July 16, 2021

WHO:
VelocityTX, a subsidiary of the Texas Research & Technology Foundation; Communities in Schools; San Antonio Independent School District

WHAT:
VelocityTX, Communities in Schools, and SAISD are hosting a pilot workshop focused on bioscience for East Side students attending Martin Luther King Academy for Arts Integration and S.J. Davis Middle School on Thursday, July 22, from 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. The pilot workshop is part of a larger STEM enrichment and mentoring program that kicks off in November.

During the workshop, students will engage in a robot hand activity guided by VelocityTX incubator client, Alt-Bionics, a local medical device company tackling the problem of high-cost prosthetics by delivering affordable alternatives to the prosthetic market. In the afternoon, students will go through an entrepreneurship challenge exercise and learn how to develop and pitch their bioscience idea with the help from VelocityTX mentors. Students will tour the VelocityTX Innovation Center and hear from Morris Miller, former Rackspace founder, on his journey to launching multiple successful businesses.

The entrepreneurial experience the students will receive through VelocityTX supports the Texas Research & Technology Foundation’s (TRTF) initiative of developing the next generation of workforce in bioscience and healthcare.

WHERE:
VelocityTX Innovation Center, 1305 E. Houston St., San Antonio, TX 78205

WHEN:
Thursday, July 22 | 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.

PHOTO OPS:
10 – 11:30 a.m. Robot Hand Activity; 11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. Morris Miller: Entrepreneurial Journey; 12 – 1:45 p.m. Entrepreneurship Challenge

About Texas Research & Technology Foundation
Established in 1984, the Texas Research & Technology Foundation is a nonprofit organization comprised of its subsidiaries, VelocityTX, Alamo Angels, and Community House. Together, these organizations work collaboratively to elevate the quality of life for San Antonio residents by advancing the bioscience and healthcare industry through effective programming and facilitating commercialization, partnerships, and capital. Learn more at texasresearchfoundation.com.

About VelocityTX
VelocityTX was established in 2017 as a subsidiary of the Texas Research & Technology Foundation to help early-stage bioscience companies launch innovative breakthrough technologies that can significantly change and save lives at a global level. VelocityTX leverages its resources – capital, mentors, industry experts, and network – to accelerate the process of commercialization. Learn more at velocitytx.org and about TRTF at texasresearchfoundation.com.

About Communities in Schools
For over 30 years, Communities In Schools of San Antonio has been helping students achieve in school, graduate, and go on to bright futures. Our mission is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. Based directly inside schools throughout Bexar County, Communities In Schools connects children and their families to basic and critical educational and community-based resources, tailored to each student’s specific needs. One service area includes STEM programming which is led by a team of engineers who provide real-world STEM experiences to inspire and prepare students for future careers. For more information, visit www.cissa.org.