U-M venture fund makes first investment after reaching $2M first-close fundraising milestone
The Accelerate Blue Fund, a University of Michigan early-stage venture fund raised through philanthropy, has reached its first fundraising milestone and made its first investment in a U-M tech startup. The recipient of the fund’s first investment is Movellus Inc., which provides technology to boost semiconductor chip design for cloud computing, artificial intelligence and other […]
New U Mich OVPR funding program aims to support, catalyze research
The Office of the Vice President for Research has developed a new funding program that aims to catalyze research and spur innovation across the University of Michigan’s Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses. The Research Catalyst and Innovation Program features four new funding mechanisms that total more than $1.5 million in annual research support to […]
MSU Conquer Accelerator launches first Grand Rapids cohort
A Michigan State University Foundation accelerator program that provides funding, mentorship and network opportunities to emerging entrepreneurs launched a Grand Rapids cohort. East Lansing-based Conquer Accelerator last month launched its first Grand Rapids season and fall 2020 cohort. The 10-week accelerator welcomed five selected teams to its Grand Rapids program, which began virtually Sept. 14 […]
MSU Conquer Accelerator selects five Grand Rapids startups for seed funding
Conquer Accelerator, a business accelerator run by the Michigan State University Foundation, has selected its first five cohort companies in Grand Rapids. Each of the five received $20,000 in seed funding and will go through a 10-week virtual business accelerator course this fall. The program also provides entrepreneurship training, mentorship, access to follow-on funding and other […]
MSU Accelerator Starts Fifth Summer Cohort With Five Tech Startups
The Michigan State University Foundation’s Conquer Accelerator announced the launch of its fifth season and summer 2020 cohort. The 10-week accelerator welcomes five selected teams to its East Lansing program: ARUtility, Lucypop, MenuBubble, PhenoLogic, and StarForged Studios. “It’s hard to believe that we’re already moving into our fifth year for Conquer Accelerator, but when I […]
MSU Foundation and MEDC announce Michigan Rise Pre-Seed Fund III
EAST LANSING, Mich., Aug. 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — As the newly named administrator of the Michigan Pre-Seed Fund III (MPSF III) by the Michigan Strategic Fund, Michigan State University Foundation (MSU Foundation) announced Michigan Rise. MSU Foundation was awarded the MPSF III on April 14, 2020 and will work closely with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation Initiative to […]
MSU Foundation provides support for rising entreprenuers
MSU Foundation currently hosts and manages Conquer Accelerator, a program dedicated to supporting up-and-coming entrepreneurs. Beginning in 2016, this project is a collaborative effort among MSU Foundation and its subsidiaries Spartan Innovations, Red Cedar Ventures and University Corporate Research Park. The program amplifies selected startups by providing $20,000 in funding, access to over 40 mentors, access to follow-up funding and other essential resources. Since 2015, […]
Amazon makes corporate gift to U-M philanthropic venture fund
Amazon is contributing $200,000 to the Accelerate Blue Fund, a University of Michigan philanthropic venture fund—representing the first corporate gift received by the fund that aims to help develop and commercialize promising U-M technologies. The donation brings Accelerate Blue nearly to the halfway point of its initial goal of $2 million. By the end of the […]
MTRAC, MTU announce funding for project addressing human, environmental health issues
The Michigan Translational Research and Commercialization (MTRAC) Advanced Applied Materials Innovation Hub at Michigan Technological University recently awarded a combined $165,000 in funding to three projects from researchers across the state. These projects — led by researchers at Michigan Tech and Michigan State University — strive to address crucial global issues such as metal 3D printing of […]
MSU Accelerator Starts Fifth Summer Cohort With Five Tech Startups
EAST LANSING—The Michigan State University Foundation’s Conquer Accelerator announced the launch of its fifth season and summer 2020 cohort. The 10-week accelerator welcomes five selected teams to its East Lansing program: ARUtility, Lucypop, MenuBubble, PhenoLogic, and StarForged Studios. “It’s hard to believe that we’re already moving into our fifth year for Conquer Accelerator, but when […]