Marshall University receives gift for Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Marshall University has received a gift in the amount of $1.2 million in support of its Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The gift comes from Quality Insights, a nonprofit organization, in order to support the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship’s involvement with gBETA, which is a no-cost, no-equity program for startups within West Virginia. The overall goal of the gift, and the partnership, is to advance rural healthcare in the state.

According to an article on Marshall University’s website, Sven Berg, who serves as the CEO of Quality Insights, was quoted as saying of the gift, “For more than 50 years, Quality Insights has been committed to improving rural health, and innovation is essential to that mission. This $1.2 million investment in gBETA@Marshall Powered by Quality Insights supports West Virginia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and aligns with the state’s vision to become a national leader in rural health innovation. Through partnerships like this and our Thinkspace accelerator, we’re helping entrepreneurs develop breakthrough health care solutions that will transform care delivery in West Virginia and rural communities nationwide.”

In June 2025, the iCenter launched its gBETA accelerator, with startup participation based in five industries: agriculture, digital infrastructure, medical technology, advanced manufacturing,  and artificial intelligence. Also in 2025, Quality Insights participated in a workshop that led to the organization joining iCenter as a gBETA mentor, and the creation of Quality Insights’ Thinkspace accelerator. The goal of the Thinkspace accelerator is to support startups that focus on advancements in rural healthcare.

Vanessa Huerta, who is the gBETA vice president and partner at gener8tor, said, “We are excited to continue this impactful relationship with Marshall University’s iCenter to drive support to more early-stage founders in West Virginia. We recognize the demand in the region for startup support is strong and believe gBETA at Marshall’s iCenter is the perfect resource for the ecosystem.”

Specifically, the funding from Quality Insights will be used to pay for a full-time gener8tor program manager, two gBETA cohorts per year for three years, and one gALPHA cohort per year, which will focus on early-stage startups.

University president Brad D. Smith said, “I am sincerely grateful to Quality Insights for this gift. With this support, the iCenter can deepen its impact as a catalyst for entrepreneurship and economic development, helping founders transform ideas into scalable businesses and ensuring Marshall plays a leading role in shaping the region’s economic future.”

Echoing these sentiments, Nico Karagosian, the president and CEO of the Marshall University Foundation, said, “We are thankful for our partnership with Quality Insights. By investing in entrepreneurship, this gift supports a key pillar of Marshall’s advancement efforts, enabling the iCenter to drive innovation, business creation and long-term economic growth for the communities we serve.”

For more information about Marshall University, visit the school’s website.