Durham University scientist lands financial backing for graphene production
A SCIENTIST whose company is developing a way of mass-producing a substance that can make cars and planes lighter has landed a £1.6m investment. He has won financial backing from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council in his efforts to commercialise the substance and has signed up industrial partners Dyson and Procter & Gamble.
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
Drug discovery proof of concept grants show promise at Temple
An innovative funding model designed to promote interdepartmental collaboration with the Moulder Center for Drug Discovery Research in Temple’s School of Pharmacy is already showing results. As part of the expansion of the Moulder Center in 2010, the university established a competitive process for awarding two-year, $100,000 Drug Discovery Initiative (DDI) grants. These proof-of-concept grants allow researchers across […]
How To Fund Commercialization of University Research? Crowdfunding, of Course!
Perhaps it was just a matter of time – but here’s a new development in the funding of academic research and technology commercialization. The University of Utah’s Technology Commercialization Office (TCO)—#1 in the country for startups launched by research organizations for three of the last five years—has spun off more than 150 companies in the past seven […]
Tech Launch Arizona announces $715K in awards from new POC program
Nineteen University of Arizona researchers are recipients of Proof of Concept Program Awards by the newly established Tech Launch Arizona, or TLA. The purpose of the program, or POC, is to enable faculty with promising inventions and discoveries to address technological and commercial hurdles – moving them closer to commercialization. The awards, ranging from $10,000 to […]
New York Times article covers new venture investment in SBA program for start-ups
While many small businesses are waiting for the federal government to write rules for so-called equity crowdfunding, the Obama administration is moving forward with another effort to funnel investment capital to start-ups. Last week, the Small Business Administration announced that it had granted a venture capital fund from North Carolina the first license to participate in a new […]
University Crowdfunding: New capital requires new talent
Crowdfunding is seeping into mainstream conversation on university campuses around the world. This emerging funding vehicle, which targets smaller investments from a large number of people, has demonstrated historic success when directed at things like art studios and trendy gadgets; however, now it is being weighed for inclusion as a legitimate source of capital for […]
Michigan’s Pre-seed Capital Fund invests $1M in four companies
Four Michigan companies recently received investments from the Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund, totaling $1 million. To date, the Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund, a collaborative effort of Michigan’s SmartZones to support start-ups’ product commercialization, has awarded 83 Michigan companies with seed funding totaling more than $19 million.
Crowdfunding crazies ruining it for the rest of us?
In our University Crowdfunding Review last week (available here), we identified this sort of malicious misrepresentation as a stopper for crowdfunding for equity. How will stories like this affect political momentum and investors’ willingness to participate in this emerging funding vehicle? Will the perception of this risk/public fallout be magnified at the university-leve? ——– Regulators are scrutinizing […]
Forbes article on student-led University Venture Fund, University of Utah
UVF hosts an annual University Private Equity Summit, where top VCs and investment experts offer best practices and wisdom to approximately 300 attendees. It’s not too late to attend this year’s Summit in Salt Lake City and Park City, January 24-26. David Hornick ofAugust Capital and Jeremy Andrus of SkullCandy head this year’s keynote list. Panelists include Matt Miller of Sequoia Capital, David McClure of500 Startups, Ray […]