Sprint Joins With UP Global To Support Entrepreneurship And Innovation In The U.S.

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. & SEATTLE (BUSINESS WIRE), June 24, 2013 – UP Global and Sprint (NYSE:S, news, filings) announced today that they are joining together to cultivate and support entrepreneurship on a local and national scale, from early-stage startups to high growth entrepreneurs. Sprint is joining UP Global’s strong list of supporters which also includes Coca-Cola, Google for Entrepreneurs, Microsoft BizSpark, The Kauffman Foundation of Entrepreneurship and The Case Foundation.

UP Global was recently formed by Startup Weekend and The Startup America Partnership. It is the first full-spectrum support structure for entrepreneurs, focusing on every aspect of the entrepreneurial journey, from pre-idea through high growth stages.

“The move to team with Sprint is a result of a shared vision for the necessity of entrepreneurship and stronger communities built around innovation. Like us, Sprint understands that the future of our economy rests largely on the shoulders of entrepreneurs and new businesses. We’re excited to create more meaningful impact with the support of such a forward-thinking company,” says Marc Nager, UP Global CEO.

The UP Global and Sprint collaboration will first focus on the Kansas City community, which is gaining recognition as a hub for entrepreneurship in the US, and is also home to The Kauffman Foundation. Sprint also will be engaged in UP Global’s other programs and activities nationwide, including Startup Weekend and The Startup America Partnership.

“Sprint recognizes that corporate involvement is important to the success of any entrepreneurial or startup ecosystem,” said Kevin McGinnis, vice president of product platforms at Sprint. “Our UP Global relationship enables Sprint to bring new resources to Kansas City and also extend support on a national scale. In addition, it allows Sprint visibility to high-growth technology startups across the country that we may not be able to identify through our more traditional VC and business development efforts.”

About Sprint and Entrepreneurship

Sprint has been actively engaged in the Kansas City entrepreneur / startup community over the past year, helping to foster an atmosphere of collaboration between entrepreneurs, support organizations like The Kauffman Foundation, regional universities and large corporations. In 2012, Sprint helped to secure the i6 Grant to launch Digital Sandbox KC, a proof-of-concept and mentoring center for high-tech start-ups. Sprint is an ongoing supporter of the Kauffman Foundation’s One Million Cups, Silicon Prairie News, local hackathons and other initiatives. In addition, Sprint has a strong history of working with startups in Silicon Valley, helping young companies navigate the corporate world and build momentum behind their new businesses.

About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 55 million customers at the end of the first quarter of 2013 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. The American Customer Satisfaction Index rated Sprint No. 1 among all national carriers in customer satisfaction and most improved, across all 47 industries, during the last four years. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 3 in both its 2011 and 2012 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation’s greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint andwww.twitter.com/sprint.

About UP Global

UP Global is dedicated to empowering the entrepreneurial community and building networks that drive collaboration and strengthen entrepreneurs worldwide. With a platform offering action-based learning programs, resources, and networks for entrepreneurs and leaders, UP Global aims to be the leading organization strengthening/transforming communities through entrepreneurship. The UP Global model is dedicated to leveraging existing strengths within communities while developing and offering additional high-impact programs. UP Global currently powers Startup Weekend, Startup Digest, Startup Next, NYSE Corporate Connections, and more. With reach in over 110 countries, UP Global is a rapidly-growing, impact-based collaborative effort made possible by support from The Kauffman Foundation, Omidyar Network, Google for Entrepreneurs, the Case Foundation, Microsoft and the Coca-Cola Company.

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