The University City Science Center announced the inaugural cohort for its Launch Lane accelerator. The seven tech and tech-adjacent startups will receive a collective $300,000 investment, $50,000 in Amazon Web Service credits and space in ic@3401 for a year, plus participate in weekly programming. The curriculum began March 5.

All programming is currently virtual, but nothing else has changed about the accelerator’s planned curriculum or timeline as a result of COVID-19, Science Center Marketing Director Kristen Fitch told Technical.ly. In contrast, the application period for the Science Center’s Digital Health Accelerator has been pushed back due to the coronavirus, but the program will still run this year, Fitch said.

“Startups will play a significant role in the city, region and country’s economic growth as we emerge from this unprecedented time,” said Science Center VP of Science and Technology John Younger in a statement. “This Launch Lane cohort represents sprouts in tomorrow’s economy, with the Science Center’s role to stimulate and nurture their growth.”

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