NAB Labs has entered into a corporate partnership with 1776, a Washington-based startup hub that, according to a release, provides resources and networking connections for new companies in government regulated industries.
Among its services, 1776 provides working space for startup members, full-time entrepreneurial educational programs and access to an investor network and the 1776 Seed Fund.
“Startups today are keenly sensitive to the evolution of the broadcasting industry, and they are eager to know how they can prepare themselves,” said 1776 Managing Director David Zipper. “By partnering with NAB, 1776 will be able to provide our members with a unique lens to recognize broadcasting technology needs and opportunities that would otherwise go unrecognized.”
NAB Labs has made a variety of investments in technologies and companies like NextRadio, OTT media technology company Syncbak, and most recently, online and mobile engagement platform Antenna. The 1776 membership also complements other NAB and NAB Labs initiatives like Futures Park, NAB Futures and Sprockit.
NAB Labs will engage with early-stage startup companies pursuing innovations in areas important to local communities and media companies. NAB will conduct office hours at the 1776 Campus as well as host other events, network with startups of strategic relevance around the world, and actively participate in a roundtable event to discuss the innovation landscape of the broadcasting industry.
“Since its launch, 1776 has helped foster companies on the leading edge of innovation in government-dominated markets,” said NAB Chief Technology Officer Sam Matheny said in the announcement. “NAB’s partnership allows us the chance to closely collaborate with these startups that are advancing technology in fields of interest to our members, such as cybersecurity and unmanned aerial vehicles. We also hope working with 1776 yields opportunities for cross-collaboration with our other programs, investments and members.”
1776 was founded in February 2013 by Donna Harris, an entrepreneur and the former managing director of the Startup America Partnership, and Evan Burfield, founder of netDecide, a provider of enterprise wealth management solutions, and the consulting firm Synteractive.>
Other 1776 partners include Comcast, Microsoft, AT&T, CEA, Wilkinson Barker Knauer and Georgetown University.
