University of Navarra Vivet Therapeutics nabs Series A funds

Vivet Therapeutics (‘Vivet’), an emerging biotechnology company developing novel gene therapies for rare, inherited metabolic diseases, announced it has raised €37.5 million in a Series A financing round. The round involved a syndicate of leading international life sciences investors led by Novartis Venture Fund and Columbus Venture Partners, and including Roche Venture Fund, HealthCap, Kurma […]

Microsoft Ventures doubles down on AI with new investments in Agolo and Bonsai

Ever feel like there’s just too much information out there? New York-based Agolo is hoping so. The startup is developing a program that summarizes large amounts of information using artificial intelligence — and it’s one of two AI startups that announced new funding Wednesday from Microsoft’s corporate investment arm, Microsoft Ventures. Agolo’s funding, first reported by VentureBeat, […]

Oculus VR co-founder Brendan Iribe donates $50,000 to UMD’s Startup Shell

When junior computer science major Sam Drozdov approached Brendan Iribe — co-founder of virtual reality company Oculus VR — during the on-campus coding marathon Bitcamp in April, he wanted to build a relationship between the entrepreneur and the student-run organization Startup Shell. Drozdov didn’t expect Iribe to donate $50,000 to the group later that month. […]

University of Wollongong launches AU$10m startup seed fund

The University of Wollongong (UOW) has launched an AU$10 million seed fund aimed at providing a pipeline of early stage business development for young tech startups, in order to attract outside investment. The initiative is part of the university’s iAccelerate initiative, a co-working space and program that was launched in 2012 to provide support for […]

CCDI to back seven innovative Cape projects in second round of seed fund 

A hydrogen-powered drone that releases lab-bred insects to wipe out pests, a medical device which uses a novel method to treat glaucoma and an innovative method to manufacture oak extract for use in the manufacture of wine and spirits… These are just some of the seven biotech and agricultural projects that will each receive seed funding of up […]

New business angel fund to invest €30mn in Finnish start-ups

A new fund for business angels, EAF Finland, aims to improve growth by financing start-up enterprises. The fund’s 30 million euro budget comes from the Finnish Funding Agency for Innovation (Tekes) and the European Investment Fund (EIF). It was announced on Wednesday at the Arctic15 startup event at the former Nokia Cable Factory in Helsinki. […]

University of New Hampshire creates innovation fund

The University of New Hampshire’s Peter T. Paul Entrepreneurship Center has established the J. Dolores and Alfred P. Maurice Prize for Innovation Fund, UNH announced Wednesday. Alfred P. Maurice donated $150,000 to create an endowed gift to benefit undergraduate student innovation. “This prize will help the ECenter continue to build the growing innovation culture on […]

University of Texas Dallas Seed Fund Makes First Startup Investments

The evergreen fund launched earlier this year within the university’s Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is designed to provide capital to startups progressed beyond an idea and needing to scale. Businesses originated by UTD students, alumni, faculty, staff, or others associated with the university are eligible to apply.  Bryan Chambers, director of the fund and UTD’s Blackstone LaunchPad […]

New Mexico Arrowhead Innovation Fund receives investment from state’s Catalyst Fund

The Arrowhead Innovation Fund at New Mexico State University’s Arrowhead Center is one of three organizations to receive investment from the state’s Catalyst Fund, a $20 million “fund of funds” to support New Mexico companies, Gov. Susana Martinez announced Tuesday in Albuquerque. The Catalyst Fund is expected to support more than 50 companies in New […]

Penn State startup Virolock Technologies secures $75,000 in funding

When facing an outbreak of an infectious disease like Zika, influenza or Ebola, early detection and isolation of the virus is critical. A new Penn State startup is working to tackle this challenge with truly remarkable technology. As a viral outbreak begins to spread, those with recent infections may not yet show symptoms, and unknowingly […]