By Tricia Martinez, Managing Director of Techstars Industries of the Future and Techstars Payments Accelerators

I am incredibly excited to announce the opening of applications for the second class of our Techstars Industries of the Future Accelerator in partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee Valley Authority, and the University of Tennessee. Applications are open from October 3rd, 2022 through January 4th, 2023, and our program will run from April 3rd 2023 through June 29th, 2023. We are looking for founders who are focusing on 7 major industries that have the potential to solve the most pressing issues of our time: climatetech, artificial intelligence, mobility, quantum information science, advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, and 5G/IoT.

Click here to apply!

Climatetech

Climate change is the single greatest problem of our time and mitigating and eliminating it requires novel technologies, systems, and processes that reduce environmental damage, drive more energy efficiency, manage the sustainable use of resources, and protect our environment. Not every technology will be a winner, but we need to build and test everything we can at incredible rates if we are to win this battle.

Areas of interest:

• Autonomous grid management systems

• Renewable energy technologies

• Carbon capture and storage

• Nuclear energy

• Batteries and storage

• Green transportation

• Energy market trading

Artificial Intelligence

AI (artificial intelligence) technologies enable computers or machines to exhibit human-like intelligence including problem solving and adapting. From machine learning to deep learning, AI has immense potential to disrupt present and future industries and take our society to new places given its ability to learn and calculate at incredible speed. Using AI to monitor carbon emissions, manage natural resources, reduce pollution, predict weather, and track renewable assets are just a few of the possibilities that excite me!

Areas of interest:

• Sensors

• Predictive analytics

• Robotics process automation

• Autonomous vehicles

• Weather modeling

• Infrastructure management and security

• Energy storage automation

• Carbon monitoring

Mobility

Imagine a future where electrification of everything – from cars to planes – makes the world around you cleaner, safer and more productive. With intelligent modes of public transportation, you can get to work faster and easier. With an electric vehicle (EV), you no longer need to fill up your tank or be at the whim of ever-rising gas prices. With electric planes, you can travel the world without feeling as concerned about your carbon footprint. Electrification is the future of the transportation industry. It’s no longer a dream or far-away possibility.

Areas of interest:

• Connected and autonomous vehicles

• Electric Vehicles

• Wireless charging technologies

• Batteries and advanced materials

• Charging vehicles on the go

• Automating the charging process

• Vehicle to vehicle and vehicle to grid interactions

• Cybersecurity

• Freight efficiency

Quantum Information Science

More powerful computing, more accurate healthcare imaging, navigation systems through GPS, more trusted and secure communications. Through quantum technology, computers can acquire, transmit, and process more information addressing some of our world's most pressing issues. Quantum is truly the future of our technology world and while some concepts are in very early stages, backing breakthrough quantum concepts with exceptional teams is my top priority to advance this field.

Areas of interest:

• Secure communications

• Quantum machine learning

• Healthcare and drug discovery

• Optimization and forecasting

• Physical qubits

Advanced Manufacturing

Cutting edge technologies that reinvent traditional manufacturing processes and systems to produce superior products. This includes any novel device or system as well as building with more green and energy efficient practices. From reducing waste to saving time and money to creating more innovative products, advanced manufacturing will impact all industries in the world and how we consume.

Areas of interest:

• Augmented reality and virtual reality

• Robotics and machine vision

• Industrial IoT

• Additive manufacturing equipment

Biotechnology & Medtech

Technologies that develop new breakthrough products through the use of living systems and organisms. From pharmaceuticals to agriculture to biofuels, biotechnology will be far reaching across industries and address some of the world’s greatest challenges. As our world changes we will be called to address issues of feeding larger populations, new and growing disease, and depleted resources. Biotechnology will support in addressing these challenges.

Areas of interest:

• Synthetic biology

• Life sciences

• Digital health therapeutics

5G/Advanced Wireless Technology

5G technology is the fifth generation of wireless technology that will drastically improve speed, efficiency, and connectivity paving the way for smart cities, autonomous vehicles, industrial IoT, and more. In the not so distant future, we will all be living in smart connected cities where our homes, cars, and devices will all be in communication, and all of that can only happen with the advancement of 5G.

Areas of interest:

• Internet of things

• Sensors

• Smart cities/ smart factories

• Vehicle communications

The opportunities are endless for these technologies. They will define our future and the companies building these solutions need all the support, nurturing, and cheerleading they can receive. If you or someone you know is building the future of technology that has the potential to change the world please reach out!

Join us October 11th to meet the team learn more!

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