Editor’s note: LimeLight is a regular feature from WRAL TechWire offering another means of publishing noteworthy news. Be sure to check out more LimeLight worthy news at this link.
+++
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK – First Flight Venture Center is excited to announce Ben Provan will be taking the position of Director of Hangar6, First Flight Venture Center’s advanced prototyping facility dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs and startups.
Ben Provan. (First Flight photo)
“We believe that Ben Provan’s leadership will elevate Hangar 6 to new heights, advancing our mission to catalyze innovation and drive positive change,” said Krista Covey, President of First Flight Venture Center. “With his expertise, Hangar 6 will serve as a cornerstone for the prototyping community in North Carolina, fostering collaboration, innovation, and the creation of game-changing solutions.”
Ben Provan brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this pivotal role. For the past ten years, Ben served as CEO of OpenDoor, a co-living startup he co-founded to help address the urban housing crisis and loneliness epidemic. At OpenDoor, Ben launched the first US-based co-living company and helped pioneer the co-living industry more broadly, ultimately growing it to a portfolio of 19 properties, 406 units, and 40 employees in 3 markets (Bay Area, Portland, Seattle).
In addition to his experience as an entrepreneur, Ben holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University and an MBA from Presidio Graduate School in San Francisco. He has worked as a mechanical design engineer at Bose Corporation, and led technology commercialization at waste-to-biofuels startup Achor Innovations. Born and raised in North Carolina, Ben is a Chapel Hill native.
“After nearly two decades living and working around the country, I am excited to return to my home state to support its rapidly growing startup and technology ecosystem. I hope my experience as both a founder and an engineer can be of service to First Flight Venture Center and the community of entrepreneurs it supports.”
As the Director of Hangar6, Ben Provan will be responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations, developing and implementing programs to support startups, and building a vibrant entrepreneurial community within Hangar6. He will work closely with FFVC leadership to ensure that Hangar6 continues to be a thriving hub for innovation and a catalyst for economic growth in North Carolina.
Hangar6, a First Flight program, offers advanced prototyping resources to entrepreneurs and prototypers all across the Research Triangle. With its advanced equipment, including 3D printers and laser cutters, Hangar6 allows entrepreneurs to go from conception to product development rapidly, all at a low cost. Hangar6 is a unique facility that meets the needs of many entrepreneurs and prototypers who need advanced, but affordable prototyping and design services.
+++
First Flight Venture Center is a high-science, high-impact science-focused business incubator and innovation hub located in the heart of Research Triangle Park, NC. Established in 1991, First Flight has hosted more than 400 plus science-focused companies, providing strategic education, tailored resources, guidance, business connections and office/lab space in a 25,000 sq.ft. facility. First Flight has launched businesses that have commercialized important new science breakthroughs and disruptive technologies, while creating thousands of jobs in North Carolina. For more information, visit http://ffvcnc.org or view First Flight video.
