Google acquires U Toronto start-up, DNNresearch
The University of Toronto computer science department confirmed today that Google has acquired one of their startups lead by professor Geoffrey Hinton. DNNresearch Inc. was incorporated in 2012 and includes two of Hinton’s graduate students, Alex Krizhevsky and Ilya Sutskever. The startup focuses on deep neural networks (or “deep learning”) and will assist Google in the realm […]
Podcast: University of Colorado on success of POC fund
W3W3 radio spoke with TTO head Tom Smerdon about the acquisitionof CU-Boulder startup LineRate Systems by F5, and the role played by early-stage TTO funding: The thing that is exciting about this is, not only was this a startup basically out of Computer Sciences and Electrical Engineering here on the CU-Boulder campus, but the company was also an […]
MIT Media Lab proposes student start-up fund
Perhaps it’s not surprising that if you recruit a noted angel investor to run one of MIT’s highest-profile research groups, the Media Lab, one of the things he’ll do is try to create new mechanisms to invest in student startups…
UK CT Investment Partners backs University of Bradford energy start-up
UK-based clean energy venture capital firm CT Investment Partners has backed university spinout Acoustic Sensing Technology with a £650,000 commitment.
Detroit Innovate targets young technologies, university start-ups
A new seed-stage fund called Detroit Innovate, which intends to help launch technology companies in Southeast Michigan and invest in existing young companies, is scheduled to be announced today. The fund has received $5 million from the New Economy Initiative for Southeast Michigan and hopes to raise at least $10 million from other state foundations.
Sun Grant Initiative funds three POC projects at South Dakota State University
The Sun Grant Initiative, funded through the departments of Agriculture, Defense, Energy and Transportation, promotes collaboration among researchers from land-grant institutions, government agencies and the private sector to develop and commercialize renewable, bio-based energy technologies. The proof-of-concept grants allow researchers to take their basic, exploratory work to the next level by proving their ideas work.
Dorm Room Fund backs student start-ups expands into New York City
NEW YORK—A unique venture capital fund that focuses on financing business concepts from students is expanding into the city. First Round Capital launched the Dorm Room Fund last year in Philadelphia with $500,000 and a team of students choosing which start-ups to finance.
Notre Dame launches $3.5M fund for student-led ventures
A new $3.5-million fund at the University of Notre Dame has been established to help launch student-led ventures and further strengthen the educational component of the University’s ESTEEM Graduate Program. The funds for the program will be from gifts made to the University by John Jeuck, the former dean of the University of Chicago Booth […]
Pitt, CMU join team to gap fund start-ups
The technology commercialization offices at the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University are teaming up on a new initiative to spin out more technology into startups. The collaboration is being funded by a $200,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. Each university is receiving $100,000 in DCED money plus $25,000 from the Greater […]
University of Leicester call for spring POC proposals
Providing funds to drive projects with significant commercial potential towards achieving key commercial milestones. Eligible applications include: Proof of Principle Studies Design and manufacture working prototype Development of commercial relationships Validation of technology Market research Deadline for receipt of Expression of Interest Forms: March 1st 2013 More here