TEDCO and MBIA Announce Awardees for the Commercialization Innovation Grants
TEDCO, Maryland’s economic engine for technology companies, and the Maryland Business Innovation Association (MBIA) announce the fiscal year 2026 (FY26) awardees of the MBIA Commercialization Innovation Grant (MCIG). This competitive program was open to startups participating in one of MBIA’s member entrepreneurial support organizations. A volunteer team of 13 industry professionals and experienced entrepreneurs evaluated […]
Draper’s $2.5 Million Gift Fuels University of Texas at Dallas Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
A $2.5 million gift from the Draper Foundation is helping The University of Texas at Dallas expand its entrepreneurial ecosystem — from early-stage student ventures to high-profile startup competitions designed to launch companies into the marketplace. Founded by Silicon Valley venture capitalist Tim Draper, the Draper Foundation is committed to strengthening entrepreneurship programming at UT […]
U of Toronto, McMaster Announce $30M+ Early-Stage Life Sciences Venture Fund With Genesys Capital
In a move that will provide a major boost to life sciences startups in Ontario and the Canadian health economy overall, the University of Toronto, McMaster University and Venture Ontario announced they are joining with veteran investor Genesys Capital to create a new life sciences venture capital fund. The Genesys University Seed Fund will be […]
Five Key Takeaways from Our University Venture Funds Strategic Exchange
Last week, the GAP Community of Action (GAP COA) convened more than 50 leaders of university-affiliated venture funds and innovation organizations from research institutions across North America, South America, Europe, and Australia for a strategic exchange exploring the evolving role of university venture funds within institutional innovation ecosystems. The discussion brought together institutions representing a […]
GAP Pipeline Brief: University of Melbourne Spinout Fluent Advances Brain-Computer Interface Technology
Program Overview University of Melbourne spinout Fluent has secured A$2 million in seed funding to accelerate development of its minimally invasive brain-computer interface designed to restore communication for individuals with neurological disorders that impair speech. The company emerged from the University of Melbourne’s innovation ecosystem, progressing through Proof of Concept funding, the Melbourne Entrepreneurial Centre […]
Inside the Ben-Gurion University fund where students invest real venture capital | The Jerusalem Post
At Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, the Cactus Capital student venture fund and Cactus Academy have become a unique hands-on model for entrepreneurial education and early-stage investment. As part of the program, students are selected for the Cactus Academy, where they undergo intensive training to become startup analysts, learning how to evaluate ventures, markets, and […]
University of Alaska kick-starting entrepreneurship through innovation grants
Ever wonder how inventors and startups turn an idea into reality? In Alaska and the Arctic, innovation plays a critical role in building resilience in environments defined by climate, distance and limited resources. Many promising ideas never move beyond the research stage because they lack the funding needed to test early concepts and explore real-world […]
GAP Insights: University of Sydney / Designing the Next Generation of University Venture Capital
The University of Sydney is taking a notable step in the evolution of university commercialization systems by openly seeking venture capital partners to help design and launch new funding vehicles capable of supporting the next generation of university-derived startups. The university estimates that its growing portfolio of research-based ventures will require more than A$200 million […]
GAP Pipeline Brief: Trinity College Dublin Spinout CroíValve Raises $43M to Advance Structural Heart Technology
Investment Overview CroíValve, a Trinity College Dublin spinout and clinical-stage medical device company, has expanded its Series B financing through: • $20 million Series B expansion financing • $7 million in European Innovation Council (EIC) and DTIF grant funding This brings: • Total Series B financing to $36 million • Total new capital to $43 […]
GAP Pipeline Brief: Oxford University Innovation / Lumenai Human Capability Intelligence Platform
Investment Overview Lumenai, a startup incubated through the Oxford University Innovation Startup Incubator, has secured pre-seed investment from Corpora.ai to expand commercialization of its Human Capability Indexing (HCIx) technology. Founded by Antonia Manoochehri, Lumenai has developed a behavioral intelligence platform that measures human capabilities often overlooked by traditional hiring and workforce assessment systems. The investment […]