Defining “Types” of University Tech and Start-up Gap Funding
The “gap” in gap funding refers to a vast shortage of capital and other commercialization support to identify, to evaluate, and to deliver research institution technology and start-ups to the marketplace. Defining this “gap” too broadly (e.g. “Valley of Death” or “between basic research and the market”) oversimplifies the complexities of the situation and clouds […]
UI awards $625,000 in funding to help faculty members turn inventions into businesses
A desalination device that also creates electricity and a screening system to detect symptoms of delirium are among the University of Iowa faculty inventions that were awarded a total of $625,000 in gap funding by the University of Iowa Research Foundation (UIRF). In place since 2007, the UI Commercialization GAP Fund Program has been highly […]
Announcing Release of Mind the Gap 2015 Report
The innovation system that transitions breakthroughs in research from the lab into the marketplace is constrained by the lack of available early stage capital and developmental support. This “gap” extends from where the government funding of basic research ends to where existing companies or investors are willing to accept the risk to commercialize or invest […]
Research Funding: UChicago’s Big Ideas Generator Funds Moonshot Projects | Chicago Inno
University of Chicago neuroscience researchers had a bit of a crazy idea. In their previous work they found evidence that the formation of the myelin sheath, which facilitates rapid nerve conduction, might originate elsewhere in the cell than scientists currently believe. A discovery such as this would fundamentally change our understanding of the structure of […]
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, […]
U Mississippi Rebel Student Venture Capital Fund Grants $6,500 in Rewards
The University of Mississippi student-led start-ups presented to the RVCF, each receiving grants and mentorships to assist in the development of their new business ventures. Of the six businesses there were three smart phone apps, Impster, Nimble Fashion, and Okay2Eat; one light, sound, and entertainment business, Vault Entertainment; a marketing start-up, Ault Wilson Marketing; and a […]
New SEC Equity Ruling Opens up New Possibilities for University Crowdfunding Efforts
The idea that the average consumer i.e. a non “high net-worth individual” could invest in a small equity round has been in the works since June but a new rule released last week now brings the US closer to true equity crowdfunding. You can check out the entire release here but, in general, it opens […]
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 […]
Texas Emerging Technology Fund Still Benefiting Life Sciences Startups – SiliconHills
Former Gov. Rick Perry’s pet project, the Texas Emerging Technology Fund, isn’t dead, it’s just been relocated. Now under the management of the Texas Treasury Safekeeping Trust Company, there are about 100 active companies still in the fund, 60 percent of which focus on life sciences, said portfolio manager Jyoti Gupta at an Austin Technology […]
Penn State’s Garber Venture Capital Fund poised to enter new stage | Penn State University
The Garber Venture Capital Fund at the Penn State Smeal College of Business, which provides master of business administration (MBA) students with the opportunity to evaluate business opportunities and issue funding, is on the precipice of several dynamic changes. That’s the message Peter Whalen, the new director of the fund and clinical associate professor of […]