GlobeSherpa, a Portland State student-led venture, moves forward in convenient transit application
Riding TriMet buses and trains in Portland may soon become a paperless, machine-less and generally more convenient experience ifGlobeSherpa has anything to say about it. The 2-year-old company has created a mobile system that lets riders buy tickets on their phones. The completely paperless platform would also give TriMet an easier way to manage operations and even provide […]
Few Awards Lead to Frustrations at Third Frontier Fund, Others Point to Recent Program Changes
Many of the people in charge of the Ohio Third Frontier program aren’t happy. Several members of the Third Frontier Commission and Advisory Board expressed deep frustration over the relatively meager number of awards that the technology-focused economic development program has made during fiscal year 2012, which ends on June 30.
Gap Funding Helps University of Illinois at Chicago Professors Commercialize Discoveries
Four technologies being developed by University of Illinois at Chicago researchers have been awarded the first UIC proof-of-concept gap funding grants, designed to help UIC faculty transition their inventions from the laboratory to the marketplace.
BC Discovery Fund’s portfolio company, Avigilon Corporation, receives emerging company award
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, Jun 20, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) — British Columbia Discovery Fund (VCC) Inc. is very pleased to announce that its portfolio company Avigilon Corporation, a leader in high-definition (HD) and megapixel video surveillance solutions, earned the prestigious “Company of the Year” award at the recent 2012 British Columbia Technology Industry Association (“BCTIA”) […]
Pension Funds a Source for Early-stage Commercialization? Silicon Valley Bank Invests in Ireland
Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) has announced it will lend $100 million to the Irish innovation sector as part of a new partnership with the National Pensions Reserve Fund (NPRF). According to Reuters, SVB intends to invest in Ireland’s technology, life science, cleantech, private-equity, and venture capital businesses over the next five years.
Alaskan 49th State Angel Fund Is Ready to Roll
Alaskans are full of great ideas. We’ve dreamed up making facial cream out of glacial silt and turning salmon into vodka. But to make money, you need money. And that’s where the 49th State Angel Fund comes in. This spring, the Municipality of Anchorage received a $13.2 million federal allocation to establish the 49th State […]
$20 Million W Fund, Focusing on Research Spinouts, Open for Business
We’ve been hearing about a new investment fund for university spinouts in Washington state for close to two years. Starting today, the W Fund is officially ready to start cutting checks—and it’s already started investigating promising research projects from colleges and government R&D labs around the state.
Eight Scottish universities get access to new seed fund
Scottish investment group Braveheart is to run a £10.3 million seed fund for research commercialisation projects at eight universities in the East Midlands.
REDI, a University of Missouri-partnered initiative, eyes new seed fund
A “huge issue,” MacLellan said, is establishing a seed fund to help startups. Often, entrepreneurs with ideas need a small amount of capital to test the viability of their idea before they can take it to the bank for a loan or raise investment capital. MacLellan said a fund that could provide seed money in […]
Kenya Investment Authority creates a state-backed new venture fund
The government plans to buy stakes in small and medium sized start-ups that have no access to credit from banks to accelerate enterprise and jobs growth This will be done through a State-backed venture capital fund, which will provide funding and technical support for businesses that have difficulty accessing loans from banks or capital markets.