Wake Forest Innovation’s Catalyst Fund to support 6 early-stage technologies 

Six early-stage technologies, all invented at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Centerand being developed through Wake Forest Innovations, will receive a combined $595,000 investment to support their initial development. The funding was announced Wednesday by Pappas Capital and Wake Forest Innovations, the money coming through the Catalyst Fund, a $15 million technology development program established by […]

Mind the Gap Summit: Turn Alumni, Foundations, and Friends of the University into Gap Fund Investors

Donations, endowments, and direct investments from alumni, private foundations, and other stakeholders of the research institution into supporting gap funding programs, is the largest and growing source of proof of concept and startup funding programs. These friends of the university contribute over 50¢ on every dollar into the formation of these funds.

Proof of concept and startup gap funding programs embody the intersection between research institution innovation, societal benefit, and philanthropy. They offer a natural link to engage alumni, foundations, corporations, and friends of the universities.

These funds and programs require coordination between the Tech Commercialization Offices, Corporate & Foundation Relations , Development Offices, and Alumni Offices and are a great example of the emerging trend of campus-wide collaboration in innovation partnership and commercialization priorities.

Join us as we take a multi-perspective approach to how groups are best structuring their programs for philanthropic partnerships as a major source for innovation funding and support.