In 2013 the University of Memphis will open the doors to the Crews Ventures Lab.

The Crews Ventures Lab program will provide a nurturing environment to support University of Memphis faculty and student entrepreneurs as they focus their passion and build their ideas into foundations of successful companies by providing educational, mentoring and networking experiences.

The space will provide a place for U of M-based technology start-ups to be built and launched. The building, the former Mason’s Lodge at Walker and Patterson, was originally built in the 1950’s and is currently being renovated into a world-class technology incubator.  The CVL will offer flexible office space, furnished offices for visiting investors and mentors, lab areas for prototype development and advanced technological systems, as well as a conference room and break room.

The Crews Ventures Lab will be the core of entrepreneurial collaboration for the campus – where great ideas and innovation are taken to a whole new level by joining together the top students and faculty of the University of Memphis campus with the best possible resources, people, technology and physical space.

Alumnus and Society of Entrepreneurs member Hilliard Crews (BS ’71) and his wife Harriett Crews have invested $1 million in the project to help meet that goal. The facility and program are named the Crews Ventures Lab (CVL) in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Crews.