideas into a product or service. BobCatalyst also seeks to work with campus and community partners to provide mentoring, industry connections, and grant writing support for state and federal programs such as SBIR/STTR.
“BobCatalyst will empower Texas State innovators to navigate the path from campus breakthroughs to global impact. It will provide the resources, mentorship, and connections to turn bold ideas into real-world change,” said Shreek Mandayam, Ph.D., vice president for Research.
“This initiative embodies our commitment to building a dynamic research enterprise that fuels economic growth and advances the public good.”
BobCatalyst will also connect TXST researchers to key regional, state and federal opportunities including the National Science Foundation’s Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships, investors, industry partners and economic development entities. By aligning training, funding, and partnerships across campus, the initiative aims to accelerate technology development, startup formation and commercialization, and to strengthen TXST’s contribution to the state’s innovation ecosystem.
With support from the Materials Application Research Center and the Division of Research, BobCatalyst positions TXST as a leader in applied innovation and entrepreneurship for the next generation of Bobcats to translate their discoveries into solutions that change the world. For more information, visit the BobCatalyst website.