Overview: Portland State University Venture Development Fund

The University Venture Development Fund (UVDF) is a legislatively created and donor funded venture/ grant program unique to the State of Oregon. As a fund used to fill the funding ‘gap’ between university innovation and commercial products and services, the UVDF benefits faculty, the university, and company and individual donors (with a generous Oregon tax […]

Estonian Tallinn University offers Prototron Fund with help from Swedbank

On the 14th of August prototype fund called “Prototron” was launched by Tallinn Science Park Tehnopol, Swedbank and Tallinn University of Technology. The aim of the fund is to finance the development of first products – prototypes. Swedbank will financing fund of Prototron is 120 000 euros for the first three years.  

Confidence in Concept awards will fund 150 pilot projects across 14 universities

The ‘Confidence in Concept’ awards, delivered by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and totalling £7.4m, will give 14 universities grants of between £360,000 and £750,000 to help them progress promising research ideas towards clinical testing. The grants will fund about 150 pilot projects, allowing academic researchers to begin the process of turning a bright idea […]

University City Science Center POC program funds handheld breast cancer diagnostic technology

A breast cancer diagnostic startup that uses fingertip sensors to detect tumors has received a research grant of more than $878,000 to advance its handheld diagnostic device. UE Lifesciences’ “Intelligent Breast Exam” can distinguish between normal breast tissue and a tumor. Breast cancers are stiffer and less mobile than the surrounding tissue, according to a paper documenting […]

Xavier X-Lab demonstrates key support program success factors

No fund, but Xavier X-LAB demonstrates a systematic approach to early stage concept development through an “internal accelerator/competition” program. From our experience, this program implements three key fundamentals of successful, university-led, gap programs: 1.Engages Innovation Community: An ideal gap program incorporates an extended network of technical, business, and investment professionals into the process. These individuals […]

Not just for the big guys: McMurry University creates new student-led investment fund

ABILENE, Texas – McMurry University students in the School of Business will have a unique learning opportunity beginning this fall with the creation of a $1 million Student-Managed Investment Fund. The fund, approved this summer by the McMurry Board of Trustees, will allocate the $1 million from the McMurry endowment which will be managed by students enrolled […]

CU Denver students direct companies through Bridges’ VC fund

The Bard Center exposes entrepreneurs to a variety of funding sources in order to help them pursue their business dreams. One of these sources is the Rutt Bridges Venture Capital Fund, which started in 1998 from an endowment gift by Rutt Bridges. This fund was created in order to provide seed capital for start-up companies […]

Xfund, new Cambridge fund set to support innovation at Harvard, others

In January, The Experiment Fund (Xfund) launched as an early-stage seed fund through backing from storied venture capital firm New Enterprise Associates. Anchored at Harvard, what the Xfund was able to develop was a partnership between two of the longest living institutions in their respective fields. “When anyone designs any institution, they always want it to […]

University of Dayton gets support from Connor Group on new seed fund

The University of Dayton’s entrepreneurship program has made its first investment through a new seed fund to help a new Dayton-based manufacturing business get off the ground. The Connor Group Foundation Seed Investment Fund will provide a $50,000 loan toUDECX LLC. UDECX manufactures a modular decking system with easily assembled decking and patio kits constructed of […]

Wolverine Fund, Social Ventures Fund, and more student-led initiatives at U Michigan

Talk about the current state of venture capital in North America and states like California and Massachusetts are immediately invoked. Have a conversation about building the venture capital communities of tomorrow, and you might be surprised to hear Michigan’s name surface. The University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business is a pioneer is creating student-run […]