Purdue Research Foundation, Alumni Network Team On Start-ups

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A new all-volunteer, nonprofit group composed of Silicon Valley-based Purdue University alumni could provide Purdue innovators and entrepreneurs with support to commercialize the university’s innovations. Silicon Valley Boiler Innovation Group (SV BIG) links established California venture capitalists, angel investors, entrepreneurs and industry officials who graduated from Purdue with Purdue entrepreneurs attempting to launch their […]

Wisconsin Lawmakers Propose $75M State Seed Fund

Madison lawmakers proposed a new venture capital plan last week, the latest step in their two-year slog to help create an entrepreneurial renaissance. Meanwhile, groups of entrepreneurs, mostly concentrated in Madison and Milwaukee, continue their attempts to spark that renaissance from the ground up. And they’re using a new “lean start-up” method that’s a departure […]

Oregon BEST Awards Commercialization Grant To University-Industry Collaboration On Stormwater Treatment Device

Oregon BEST has awarded a commercialization grant to an industry-university team developing a floating, solar-activated stormwater treatment device that could be deployed in retaining ponds or ditches along roadways and parking lots to keep contaminants from reaching streams. The technology could also be used to pre-treat stormwater, helping reduce overflow situations at municipal treatment facilities […]

Insight Accelerator, Chicago Universities Team To Spur Start-ups

In the last 25 years, the engineers and designers at Insight Product Development have come up with a portable CT scanner and a wireless cardiac implant monitor. For the next generation of breakthrough medical devices, the Chicago design shop is turning to the area’s research universities and entrepreneurs. Insight is opening an accelerator program called […]

Venture Capital Takes Off In Mexico, Latin America

According to the Latin America Venture Capital Association (LAVCA), Mexican startups raised $469 million dollars in 25 projects in 2011 through these venture capital funds, compared to the $211 million dollars raised through 19 deals in 2010. For 2012, LAVCA estimates that VC firms will invest around $1 billion in more than 30 deals.

Innovation Works, A Pennsylvania State-wide Commercialization Effort, Opens $800K Funding Cycle

Innovation Works is accepting proposals for the latest funding cycle of the Technology Commercialization Initiative (TCI), a statewide effort to commercialize Pennsylvania’s university research and/or corporate innovation in robotics and advanced electronics.  A total of $800,000 is eligible in multiple awards with a maximum award amount of $100,000 per project.  TCI is supported by The Discovered in […]

Steve Blank’s Take On The Rise Of Chinese Venture Capital

I just spent a few weeks in Japan and China on a book tour for the Japanese and Chinese versions of the Startup Owners Manual. In these series of 5 posts, I thought I’d share what I learned in China. All the usual caveats apply. I was only in China for a week so this a cursory view. Thanks […]