University of Phoenix and Iron Yard Ventures collaboration provides
local resource to educate, incubate and accelerate business ideas
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--University of Phoenix is opening a first-of-its kind innovation center
in Las Vegas. The RedFlint™ Innovation Experience Center will provide
visitors with an experiential, hands-on learning environment to help
them innovate in their companies and in their own careers. The center
will provide individuals, startups and established businesses access to
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the latest technology and business ideas to help them perform at a high
caliber today, and learn how to be nimble and relevant for tomorrow. The
University is collaborating with Iron Yard Ventures to provide startup
businesses access to a premier business accelerator through RedFlint.
RedFlint is expected to open in September 2016. The open-concept center
will be located in the Bank of America Plaza building in downtown Las
Vegas. RedFlint will be open to the public with a specific focus on the
Las Vegas business, education and government communities.
“Las Vegas is a growing technology and innovation hub, and we are so
pleased to welcome University of Phoenix downtown where everything is
happening,” said Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn G. Goodman. “Downtown is the
nerve center for an explosion of ideas and conversation, and the
momentum continues to build with exciting new projects like the RedFlint
Innovation Experience Center.”
RedFlint addresses, among others, the common issues of stagnation inside
established businesses; limited resources for entrepreneurs and startup
ventures; and individuals who feel behind on the technology curve. The
dynamic collaboration between University of Phoenix’s College of
Information Systems & Technology and School of Business, along with Iron
Yard Ventures, positions RedFlint to ignite change within many
industries. Iron Yard Ventures has spurred investment in 59 startups in
the last four years and those companies have gone on to create hundreds
of jobs and raise more than $70 million in follow-on funding.
“Rapid technology advancements have led to a new kind of ‘skills gap,’”
said Dennis Bonilla, executive dean of the College of Information
Systems & Technology at University of Phoenix. “Professionals who are
otherwise fully-qualified within their fields find themselves falling
behind due to a lack of technical savvy or drive to innovate within
their organizations. Those starting businesses often have strong
industry knowledge, but struggle to stay current on new technology and
don’t necessarily know how to leverage it to connect more effectively
with customers. RedFlint can help bridge these gaps.”
University of Phoenix explored a number of possible locations for
RedFlint, and the climate of innovation and the opportunity to make a
difference in Las Vegas were determining factors. Both the hospitality
and gaming industries are poised for change, spurred by new technologies
and services. Also, as a home to many tech companies, an exploding IT
workforce and host to the world’s largest technology and electronics
trade show, Las Vegas is establishing itself as a well-respected and
sought-after hub for tech and innovation.
“Having this innovation center in our urban core is not only going to
benefit downtown, but our community as a whole,” said Las Vegas City
Councilman Bob Coffin. “Adding resources to the community leads to
innovation and keeps our city on the cutting edge.”
RedFlint will be continuously evolving to adopt new technologies and
advance new ideas, but is underpinned with three main components:
educate, incubate and accelerate. There will also be implications for
innovation in higher education. RedFlint will be a place where the
University studies innovation, identifies education gaps and tests and
incubates ideas that can ultimately innovate curriculum.
“Imagine the power of starting a business surrounded by the latest
technologies, data analytics and digital marketing tools, and having
advisors from successful companies who can help you avoid traditional
early business mistakes,” said Ruth Veloria, executive dean of
University of Phoenix School of Business. “University of Phoenix has
always been on the cutting edge of how adults learn, and this new
ecosystem has the potential to help innovate education.”
The RedFlint Innovation Center will:
Educate: Experiential learning and ideas will come to life in a
technically advanced, yet approachable laboratory. The center will
offer no cost workshops and professional development opportunities
that can be adapted as technologies and industries evolve, as well as
technology that anyone can test.
Incubate: Established or startup companies can build their
business plans surrounded by the technology and resources needed to
get them off the ground. Companies can incubate new products, revenue
streams or processes.
Accelerate: By providing access through RedFlint to Iron Yard
Ventures, entrepreneurs gain a way to take business to the next level
with one of the premier accelerators at their side.
Analytics leader SAS is also interested in participating in the project.
“The RedFlint Innovation Experience Center can provide more
opportunities for people to learn SAS skills that are highly sought
after by employers in every industry,” said Emily Baranello, vice
president, SAS Education Practice. “It will also give entrepreneurs
experience with a variety of technologies, including data visualization
and data management, so they can learn how analytics can support their
innovative work.”
“RedFlint Innovation Experience Center, paired with Iron Yard Ventures
Accelerator, will be the catalyst Las Vegas needs,” said Ryan J. Negri,
managing director of Iron Yard Ventures Accelerator. “We’ll be solving
real world problems, with applicable, technological solutions for the
community and our corporate sponsors. The support from local
corporations, small business, and the general population has been
extraordinary thus far.”
For more information about the RedFlint Innovation Experience Center,
visit: www.redflintvegas.com.
About University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix is constantly innovating to help working adults
move efficiently from education to careers in a rapidly changing world.
Flexible schedules, relevant and engaging courses, and interactive
learning can help students more effectively pursue career and personal
aspirations while balancing their busy lives. As a subsidiary of Apollo
Education Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: APOL),
University of Phoenix serves a diverse student population, offering
associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs from
campuses and learning centers across the U.S. as well as online
throughout the world. For more information, visit www.phoenix.edu.
Contacts
University of Phoenix
Tanya Burden, 303-570-0617
or
Jennifer
Marshall, 847-476-2734