CIT GAP Funds Invests in BloomCatch to Advance the Next
The Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) today announced that CIT GAP Funds, the direct investment program of the Virginia Innovation Partnership Authority (VIPA) Investment Division, has invested in Centreville, Va.-based BloomCatch. BloomCatch is a versatile mobile plant identification app that combines cutting edge machine learning with live human experiences to connect plant parents to plant experts […]
Purdue U Startup Closes Seed Funding Round
A West Lafayette-based life sciences diagnostic startup has closed on a $1.8 million seed round of funding. Amplified Sciences, which is developing diagnostics designed to detect debilitating diseases more quickly, says the round was completed by an investment from Chicago-based OCA Ventures. Amplified Sciences Chief Executive Officer Diana Caldwell says the funding will help validate the […]
$6.5M state investment in Michigan Rise to fuel more startup funding
An additional $6.5 million state investment gives pre-seed fund Michigan Rise more capital to back a strong pipeline of startup companies. Created a year ago and administered by the Michigan State University Foundation, Michigan Rise has at least 10 startups awaiting investments. The Michigan Economic Development Corp. expects Michigan Rise to invest $2.5 million in 15 startups in […]
Polsky Center Teams Up with $15 Million Great Lakes Innovation Hub to Catalyze Innovation in the Midwest
The University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation has joined the Great Lakes Innovation Corps Hub, which was established by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support innovation in the Midwest ecosystem. The $15 million Hub is one of five across the country that the NSF announced today – a decade after originally launching the Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program. Since 2011 more […]
Startups: market validation attracts early investors
Many early-stage startups have a common problem: it’s hard to attract investors without proof that customers will pay for their product. Yet without investment to fund product development, it’s difficult to obtain market validation. The key to overcoming this challenge is to find creative and inexpensive ways to conduct market validation — a step in […]
Purdue Polytechnic Institute’s first Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fellow to assist entrepreneurial faculty, students
Nathalie Duval-Couetil, professor in Purdue Polytechnic Institute‘s Department of Technology Leadership and Innovation, has been named the institute’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fellow. As a fellow, Duval-Couetil will serve as a resource to Polytechnic Institute faculty and students interested in pursuing technology commercialization and entrepreneurial activity. She will also help develop commercial-oriented collaborations with the other academic […]
Northwestern plans multimillion-dollar technology accelerator
Northwestern University announced today it will create a multimillion-dollar technology accelerator in downtown Evanston to support startup companies led by Northwestern faculty in health, life sciences and related fields, amplifying scientific discovery and innovation by supplying the laboratory space, networking opportunities and management training necessary to address the world’s biggest problems. The collaborative space will […]
SMU Announces All-New Business Accelerator to Support Next-Gen Entrepreneurs | Dallas Innovates
A six-month program will provide SMU student and recent alumni entrepreneurs the growth opportunity of an existing start-up. Described as an “intense and enriching” accelerator, the program offers immersive workshops, mentorship, and access to entrepreneurial and investor networks. Students will have two opportunities to compete for non-dilutive funding. The BAP program features two competitions: a […]
New Venture Accelerator at Auburn’s The Park gives entrepreneurs the resources to succeed
Two sons of immigrants who will graduate from Auburn University in December are on their way to striking it big with a software application that helps independent convenience store operators track and manage data and sales, and maximize profits. SwiftSku is one of multiple innovative startups that have emerged from the New Venture Accelerator, a business incubator that […]
LG Electronics Launches Innovation Center To Accelerate New Business Creation
LG Electronics has formed LG NOVA, its new Silicon Valley-based innovation center, tasked with creating a collaborative ecosystem to accelerate the growth of new ideas that embody LG’s innovation for a better life philosophy. Powered by the LG brand and resources, LG NOVA will partner with startup and entrepreneur communities to scale up ideas and concepts to its […]