University of Arkansas Chancellor’s New $1 Million Fund Advances Multiple Guiding Priorities
University of Arkansas Chancellor Joe Steinmetz has created a new campus fund as an initiative to support several of the university’s eight guiding priorities, established this past fall. When fully funded the Chancellor’s Discovery, Creativity, Innovation and Collaboration Fund will invest $1 million a year in new projects designed to enhance the university’s research and […]
Academics to the rescue: University innovation and venturing surges ahead in 2016 in UK
With the relentless barrage of bad news surrounding Brexit, it is perhaps not surprising to hear that the amount of equity finance invested in startups in the UK dropped in 2016. A recent report from equity specialists Beauhurst showed that equity finance into startups declined by 12% in 2016 compared to 2015[i]. There is however, […]
Amazon Alexa Fund Extends University Ties in AI Race
Amazon has launched a new program to help students build capabilities into its voice-controlled assistant Alexa, the latest move by a technology firm to nurture ideas and talent in artificial intelligence research. The ecommerce company said it is paying for a year-long doctoral fellowship at four universities for an undisclosed sum. Working with professors, the […]
Stanford StartX VCs Are Looking for the Next Snapchat
As a student at Stanford University, Evan Spiegel often hung around the offices of StartX, the school’s entrepreneurial hub. Spiegel, who was working on a photo-sharing app called Picaboo, would seek advice from people affiliated with the incubator. In return, he volunteered part-time in 2011, helping design some early marketing materials for StartX. Spiegel’s side project eventually became Snapchat, whose […]
Innovation hub at Michigan Tech University bridges “Valley of Death”
They call it the “Valley of Death” — the gap in a project once a project is past the basic science but not far enough along for investors to jump in. Michigan Technological University will have a larger role in getting more of those ideas to market. This week, the Michigan Strategic Fund approved funding […]
MCCC fund to help provide capital for local start-up businesses
Jennifer Green doubled over in her chair, breathing rapidly with her hand to her face. Echo, a 16-month-old chocolate lab, recognized the signs of a panic attack and sprang into action, nuzzling his owner’s hand and climbing onto her lap to apply pressure to her chest to help calm her down. Green, however, wasn’t really […]
Uniseed’s new $20 million venture fund to double down on good deals | afr.com
The Uniseed venture fund is shifting focus towards more later stage, less risky investments and will raise another $20 million from its university partners for follow-on capital for companies that do well after their first round of investment The University of Melbourne, the University of Sydney, UNSW and the University of Queensland will each commit $5 […]
University of Michigan, Michigan Tech designated as Innovation Hubs in MEDC’s statewide MTRAC program
Accelerating the creation and transfer of new technologies from research settings to practical real-world applications is the main focus of the innovation hubs at the University of Michigan’s College of Engineering and Michigan Technological University. With the Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF) board’s approval today, the U-M advanced transportation Hub and Michigan Tech’s advanced materials Hub […]
Canada Foundation for $1.3M in innovation funds five new leadership awards at UCalgary
Five University of Calgary researchers have been awarded Canada Foundation for Innovation John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF) awards, valued at over $1.3 million. Announced today by the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science, the awards will support research in the Cumming School of Medicine, the faculties of Kinesiology and Arts, and the Schulich School […]
Virginia Tech and Carilion form $15 million venture capital fund
Virginia Tech and Carilion Clinic have formed a new $15 million venture capital fund designed to catapult the startups taking root around Blacksburg and Roanoke’s so-called innovation corridor. About 60 percent of the investments will be in the life sciences industry and most will be based in Virginia. If they’re in another state, the companies […]