Mercia investors warm to group’s approach to university start-ups

If only investors had it that easy: gaining some exposure to the next hot start-up without the risk that it might fail. Several University spinout groups such as Imperial Innovations and IP Group have had mixed fortunes as investors took fright after the 2008 financial crisis. Now, Mercia Technologies, which listed on Aim last December, […]

How UAB plans to turn research into more startups and jobs

Obtaining more research funds has always been a point of emphasis for the University of Alabama at Birmingham, but turning those dollars into commercial success and economic development opportunities is quickly becoming more of a focus for the school. Last year, the school experienced an uptick in funding from the National Institutes of Health that […]

TEDCO hoping slight changes translate to big boost in investment for local startups

There are a couple of common analogies for startups wooing potential investors, said entrepreneur Brian Razzaque — it’s like herding cats, or getting one lemming to lead the others. Most investors are wary of bankrolling an unproven company without someone else’s seal of approval. That’s why the backing of the Maryland Technology Development Corp. was […]

OHSU, University Venture Development Fund grantees hope to regenerate nerves, create better dental composites and treat breast cancer

Oregon Health & Science University’s BioScience Innovation Program awarded three technology development grants to scientists with promising early-stage research projects. The program leverages funds through the University Venture Development Fund, a state tax-credit program established in 2003 to further commercialization of university research. The funds support promising technologies and helps move them to the “proof […]

Maryland TEDCO to increase Technology Commercialization Fund by $125K

Before handing out the annual ICE Awards on Thursday morning, TEDCO President Rob Rosenbaum detailed some new startup funding that will be available through the state-backed tech organization. According to Rosenbaum, TEDCO’s Technology Commercialization Fund will be equipped to make awards of $225,000, with the money available over a 24-month period. That’s a $125,000 increase over […]

5 early-stage tech companies get $3 million from Michigan Pre-Seed Fund 2.0

Detroit-based Invest Michigan has announced investments totaling $325,000 in five early-stage tech companies from its Michigan Pre-Seed Fund 2.0. That investment went along with matching investments from other sources of $2.7 million. Since its launch last June, the $6.8 million fund has invested in 18 early-stage tech companies in the state. The current round of […]

UChicago College New Venture Challenge Winners awards $20K

At the kick off to University of Chicago’s New Venture Challenges, two first year teams were awarded $10,000 to fund their dorm room ventures. The judges decided to split the first place prize at the College New Venture Challenge (open only to undergraduates), awarding $10,000 to both Athenir, a research aggregate service, and UProspie, a […]

U Florida Research Proposal Awarded $50K from Informatics Institute Seed Fund

Chris Delcher, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Health Outcomes & Policy, was recently selected to receive one-year, $50,000 seed funding for his research proposal, “New Collaboration to Increase the Development of Computable Phenotypes for Improving Health Outcomes.” The award was made possible by the University of Florida Informatics Institute Seed Fund Program, whose […]