TheBurg

20 | THEBURGNEWS.COM | 01.23 H arrisburg University President Eric Darr had a big idea. Certainly, it wasn't his first one, as he's guided HU from struggling to thriving, but it was an important one. Economic development and support for businesses have always been part of HU's mission. However, he wanted to institutionalize that mission, as well as focus on underrepresented communities. e result: the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at HU. Less than three years in, the CIE has moved into accessible new digs in Strawberry Square and is home to nine founders in its business incubator program, 80% of which are BIPOC-owned and 50% women- owned. It also offers founders—the entrepreneurs who are invited into the incubator—residency space for up to 18 months, financial assistance, coaching and student interns. at support is paying off. Several of the companies have raised a combined $3.6 million in investments. One, NAQI LOGIX, a thought-controlled earbud technology company led by Dave Segal, recently was valued at $100 million. It took much more than a mission statement and Darr's vision to reach this point. He needed to find the right person—someone who had been a founder, had connections outside the Harrisburg area, and could work in central PA. He found all of that in Jay Jayamohan, wooing him from D.C. to become the CIE's founding executive director. Jayamohan, who is from India, has a "typical immigrant story," he said. He received his undergraduate engineering degree there before completing a master's in management at George Mason University. He then worked for Pricewaterhouse Coopers before he "stumbled into the world of startups." e end result was hardly a stumble. Jayamohan had created three start-ups with $22 million in venture capital. While one company failed, the others (both software firms) thrived, and he sold them both. He also got involved in startup centers at both George Mason and Georgetown universities. Why teach? Because "50% of what you learn is completely useless when you go out and start a company," he said. "It's a whole different journey." at's exactly where his experience benefits his HU CIE founders. Just 30 months in, HU's CIE program has had more than 250 applications, which Jayamohan said, "shows a huge appetite in the area." FOUNDERS KEEPERS Hi-tech ideas hatch from HU 's business incubator. BY DEBORAH LYNCH Eric Darr BUSINESS Michael Hughes, Zack Schade, Dave Segal, Jay Jayamohan, MaDonna A. Awotwi, Shaina McDonald & Jamal Jones

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