Oculus VR co-founder Brendan Iribe donates $50,000 to UMD’s Startup Shell
When junior computer science major Sam Drozdov approached Brendan Iribe — co-founder of virtual reality company Oculus VR — during the on-campus coding marathon Bitcamp in April, he wanted to build a relationship between the entrepreneur and the student-run organization Startup Shell. Drozdov didn’t expect Iribe to donate $50,000 to the group later that month. […]
Microsoft Ventures doubles down on AI with new investments in Agolo and Bonsai
Ever feel like there’s just too much information out there? New York-based Agolo is hoping so. The startup is developing a program that summarizes large amounts of information using artificial intelligence — and it’s one of two AI startups that announced new funding Wednesday from Microsoft’s corporate investment arm, Microsoft Ventures. Agolo’s funding, first reported by VentureBeat, […]
University of Navarra Vivet Therapeutics nabs Series A funds
Vivet Therapeutics (‘Vivet’), an emerging biotechnology company developing novel gene therapies for rare, inherited metabolic diseases, announced it has raised €37.5 million in a Series A financing round. The round involved a syndicate of leading international life sciences investors led by Novartis Venture Fund and Columbus Venture Partners, and including Roche Venture Fund, HealthCap, Kurma […]
New New Mexico state Catalyst Fund announces first awards
Many cash-strapped New Mexico startups may soon get a critical boost from a state-backed investment program that’s pumping an initial $4.65 million into three local venture funds. Gov. Susana Martinez announced Tuesday that the state’s new $20 million “Catalyst Fund” is making its first three commitments to investment funds managed by New Mexico State University, […]
Alibaba launches US$3m start-up competition with Cyberport and Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks
Alibaba’s not-for-profit initiative, the Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund, is teaming up with the city’s Cyberport and Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks on a US$3 million start-up competition to help nurture the city’s growing start-up scene and identify tomorrow’s entrepreneurial stars The competition, “Jumpstarter 2017”, will begin in May and is open to a variety […]
Cisco Innovation Challenge lets university entrepreneurs rise and shine
Every year when Naomi Phillips travels to the Caribbean with her husband, they use her homemade sunscreen. And every year, her husband says, “You need to sell this stuff!” Phillips is a student in the business program at South Mountain Community College in Phoenix. She’s also an entrepreneur, although she didn’t always see herself that […]
India C-CAMP delighted to launch SEED fund in partnership with BIRAC
C-CAMP, India’s premier life sciences technology and innovation hub launched a SEED fund in partnership with the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC). C-CAMP, India’s premier life sciences technology and innovation hub launched a SEED fund in partnership with the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC). The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms – C-CAMP, […]
Singapore Creates S$1 Billion Innovation Fund to Drive Growth
Singapore is creating a S$1 billion ($718 million) fund to help innovative companies develop their businesses and expand overseas, part of the city state’s drive to boost economic growth. The Makara Innovation Fund — a collaboration between the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore and local private equity firm Makara Capital — will invest S$30 to S$150 million […]
State of Massachusetts Awards $455,000 in Clean Energy Grants to Massachusetts Cleantech Innovators
The Baker-Polito Administration today awarded $455,000 in funding to seven early-stage researchers and companies developing innovative clean energy and water technologies across the Commonwealth. The funding, which comes from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s (MassCEC) Catalyst program, will support clean energy and water research in Boston, Cambridge, Lowell, and Somerville. The announcement was made by […]
Batteries and robotics first in line for Innovate UK BEIS £1bn innovation fund
The Autumn Statement initially outlined the development of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF) – a new cross-disciplinary fund to support collaborations between business and the UK’s science base. The four-year fund will be managed by Innovate UK and research councils, and will cover a broad range of technologies, from healthcare and medicine to satellites and […]