Anderson Institute joins Amazon Web Services to help tech startups scale faster

In recognition of its success as an entrepreneurial incubator and seed fund, the James and Patricia Anderson Engineering Ventures Institute was approved as an AWS Activate Provider, giving early-stage companies looking to scale and grow their businesses access to free resources through Amazon Web Services.

"Through this program, the Anderson Institute will be able to provide a substantial amount of additional support for our technology-based startups that need cloud computing or deployment," said Sorin Draghici, associate dean for innovation and entrepreneurship, director of the Anderson Institute and professor of computer science in the Wayne State University College of Engineering.

Eligible startups will receive up to $10,000 in AWS promotional credit for two years, up to $5,000 in AWS business support for one year, and 80 credits for self-paced training labs designed to help entrepreneurs learn the AWS technology. The number of startup companies that can receive these benefits is not limited as long as the companies apply through the Anderson Institute.

"This is a substantial amount of support that would allow a startup to develop an infrastructure supporting many thousands of customers and perform a significant level of cloud computation," said Draghici. Thousands of companies used AWS Activate in their formative years, including Airbnb, Dollar Shave Club, Peloton and Uber.

DivorceAI and Palacio will be the first two Anderson Institute-supported companies to benefit from the AWS services. DivorceAI is a platform that uses advanced artificial intelligence methods to solve the non-linear optimization problems associated with asset separation, saving time and money while easing the pain and uncertainty of people contemplating or going through a divorce. Palacio is a startup that produces Canvia, a smart frame that displays art from an expansive collection and, using its patent-pending ArtSense technology, conserves artistic details to create a realistic print effect. Canvia allows artists to reach visual art consumers directly, similar to what iTunes offers musicians, while giving users the freedom to explore and select pieces best suited to their taste and environment.

About the Anderson Institute

The James and Patricia Anderson Engineering Ventures Institute was established in 2014 to advance Wayne State University's role in contributing to the growth and revitalization of Detroit and the university's overall vision by translating research and development into innovation and entrepreneurship. Embedded within the College of Engineering, the Anderson Institute provides opportunities for students and faculty to learn best practices in applied research, technology commercialization and business creation. Learn more at engineering.wayne.edu/entrepreneurship.

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