Overview

CometX is a six-week experiential accelerator program that pulls the most innovative student and faculty businesses on campus to learn all the necessary tools and tactics to be go-to-market ready. Members of the cohort can expect weekly sessions that include interactions with industry experts, personalized mentoring, and acquiring knowledge from incredibly successful startup founders.

Concepts you’ll learn:

  • How to launch your startup concept.
  • Properly scale your startup. 
  • How to build the best team.
  • Distribute equity to not just founders, but also advisors and future employees.
  • Best practices when pitching to investors.

This 6-week in-person program covers the following topics:

  • Validating Your Idea & Product-Market-Fit
  • Due Diligence and In-Depth Legal Strategy
  • Building a strong team
  • Financial Forecasting
  • The Entrepreneurial Mindset
  • Pitching Investors & Fundraising

Key Dates:

July 9th, 2024 – August 13th, 2024

Tuesdays, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Application and Eligibility

ELIGIBILITY

Participation in CometX is open to all currently enrolled students of any classification/major. UT Dallas faculty, and alumni are also welcome to participate.

APPLICATION

Start your application

Facilitator

Terry Russell, Ph.D.

Managing Director

Dr. Terry Russell is the Managing Director of Interface Ventures, a Texas-based venture studio. Interface Ventures partners with national laboratories, universities, and corporations to build companies that solve important and valuable problems in energy, healthcare, and national security.

Dr. Russell has co-founded, financed, and led multiple technology-based startups. He has advised US and foreign government agencies, universities, and corporations on new venture creation. He is an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at UT Southwestern Medical Center and an active mentor in the startup community.

Dr. Russell received his Ph.D. in Physics from Boston University and performed his postdoctoral research at Harvard University.

FAQ
What is an accelerator?

A business accelerator is a fixed-term, cohort-based program that gives developing companies access to mentorship, educational components, and other support that help them become stable, self-sufficient businesses.

Is this program for me?

Are you a UT Dallas student with a business idea and you want to test out?
Do you need help identifying your target market or figuring out your business plan?
If you need help fine-tuning your business model or revenue model, or you are a first-time entrepreneur wanting to hone your skills from proven entrepreneurs, then this program could be perfect for you. That being said, you get what you put in. We can’t (and won’t) start the business for you. We can’t (and won’t) do all of the research and customer discovery for you. We can (and will) teach you how to do it and support you along the way!

What can I gain from the program?

You will develop an entrepreneurial mindset, specific skills such as creativity, persuasiveness, resourcefulness, problem-solving, communication skills, leadership skills, collaboration/teamwork skills, presentation skills, and more.

CometX receives over 200 applications per semester and has an average of 50 participants each semester. Many CometX participants go on to compete in the UT Dallas Big Idea Competition and other state, national, and international competitions. 100% of feedback survey respondents agreed that the program added to their college experience at UT Dallas. By the end of the program, 15% of participants launch a business while 25% continue working towards launch.

Does the program cost me any money?

No, this program is free to all UT Dallas students.

Can I earn academic credit for joining this program?

No, this is an experiential program that does not qualify for academic credit.

Who can join?

Any currently enrolled UT Dallas student, any classification (Freshman to Ph.D.), and all majors are welcome.

When does it take place?

The program is offered in the summer.

Where does it take place?

The Blackstone LaunchPad located on campus at 2830 Rutford Ave, the ground floor of Parking Structure 3, next to Taco Bell Cantina.

Why do you ask so many questions about the stage of my venture in the application?

There is a significant cost for the entrepreneurial programs, resources, and support provided by the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship each year, at no charge, free to you — our students and the UTD community. We do this because we believe it will lead to significant economic value, as your venture is able to generate revenues and hire employees. But, in order to continue offering these programs, the “cost” to you is the data about your startup’s progress instead of a financial cost. By providing information about your venture, you help us communicate and demonstrate the impact we are making to our stakeholders. Some of the key factors we need to measure include job creation and revenue.

Will the university own my idea or startup or take equity from me?

If you are a student, then the short answer is no – please see Section 6 in the link below for more details. If you are a member of the faculty, conduct research in a campus laboratory, or are employed by the university, there may be some intellectual property rights to consider.
For more information visit the UT System Board of Regents rules on intellectual property.

Testimonials

“My experience in CometX was irreplaceable. I had been slowly working on my company for 2 years, spending time planning and tweaking my idea. When I joined CometX, from the first day I was instantly set on track. Through the few weeks that the course had been going on, my company had matured from a small idea to a team of 6 people and a goal to have an MVP available by the end of the year. The distinguished lectures gave several answers to questions we had not event thought about. The accelerator is structured in a way that helps form a clear guideline for some of the key points to creating a startup, and the only thing I would change is to make it longer.”

Major G.
BS Biomedical Engineering

“There are some events in life that change you and CometX is one of them. I came to the USA to pursue an education in Computer Science because almost all of the top CS companies I could name of started here. There is something unique about building businesses in America that fosters such growth, and I believe programs like CometX are such an amazing gateway to them.”

“CometX Accelerator was a transformative experience. With engaging guest speakers and comprehensive discussions, I gained vital insights into team building and board dynamics. Thanks to CometX, I not only gained crucial business acumen but also forged lasting connections within a vibrant entrepreneurial community.”

Tamara M.

Dual MBA/MS Innovation & Entrepreneurship

“CometX allowed us to apply and integrate our ideas in a systematic manner to this new business. The weekly online lessons and engaging in-person sessions were very helpful in driving our business from an idea to a tangible business. We were introduced to an amazing mentor who supported us, gave us time, and challenged our thinking. These 6 weeks were truly a powerful experience for us.”

Neeru S.
MS Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Contact