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 […]

Ohio State-Ohio University early-stage venture capital Innovation Fund could be coming soon

Innovation doesn’t happen overnight.That much is clear when looking at the delayed start of a joint venture-capital fund by Ohio State University and Ohio University.EnlargeThe Ohio State University seal.DOUG BUCHANANThe schools announced the OSU-OU Innovation Fund in April 2012, with Ohio State committing $20 million and Ohio University promising $15 million.A VC fund in California […]

Google Ventures Invests in Oxford University Venture Fund

Google Ventures’ European branch has invested in Oxford Sciences Innovation PLC, a company that funds spinoffs from Oxford University’s tech and science departments, a person familiar with the matter said Friday. Google Ventures is Google’s fund for early-stage tech investments. The investment in OSI is Google Ventures’ second in Europe since it was set up […]

$2.9M in WA Life Sciences Discovery Fund (LSDF) grants announced

Celiac disease-safe wheat, premature infant pain detection, and new medicines to fight flu and cancer are among the ideas to receive $2.9 million in funding from Washington’s Life Sciences Discovery Fund (LSDF). The 10 new commercialization awards are part of LSDF’s $100 million portfolio, which features an impressive 7-to-1 ROI statewide—including $510 million in new […]

Drugmakers, UK start $100M venture to fund creation of Alzheimer’s drugs

Major drugmakers, the British government and a top Alzheimer’s research charity are pooling more than $100 million to create a global fund to accelerate efforts to find a treatment or even a cure for the mind-robbing disease within a decade. The new Dementia Discovery Fund will function like a venture capital fund. It will identify […]

Two UK universities become investors in Mercia Technologies

They join the University of Leicester, Coventry University, Birmingham City University and Staffordshire University as investors in Mercia Technologies, which floated on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) on 18th December 2014.   The six are among the nine UK universities and research centres with which Mercia Technologies has collaborative relationships. They provide a consistent pipeline of […]

Who benefits from NY $50M Venture Fund?

Empire State Development officials said a $50 million state venture capital fund will stimulate private venture capital among startups that lack funding, primarily in upstate New York. “Upstate [New York] is a priority and historically has been underserved as compared to New York City where there’s so much investment in digital media,” said Steve Cohen, […]

Dartmouth Alum Fund Invests In Businesses With College Ties

A group of Dartmouth College alumni “angel investors” has established a venture capital fund to help businesses with connections to the college. “Angel investors” put up money to help entrepreneurs and start-ups to get off the ground and grow. The idea is less about turning a quick profit and more about nurturing a business. The […]

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Forms $5M Venture Capital Fund

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has formed a $5m venture capital fund to support University startups. The Carolina Research Venture Fund will support University startup companies in overcoming funding gaps, accelerate growth and help move ideas from University labs to the commercial marketplace. The University already has a number of avenues through […]

Investment booms in Pittsburgh thanks to new venture fund

It’s hard to miss investment in Pennsylvania when it takes the form of a downtown high rise or new sports complex, but if you’re not in the business community, you may not be aware of the robust — less visible — investments that propel the state’s economy. In Pittsburgh in the first nine months of […]