About the Eastern Connecticut Hub
The Eastern Connecticut Hub, known as INNOVATION East, is a public-private partnership that brings the strengths and investment in the University of Connecticut ecosystem together with private-sector entrepreneurs who are organized under the Horsebarn Hill Ventures moniker. The Hub geographically focused around the UConn campuses in Storrs and Avery Point in Groton.
Key Programs Under Construction
The Accelerator – A classic startup accelerator program designed to efficiently move ideas through a launch chute that ends with a funded business.
The Marketplace - A co-working and dedicated space emphasizing learning, collaboration, and commercialization for startups that addresses the needs of hundreds of entrepreneurs, inventors, innovators, and ideas over the course of a year. Staffed by entrepreneurs, the Marketplace is the central locus for the hub’s corporations, investors, universities, local incubators, and other ecosystem members to interact to support the creation and acceleration of startups.
The Clubhouse - A program created to build off of the Accelerator and Marketplace programs to partner with corporations and investment groups to build communities within the hub to advance their respective goals.
UConn’s Avery Point campus - INNOVATION East’s expansive reach includes southeastern Connecticut and the startups emerging from the entrepreneurial community in that region.