ASU’s newest engineering lab isn’t a standard testing center filled with circuits and mechanical presses — it’s a platform for innovation and collaboration for the entire University.
The aptly named Generator Labs allows entrepreneurial students to seek multidisciplinary help for fleshing out their ideas.
For example, the lab can help a full-stack software engineer get help designing a business plan and marketing strategy for their latest app by linking them with the marketing student in order to help get their project off the ground.
In Gen Labs, design majors speak with computer science grads about how to implement their new web strategies, and engineering students work with supply chain majors regarding the implementation and assembly of their newly designed parts.
“I’ve seen students take teams from nothing to real live projects,” Tara Montoya, program manager for the W.P. Carey School of Business Center for Entrepreneurship, said. “It’s very exciting to watch.”
Montoya is focused on expanding the lab beyond engineers and Fulton students, because she sees it as a resource for the entire University.
“We were looking at finding holes in our programs,” Montoya said. “We pulled the most engaged students (in our department) and asked them what they knew about resources on campus — they were only aware of eight percent.”
Generator Labs is a collaborative effort between Scott Shrake, director of Engineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS) and Brent Sebold, director of the Fulton Startup Center.
The two directors came together with the vision of creating a space that engineering students could use to build and share their ideas with one another.
“Support generally comes in the way of education, mentorship, access to funding, and access to workspace," Sebold said.
He said he sees the Generator Labs as a resource and safe space where students can water the seeds of their ideas and give them the proper nutrients needed to flower.
He also said it is a way for engineering students to differentiate themselves from the rest of the pack by fostering this sort of innovation.
“It’s great to be a Fulton engineering student, it looks great on a
resume” said Sebold. “But, it looks even better to opt in (to Gen Labs), to
tell the world that 'In addition to what everyone else is doing, I’m interested
in learning how to be an innovator. I’m interested in creating a new product or
service that’s going to change people’s lives for the better.'”
ASU Generator Lab springboards student entrepreneurs from The State Press on Vimeo. Video by Mingson Lau.
The lab is also hosting Live @ Generator Labs, an event series that will include presentations from CEOs, networking events and even hackathons for computer science students to put their skills to the test against other engineers.
Jade Silva, senior engagement coordinator for the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, said the events are focused on giving students the motivation and drive to be more curious.
She said she sees Live @ Generator Labs as a jumping off point for students to get involved and make their ideas and dreams a reality.
“We all have these ideas every day,” said Silva. "The difference between someone who makes things happen and one who doesn’t is getting connected with resources and people.”
Reach the reporter at cdemert@asu.edu or follow her on Twitter @dolewayne
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