Saint Louis University’s New Venture Accelerator Names 2026 Cohort
Newswise — ST. LOUIS – Saint Louis University’s New Venture Accelerator (NVA), launched in 2024 out of the Chaifetz Center for Entrepreneurship (CCE), announces its third cohort of participants. The NVA offers current SLU students and alumni who graduated within the last five years equity-free investments of up to $50,000 through a special accelerator fund […]
Colorado advances quantum innovation with third round of translational seed grant awards | CUbit Quantum Initiative | University of Colorado Boulder
Administered by the CUbit Quantum Initiative at the University of Colorado Boulder on behalf of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, the program provides targeted, non-dilutive funding to both academic and industry-led teams demonstrating strong commercial potential. Each awardee receives $50,000 to advance translational efforts. This support is especially vital in the capital-intensive and […]
Six student ventures earn $50,000 each in 2026 President’s Buckeye Accelerator
Six student-led startups were each awarded $50,000 in funding at The Ohio State University’s 2026 President’s Buckeye Accelerator (PBA) finale, led by the Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship. The pitch event featured 12 teams presenting their ventures to a panel of judges representing a cross-section of entrepreneurs and business professionals. Teams delivered timed pitches followed by a […]
The Next Phase of GAP Is External Engagement
Over the past several years, gap fund and accelerator programs (GAP) have made meaningful progress in incorporating external perspectives alongside internal capability building, but that work is still maturing. Institutions have worked to stand up proof-of-concept programs, expand translational support, launch accelerators, and in some cases, establish affiliated venture funds. The emphasis has been on […]
Proof-of-Concept Is Where Opportunities Take Shape
Proof-of-concept programs (POC) are often described in terms of validation, but in practice, their role is much broader. At this stage, technologies are not simply being tested. They are being shaped. Use cases are defined, potential markets are explored, and decisions are made about where a technology fits and where it does not. Early assumptions […]
GAP Programs Are Not Programs Anymore. They’re Systems
Across research institutions, gap fund and accelerator programs (GAP) are often still described as a collection of individual efforts. A proof-of-concept fund here, an accelerator there, maybe an affiliated venture fund layered on top. In practice, that framing is becoming outdated. What is emerging is not a set of standalone programs, but an interdependent system […]
The EU is supporting 70 deep tech startups with new pre-accelerator funding
The EIC Pre-Accelerator programme focuses on “widening countries” under Horizon Europe, as well as associated nations and outermost regions, where start-up ecosystems often face structural challenges. By directing funding and support to these areas, the initiative aims to unlock untapped potential and reduce disparities across Europe. The selected companies come from 22 countries, with Portugal, Estonia, and […]
University of Utah hosts second annual Startup Launchpad
On Friday, April 17, the University of Utah Technology Licensing Office hosted the second annual Startup Launchpad, featuring panels discussing various topics and resources useful to researchers, startup founders, and others locally involved in commercialization and innovation. The keynote speaker was Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, who spoke with Troy D’Ambrosio, VP for Innovation […]
New American Heart Association accelerator targets real world adoption of health innovations
DALLAS, April 24, 2026 — Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States and drives nearly $415 billion in annual health‑related costs, according to the American Heart Association, highlighting the need for scalable, real‑world health innovation. In response, the American Heart Association is investing in early-stage health innovators and collegiate entrepreneurs […]
GAP Pipeline Brief: Tulane University / Provost’s Proof of Concept Fund Awards
Program Overview The Tulane Innovation Institute, in partnership with the Office of the Provost, established the PPOC Fund to address the gap between research discovery and market readiness. The program provides grants of up to $50,000 to support: • technical development and prototyping• customer discovery and market validation• commercialization pathway planning The Spring 2026 cycle […]