Oregon’s First Commercialization Gap Fund to Support Science and Invention Based Startups

The Fund made 15 investments in 12 months, with check sizes varying from $50,000 to $250,000—supporting key points in business development and providing companies with the capital to hit their technology milestones. Of these startup companies, one-third are led by women, and 27% have minority or immigrant founders. Through Elevate Capital’s work with the Gap Fund, the process […]

University of Alabama center to spur convergent drug innovation, delivery 

Drawing on expertise from across campus, a new center at the University of Alabama will help drug therapies that show promise in the lab to become effective treatments for patients. The UA Board of Trustees recently approved forming the Center for Convergent Bioscience and Medicine (CCBM) with research dedicated to developing novel therapies for immuno-inflammatory diseases by […]

‘The program is buzzing:’ Business startup program at UConn-Stamford sees major growth

TIP Digital, a technology incubation program for data science-focused startups hosted at the University of Connecticut’s Stamford campus, has seen the number of participating companies more than triple since its launch about eight months ago, according to data released this week by the initiative’s funding organizations. The program now hosts 17 data science startups, compared […]

Reorganized unit to lead commercialization of U-M research 

The University of Michigan has announced the launch of Innovation Partnerships, a reorganized unit that will serve as a central hub to lead research commercialization efforts, support startup company launch and growth, and create and foster corporate research alliances. The newly named Innovation Partnerships, based in the Office of the Vice President for Research, consolidates, […]

Student-run investment fund targets early-stage climate tech firms 

University of Michigan students and faculty have launched a student-run investment fund targeting early-stage climate tech companies that aim to make a real difference on climate change. The fund is the centerpiece of the Michigan Climate Venture, a first-of-its-kind, multidisciplinary program at the intersection of climate technology and venture capital at U-M. The program is […]

Oregon Venture Fund adds new principal as it aspires to bigger investments

Oregon hasn’t produced many prominent startups in the past two decades, but among those that have thrived, a large portion have one thing in common: an early investment from the Oregon Venture Fund. The regional firm manages $250 million in investments and says it has produced a 34% average annual return for its investors since […]

University of Minnesota, Optum, Other Med

A group of major medical device manufacturers have joined a new initiative to bolster the security of their equipment amid a “growing number of cybersecurity threats.” The University of Minnesota said its Center for Medical Device Cybersecurity would allow academia, government, and industry to collaborate to help ensure the safety and security of increasingly advanced […]

Emory University to launch $1M student-led fund for diverse founders

When Humza Mirza goes to class in the spring, he won’t just be taking a class on venture capital investing. The second-year Emory University graduate student will be leading a $1 million fund. He and four other students are managing partners in the Peachtree Minority Venture Fund for underrepresented entrepreneurs. The fund aims to give Emory students investor experience while helping underrepresented entrepreneurs with their biggest hurtle — […]

MSU contributes to Mississippi startup ecosystem through entrepreneurship support, technology commercialization

Mississippi’s growing entrepreneurial ecosystem is being recognized a top 20 global ecosystem for startup experience, an achievement boosted by the state’s research universities. The 2021 Global Startup Ecosystem Report, released by Startup Genome and the Global Entrepreneurship Network at London Tech Week, acknowledges the roles research institutions like Mississippi State University play in driving innovation […]