Venture Mentor Kathryne Carr To Head Darden's Expanded Incubator

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Nov. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Batten Institute today announced that Kathryne Carr, co-founder and Managing Director at Tall Oaks Capital Partners, LLC., has joined the Darden School of Business's Batten Institute to run its expanded world-class business Incubator, to be housed in the W.L. Lyons Brown Innovation Laboratory (i.Lab). Formerly available exclusively to qualified Darden students and alumni, the Incubator will now be open to qualified U.Va. and local community start-ups seeking a multi-disciplinary, effectual, design-intensive approach to business creation.

Kathryne Carr has worked as a management executive as well as an investor in the life-science sector for more than 25 years. Her career in the sector has included work at Genetic Systems Corporation, Innotage Management and Insmed Pharmaceuticals. She was also a co-founder and manager of 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 Kathryne Carr. "U.Va.'s dedication to entrepreneurship, innovation and creativity provides a foundation for new product and business development."

Carr is well connected with U.Va.'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 the Launchpad Foundation at the University of Virginia. 

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

Philippe Sommer, director of Batten's Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, of which the i.Lab Incubator is a part, 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 expansion of the i.Lab, which will double in size to house the new Incubator facility and expanded programming. When the Incubator is complete and operational in the summer of 2013, it will serve as the launching pad to an expanded group of entrepreneurs including Darden students as well as the larger U.Va. and central Virginia communities.  

Each admitted venture will have access to a broad range of resources, including office space, business expertise, mentoring, legal, financial and other educational resources. Each venture will also have an option to receive investor funding.  For those interested in applying for a spot in the Incubator, the application will be available in the first week of January on Batten's website, www.batteninstitute.org.

About the Batten Institute
The Batten Institute at the Darden School of Business creates value and transforms society through entrepreneurship and innovation. The Institute's academic research center advances knowledge that addresses real-world challenges and shapes Darden's curriculum, and the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership offers one of the world's top entrepreneurship programs. The Batten Institute was established with gifts now totaling over $100 million from U.Va. alumnus Frank Batten, Sr., a media pioneer, visionary, and founder of The Weather Channel. www.batteninstitute.org.

About the Darden School of Business
The University of Virginia Darden School of Business is one of the world's leading business schools, offering MBA, Ph.D. and Executive Education programs. The unique Darden experience combines the case study method, the highest-ranked faculty whose research advances global managerial practice and business education, and a tight-knit learning environment to develop principled and complete leaders who are ready to make an impact.  For questions or information, contact [email protected].  

About the University of Virginia
Founded in Charlottesville by Thomas Jefferson in 1819, the University of Virginia is a leading public university that serves as a national model for excellence through innovation and collaboration in its missions of teaching, research, public service and health care. www.virginia.edu

SOURCE Batten Institute