University of Kansas promotes innovation with new Proof of Concept Fund Awards
Demonstrating that a laboratory concept will work in practice is one key to moving a research discovery into the marketplace. The University of Kansas supports discovery and innovation in multiple ways, including the granting of Proof of Concept (POC) Fund awards for inventions that are near the commercialization stage. This year, KU has awarded five […]
Mayfield raises $525 million for two new funds for early stage startups
The majority of that capital ($400 million) makes up Mayfield XV, the fund focused on early-stage companies, while the rest ($125 million) will go to Mayfield Select for later-stage investing. Mayfield says that Mayfield Select is a first for the firm, which has traditionally focused on investing in younger startups. Even so, those late-stage dollars […]
New £180m fund to accelerate innovation across the Midlands Engine
The ERA is the first project to be delivered by the ‘Midlands Innovation’ initiative and will help unlock £120m of private sector investment. It will tackle some of the biggest energy challenges facing the UK such as making the best use of available resources and how to produce affordable energy. Commercial secretary to the Treasury, […]
Jamaica Technology Innovation Fund to be created
Minister of Energy, Science and Technology Dr Andrew Wheatley says the Government is moving to make Jamaica the Caribbean’s leading producer of technology, through the creation of a Technology Innovation Fund. He explained that the Fund will provide for the sustainable financing of technology-based and start-up projects. Dr Wheatley was speaking at the opening of […]
New early-stage venture fund forming with eye on Pittsburgh startups
Pittsburgh-area entrepreneurs will soon have another funding option for growing early phase startup companies. Pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline has thrown its support behind the creation of a $100 million venture capital fund, which will help meet a need for early stage business startup capital in the Pittsburgh area. Philadelphia-based SG3 Ventures anticipates awarding its first round […]
Illinois to invest $220 million in venture capital funds
The state of Illinois is getting back in the venture-capital business for the first time in several years. Treasurer Michael Frerichs says he’ll start investing more than $220 million of state treasury money with venture funds across the state. The Legislature first authorized the state to invest up to 1 percent of its funds in […]
Partners expands life sciences innovation fund to $100M
Partners HealthCare is expanding its Innovation Fund from $35 million to $100 million, the Massachusetts health system announced today at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference.The fund, which was launched as an experiment in 2007 with funding from Brigham & Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, provides startup capital to early stage life sciences companies. To date, it has […]
New Seed Fund to Speed UVA Innovation and Research to the Market
Starting in 2016, the University of Virginia will be propelling entrepreneurship into the market like never before. The University’s new Seed Fund will deploy $10 million over 10 years to help commercialize UVA technologies and opportunities. “UVA’s research enterprise helps drive the economy locally, nationally and globally, while producing discoveries that lead to new technologies, […]
Marquette launches seed fund to support student, faculty ventures
Marquette University said Thursday it has launched a seed fund that will provide $600,000 of early-stage capital to support student and faculty entrepreneurship on its campus. The effort is being administered by Marquette and funded by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. “The Marquette Enterprise Seed Fund will offer a critical source of capital to support […]
Rice to invest $150 million in tech research initiatives
Rice University President David Leebron announced a $150 million investment in strategic research initiatives last week. The three-part investment will fund Rice’s molecular nanotechnology research, establish a program in data sciences and promote a broad range of research competitiveness across the university, Leebron said. The investment draws from a combination of endowment, philanthropy and reallocation […]