By Nancy Dahlberg / ndahlberg@miamiherald.com
Rhys L. Williams, the co-founder and former president of New World Angels, has joined Florida Atlantic University as its new associate vice president and managing director of FAU Tech Runway. Williams succeeds Kimberly Gramm, who has taken the position of managing director of the Innovation Hub at Texas Tech University.
“Rhys has been the leader of the growing entrepreneurial ecosystem throughout South Florida and the state for years,” said Dan Flynn, FAU vice president for research. “His deep understanding about what it takes to take a kernel of an idea and turn that into viable company will benefit not just Tech Runway, but the wider university community as well. We’re confident that he’ll take the reigns at Tech Runway and launch it into its next phase of growth.”
Williams has been active in efforts to commercialize biotechnologies from Florida’s research universities and institutes, having co-founded several biotechnology spinout ventures. Previously he was a venture capitalist with SI Ventures and held executive positions with Ixion Biotechnology, Smith Barney, American Express, and the U.S. Army Special Forces. “As a part of extending Tech Runway’s impressive track record, additional emphasis will focus upon supporting entrepreneurial efforts aligned with FAU’s strategic plan in the four areas of sensing and smart systems; neuroscience; healthy aging; and ocean science and engineering/environmental sciences,” said Williams.
Williams presently serves on the boards of Aplicor; the Florida Venture Forum; the University of Miami’s Coulter Center Technology Review Committee; the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium; The LeMieux Center at Palm Beach Atlantic University; University of Florida’s Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation; and the Harvard Club of the Palm Beaches.
Tech Runway is a public-private partnership formed to foster technology startup companies. Since its inception, FAU Tech Runway has supported 15 companies who have produced more than $3 million in total revenue. Florida Gov. Rick Scott recently approved the legislative budget request of $750,000 in funding for FAU Tech Runway in the 2016-17 state budget.