From Memphis to Zimbabwe, seven book tech startups come to Nashville for business-building program
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (January 20, 2016) – Seven book tech startups from around the world have been selected to participate in Ingram Content Group’s and the Nashville Entrepreneur Center’s (EC) 1440 Accelerator for publishing innovation.
The 1440 Accelerator participants are:
Authorpad Publishing, led by McWhilton Chikwenengere, Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe
Authorship.me, led by Roberto Machado de Campos, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Freenters, led by Rho Kook Song, Chicago, Ill.
Leafless, led by Richard Billings, Memphis, Tenn.
PiracyTrace, led by Scott La Counte, Anaheim, Calif.
PublishSoSimply, led by Michal Majewski, Poznan, Poland
Woodpie, led by Anuradha Bajpai, Bangalore, India
“Congratulations to the 1440 Accelerator participants. The inventions, ideas and diversity of the group are indicative of the potential for the future of the publishing industry,” said John Ingram, Chairman and CEO, Ingram Content Group and Chairman of the EC Board. “We look forward to helping these entrepreneurs grow and establish their ideas and products through the 1440 Accelerator, as we all work together to create the future of publishing through innovation.”
The startups have been selected for the publishing-centric accelerator, consisting of a 14-week business-building program. The accelerator groups will engage onsite at the EC with the curriculum, community, connections and capital necessary to turn innovative ideas into reality.
The 1440 Accelerator participants were selected from a global pool of applicants from 14 countries across six continents.
The 1440 Accelerator, named for the year Johannes Gutenberg perfected his printing press technology, begins Jan. 31 and ends May 9, 2016.
About 1440
1440, Ingram Content Group’s accelerator, fosters innovative products and technologies used to create, distribute, or consume print or electronic book content. Ideally suited for the program are early-stage companies that support book publishers, including independent authors, or help retailers, libraries, or educators connect with more readers. The expertise of Ingram Content Group will be joined with the startup programming expertise of the The Nashville Entrepreneur Center, as well as publishing experts from the Nashville community, a core business vertical in Nashville’s economy. The program begins on January 31, 2016, and encompasses an intense 14-week process designed to accelerate the growth of up to eight early-stage tech startups innovating in the world of book publishing.
About Ingram Content Group
Ingram Content Group Inc. is a subsidiary of Nashville-based Ingram Industries Inc. The company got its start in 1964 as a textbook depository and has since grown and transformed into a comprehensive publishing industry services company that offers numerous solutions, including physical book distribution, print-on-demand and digital services. Committed to the success of its partners, Ingram works closely with publishers, retailers, libraries and schools around the world to provide them with the right products and services to help them succeed in the dynamic and increasingly complex world of content publishing. Ingram’s operating units are Ingram Book Company, Lightning Source Inc., VitalSource Technologies Inc., Ingram Periodicals Inc., Ingram International Inc., Ingram Library Services Inc., Spring Arbor Distributors Inc., Ingram Publisher Services Inc., Tennessee Book Company LLC, and ICG Ventures Inc. Learn more about Ingram Content Group at www.ingramcontent.com.
About the EC
The Nashville Entrepreneur Center (EC) connects entrepreneurs with the critical resources they need to CREATE, LAUNCH and GROW their businesses. As a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, the EC is funded through sponsorships, partnerships, donations, and grants. The EC relies on support from leading corporations, successful entrepreneurs, and those who have a vested interest in the success of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. For more information, visit ec.co.
