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OwlSpark has five directors, all of whom are academics in the broad fields of economics and business, but none of whom have much experience as either entrepreneurs or investors of start-ups. Of the 33 companies which have enrolled in the OwlSpark program, none have received venture capital funding, been acquired or exited in an IPO.

The second university accelerator in Houston, RED Labs, was founded in 2013 and is housed at the University of Houston in the Greater Third Ward neighborhood. With a mission to promote entrepreneurship within both the University of Houston and greater Houston communities, RED Labs advertises access to industry and academic experts, office space at the University of Houston and mentorship.

The accelerator has one director, who has direct experience as the founder of a successful company. Across its four years of existence, only 18 companies have enrolled in the RED Labs program, none of which have received venture capital investments from an outside firm, been acquired, or exited in an IPO.