A billion in VC funding is real money for Chicago

More venture capital flowed into Chicago startups in 2014 than any year since the dot-com boom 15 years ago, topping $1 billion. But while all that cash makes it easier to launch and grow a company here, funding levels still lagged behind those of other big cities. The year started off anemically, with barely more […]

National Taiwan University student venture fund makes headway

A National Taiwan University venture capital fund is making headway in bringing student-developed products to market and helping the institution’s young inventors realize their potential. NTU Garage has assisted around 3,000 students in starting businesses over the past seven years. This number looks set to increase as the fund secures more tie-ups with foreign investors […]

Washington’s Life Sciences Discovery Fund Announces POC Awards, Inaugural Matching Grants

SEATTLE, Washington, December 15, 2014 – The Life Sciences Discovery Fund (LSDF) today announced $1.2 million in Proof of Concept grants to Washington-based organizations to foster the advancement of promising health-related technologies to commercial products. Also announced were two commercialization-focused awards, totaling $600,000, through a new funding program requiring external cash matching. 

STC.UNM: STC.UNM’s Co-Investment Fund Invests $89,000 in EcoPesticides

Capital is the lifeblood of early stage companies. Thanks to the STC.UNM STC Co-Investment Fund, EcoPesticides International has just received a significant infusion. STC has invested $89,000 in the Albuquerque-based startup company that has licensed University of New Mexico UNM technology to make biologic-based “green” pesticides more effective in protecting against harmful pests while doing […]

Six Northeast Ohio Tech Startups Win $375,000 in Innovation Fund Awards

A wound healing business from Fairlawn, an Akron-based drone designer and manufacturer, and a Cleveland startup using the power of collective intelligence in a chat app are among the six technology companies to receive funding from the Innovation Fund. The awards, totaling $375,000, should help these fledgling companies validate their new technologies and prove their […]

New York State invests $50M in Innovation Venture Capital Fund

Program Purpose The New York State Innovation Venture Capital (NYSIVC) Fund is a seed stage and early stage venture capital fund with up to $50 million to support and attract new high-growth businesses. The NYSIVC Fund will provide critical funding to promote the commercialization of new technologies, incentivize economic growth and encourage job creation across […]

LSU doubles investment in tech transfer for faculty projects

LSU is adding another $2 million into the LSU Leveraging Innovation for Technology Transfer, or LIFT2 fund, which provides grants to faculty members on a competitive basis twice a year, to validate the market potential of their inventions. The LSU Board of Supervisors approved the measure on Friday. “LSU faculty conduct research that has important […]

Gillibrand Announces Senate Passage Of DOD Pilot Program To Bring High-Tech Innovation To The Marketplace

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced that Congress passed as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) a provision to extend and enhance a Department of Defense (DOD) Proof of Concept Commercialization Pilot Program based on key provisions from her legislation to help accelerate the commercialization of basic research. This provision authorizes military departments across […]

Indiana University’s Anagin is Spinning Up Success

Anagin, a company launched by two Indiana University scientists to develop a first-of-its-kind treatment to battle post-traumatic stress disorder, emerged from six finalists Tuesday to win the third annual BioCrossroads New Venture Competition. The contest, held in conjunction with the 2014 Indiana Life Sciences Summit at the JW Marriott hotel in Indianapolis, awards a $25,000 […]

Michigan universities capitalize on growth of state venture capital industry

When EDF Ventures launched in Ann Arbor in 1987 to invest in university-based technologies, the University of Michigan had one person working part time on technology transfer. And at the time, the only other local venture capitalist in Southeast Michigan was Ian Bund. “We were considered an oddity,” said EDF co-founder Mary Campbell. ” ‘You’re […]