Origin has been under development since 2020 and stemmed from the city leadership's vision to create an open collaboration space for residents to scale their businesses, as well as a networking space for venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, fintech, sportstech, AI, cybersecurity and other startups. After a competitive request for proposal process, Plug and Play was selected in 2023 as the facility's operator due to their proven ability to connect startups with large corporations, investors and industry leaders.
"This new facility is proof of what's possible when a city drives with vision, determination and collaborative partnerships," said Jeff Cheney, Mayor of Frisco. "This hub is a starting point for new technologies, businesses and careers in Frisco. I'm excited to see the groundbreaking innovation that will take shape here."
Located on the 10th floor of the Baylor Scott & White Sports Therapy & Research facility in Frisco, Origin and Plug and Play's innovation hub will anchor a joint 6,000-square-foot space designed to bring together startups, investors and corporate partners at the center of Frisco's innovation movement. The flexibly designed space includes private offices, meeting rooms and co-working areas designed to accommodate the thriving startup ecosystem.
"Frisco is home to more than 500 tech companies and many top tier leading brands," said Jason Ford, President of the Frisco EDC. "Origin was a strategic investment in Frisco's future and marks a major step forward in Frisco's continued rise as a national innovation leader. With the help of Baylor Scott & White and Plug and Play, we've created a one-of-a-kind space where new ideas, industries and startups can flourish here in Frisco, all working side by side."
For Plug and Play, a Silicon Valley-based innovation acceleration company with an international presence, this new facility will be the largest space under their operation outside of their California headquarters. Plug and Play will operate the hub under a membership-based model, and will host networking events, hackathons, workshops and special presentations open to the greater community.
"This innovation hub is more than just a physical space, it's a signal to the world that Frisco is serious about shaping the future," said Saeed Amidi, CEO and Founder of Plug and Play. "Frisco is already a national model for how sports, business, and innovation can coexist. We're honored to bring our global network and proven accelerator model to this remarkable community with values perfectly aligned to our own."
In addition to hosting carefully designed startup cohorts, the space will also be open to Frisco-based entrepreneurs, service providers and partner institutions, including the University of North Texas-Frisco, which will sponsor a dedicated sports innovation space within the facility.
About Frisco Economic Development Corporation
The Frisco EDC operates as a Texas non-profit corporation and is governed by a seven-member board of directors appointed by the Frisco, Texas City Council. Job number one is facilitating the creation of jobs, as the Frisco EDC's mission is to improve the economic opportunities and quality of life for all Frisco residents. The Frisco EDC has facilitated major economic development projects, resulting in hundreds of projects and thousands of jobs in the City of Frisco. For more information, visit FriscoEDC.com.
About Plug and Play
Plug and Play is the leading innovation platform, connecting startups, corporations, venture capital firms, universities and government agencies. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, Plug and Play is present in 60-plus locations across five continents. It offers corporate innovation programs and helps corporate partners in every stage of their innovation journey, from education to execution. Plug and Play also organizes startup acceleration programs and has built an in-house VC to drive innovation across multiple industries where it has invested in hundreds of successful companies including Dropbox, Guardant Health, Honey, Lending Club, N26, PayPal and Rappi. For more information, visit www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/.
SOURCE Frisco Economic Development Corporation
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