Venture Mentor Kathryne Carr to Head Darden’s Expanded Incubator

The University of Virginia Darden School of Business Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation has announced that Kathryne Carr, co-founder and managing director at Tall Oaks Capital Partners LLC, has been chosen to run its expanded Darden Business Incubator, which will be housed in the W.L. Lyons Brown III Innovation Laboratory (i.Lab). The incubator, which was formerly available exclusively to qualified Darden students and alumni, will now be open to all qualified UVA and local community entrepreneurs seeking a multi-disciplinary, effectual, design-intensive approach to business creation.

Carr has worked as a management executive as well as an investor in the life-science sector for more than 25 years. Her career has included work at Genetic Systems Corporation, Innotage Management and Insmed Pharmaceuticals. She also co-founded and managed Whetstone Capital Partners and Platform Technologies LP, a dedicated investment fund for medical device companies out of academic research and corporate research labs.

“I am honored to be able to help shape the future of Darden’s highly innovative and forward-thinking entrepreneurship program,” said Carr. “UVA’s dedication to entrepreneurship, innovation and creativity provides a foundation for new product and business development.”

Carr is well connected with UVA’s growing innovation community, serving as a member of the University of Virginia Licensing & Ventures Group’s Advisory Board, the Coulter Translational Research Board and UVA’s Launchpad Foundation.

“Kathy has been a tremendous advocate for University of Virginia innovators and entrepreneurs,” said W. Mark Crowell, executive director of UVA Innovation and associate vice president for research at UVA “She brings a great deal of expertise to the incubator, which will further advance UVA’s pioneering work in innovation, technology transfer and economic growth.”

Philippe Sommer, director of Batten’s Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, which includes the i.Lab Incubator, commented, “We are committed to offering the best guidance and leadership to our students and the community. We’re excited to add Kathryne to our talented team of staff and faculty.”

Last summer, Darden began the expansion of the i.Lab, which will double in size to house the new incubator facility and additional programming. When the Incubator is complete and operational in the summer of 2013, it will serve as the launch pad for entrepreneurs at Darden and the larger UVA and central Virginia communities.

Each entrepreneur will have access to a broad range of resources, including office space, business expertise, legal and financial mentoring, and other educational resources. Incubator participants will also have access to Batten’s investor resources. For those interested in applying for a spot in the incubator, the application will be available the first week of January on Batten’s website.