RFP: Help us with the University Crowdfunding Attitude Survey

In its most recent Mind the Gap landscape report, innovosource identified crowdfunding as an emerging investment vehicle that may be better positioned to support the capital requirements of translational research, proof of concept projects, and early-stage start-ups than more traditional capital sources, like venture capital and angel investment. This funding approach taps into the masses […]

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…

New $7.5M fund will help U Michigan accelerate medical technologies

A new $7.5 million fund will help U-M medical discoveries make the leap from the laboratory to the market, accelerating their potential to help patients. Funded in part by a new $2.4 million grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s 21st Century Jobs Fund, the new effort will help the U-M Medical School and U-M […]

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 Buffalo Catalyst Fund puts $214K into promising inventions

UB’s Catalyst Fund has awarded $213,762 to five UB inventors or research teams developing promising technologies in the life sciences. The financial support will enable the researchers to conduct efficacy studies and other projects that demonstrate the commercial value of potential products. The goal is to move promising technologies closer to the market.

MedCity news covers five university crowdfunding platforms

A piece in Forbes this week calls attention to a recent trend in technology commercialization at universities: the use of crowdfunding. The article focused on a collaboration between the University of Utah’s Technology Commercialization Office and the crowdfunding site RocketHub, which resulted in the University Tech Vault, a portal specifically for projects that come out of the university. Come to […]

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