NEW YORK, Sept. 30, 2015
/PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Ventures today announced a new
corporate partnership with flagship startup accelerator Grand
Central Tech (GCT) to support New
York technology startups, providing valuable opportunities
for professional development, mentorship, networking, and by
supporting GCT events. David
Famolari of Verizon Ventures will join the board of GCT to
share his expertise and sector experience as a mentor, contribute
to the organization through industry connections, as well as
highlight opportunities within Verizon for startups involved with
GCT.
"I am thrilled to join the board at GCT and be more involved
with their great work providing startups with not only mentorship
and professional development, but also critical infrastructural
resources that contribute to startups' future success," said
Dave Famolari, Director, Verizon
Ventures. "GCT's focus on expert advisors and mentoring is a
perfect fit for Verizon Ventures and we look forward to supporting
GCT's thriving startup community."
A departure from accelerator models that charge rent or equity,
GCT provides best-in-class startups with the resources needed to
build and scale their business through a yearlong program that
offers a year of free space with no equity taken. Verizon Ventures
joins GCT's list of corporate partners, which includes Microsoft,
Google, Intuit, IBM, Goldman Sachs Group, JPMorgan Chase, L'Oreal
USA, and PepsiCo Americas
Beverages. As part of this relationship, Dave Famolari, Director, Verizon Ventures will
serve on GCT's Strategic Advisory Board.
"Verizon Ventures has been a leader in providing promising
startups with the tools they need to thrive. With a shared focus on
mentorship, professional development, and networking, Verizon
Ventures is a welcome addition to our roster of corporate
partners," said Charles Bonello, GCT
Co-founder and Managing Director.
About Grand Central Tech
Grand Central Tech (GCT) is
New York City's flagship
technology accelerator, designed to support startups and
entrepreneurial ambition by leveraging the city's competitive
advantages through relationships with corporate and education
partners to build a diverse and inclusive culture of innovation.
Housed in Facebook's former New
York headquarters above Grand Central Station, GCT shortens
the path to success and sustainability for the city's premier
startups and generates lasting benefits for the broader economy. To
learn more, http://grandcentraltech.com and follow us on Twitter
at: @GCTech.
About Verizon Ventures
Verizon Ventures LLC seeks and
invests in promising entrepreneurial companies that are tackling
some of today's biggest challenges for Verizon's consumer and
enterprise customers. Over the last decade Verizon Ventures has
invested in more than forty companies covering a range of
industries, technologies, and market segments. Verizon Ventures
offers support to its portfolio companies with technology and
product development, market planning and sales, and access to the
networks and platforms of Verizon Communications. For more
information visit www.verizonventures.com.
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in
New York, employs a diverse
workforce of 178,500 and generated more than $127 billion in 2014 revenues. Verizon Wireless
operates America's most reliable wireless network, with 109.5
million retail connections nationwide. Verizon also provides
converged communications, information and entertainment services
over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers
integrated business solutions to customers worldwide. For more
information, visit www.verizon.com/news/.
VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive
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SOURCE Verizon