WPI Venture Forum Changes Name, Looks To Expand Reach
Worcester Polytechnic Institute's WPI Venture Forum has shortened its name to The Venture Forum to reflect what it hopes will be an expanded geographic reach.
The move comes after the group attained not-for-profit status in October, which will allow it to pursue grant opportunities to bolster its revenues from sponsorships, membership fees and WPI's support.
The Venture Forum caters to tech entrepreneurs, investors and service providers in the region. It is housed at WPI and has plenty of alumni members, but anyone can join.
Paul Danis, a Boylston-based life sciences consultant who chairs the group's executive board, said the group will maintain its strong relationship with WPI.
Danis said the changes were driven by a discussion among members of the approximately 20-year-old group about how to have a greater impact.
"We want to expand into MetroWest more," Danis said in a telephone interview today.
The forum hopes to establish new partnerships with colleges, granting agencies and incubators.
Venture Forum board member Barb Finer has been working to establish a tech incubator in the MetroWest area called Tech Sand Box. Danis said the potential for partnership with a group like that is obvious.
"I think what Barb's doing is great," he said. "We'll clearly be interacting with her organization in the future."
The new name will officially take effect at the forum's five-minute pitch contest Feb. 12. Its new website will go live the following day.
WBJ Web Partners
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments