U Michigan startup SkySpecs lands $8 million investment
This time, it’s SkySpecs, which provides an inspection service for wind turbines using drones, eliminating the need for technicians (often called “skyworkers”) to conduct the high-risk job hundreds of feet in the air. It raised $8 million in a Series B funding round led by Germany-based Statkraft Ventures and joined by two new investors, Capital Midwest […]
Utah’s Kickstart launches state’s richest seed investment fund
While investment deals in startup companies are down signficantly among North American venture capital firms, one Utah company that specializes in early funding is on an arc of success that is showing no signs of slowing down. Kickstart Seed Fund announced Wednesday the state’s largest ever seed-dedicated venture capital fund and, at $74 million, the […]
GV co-leads $27.1M Series A in Oxford Uni life sciences spinout Vaccitech
Leaning on its in-house life sciences expertise GV has backed another biotech startup in the UK, co-leading a £20 million ($27.1M) Series A in Oxford University spinout Vaccitech, which is developing a universal flu vaccine. Sequoia China, another new investor, is also co-leading the round, along with existing backer Oxford Sciences Innovation (OSI) — which operates a fund that invests in high […]
Purdue, NSF ‘Phase 0’ pilot program to benefit Indiana startups
Purdue University and the Krannert School of Management will help early stage startups in Indiana commercialize their technology through the National Science Foundation’s “Phase 0” pilot program. Purdue is one four institutions that make up NSF’s Midwest Innovation Corps (I-Corps) Node, which is one of seven university clusters across the country selected to pilot the new program. Under Phase […]
Univ. of Tokyo startups are targets of new $220m tech fund
A venture capital firm affiliated with the University of Tokyo has established a fund that ranks among Japan’s biggest in targeting startups with roots in higher education, eyeing ambitious candidates offering cutting-edge technologies developed at the school. University of Tokyo Edge Capital plans to assemble about 25 billion yen ($226 million) for the fund by April. It has […]
Princeton’s IP Accelerator Fund supports six innovations with potential for societal impact
Six research-stage technologies with promise to benefit society as future products or services have been selected to receive funding through Princeton University’s Intellectual Property Accelerator Fund. The selected technologies range from ones aimed at treating human disease to ones that improve our access to information, cool buildings using less energy, and improve the safety and efficiency […]
Shaw University Receives $50,000 Grant for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center
Shaw University last week announced the receipt of a $50,000 grant from the Annie E. Casey Foundation in support of its Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center and its efforts to boost small business in Raleigh. “The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center is a vital resource for the next generation of entrepreneurs at Shaw University,” said Shaw University […]
University of Oregon joins a regional partnership that is helping fuel innovation
The University of Oregon has signed on as a founding member of an innovation network that will connect scientists, entrepreneurs, and investors and bring research institutions, industry associations and other regional players together. The Cascadia Venture Acceleration Network includes more than 50 organizations that that have pledged to work collaboratively in support of entrepreneurs and […]
U California Riverside Highlander Venture Fund Makes Its First Investment
The University of California, Riverside’s Highlander Venture Fund (HVF) announced its first investment today. The $250,000 investment was for NanoCellect Biomedical Inc., a developer of microfluidic cell-sorting technologies for cell-based assays. The San Diego-based firm was founded in 2009 by Jose Morachis, a UC Riverside alumni. The financing for the $10 million round of funding […]
University of Arkansas Chancellor’s Fund: Discovery, Creativity, Innovation and Collaboration | University of Arkansas
In spring 2018, the University of Arkansas will once again invest approximately $1 million in the Chancellor’s Fund to support cutting-edge ideas and collaborations to advance the university’s guiding priorities. The Chancellor’s Fund aims to provide seed funding to support bold collaborative thinking and risk taking that will not only lead to new academic directions, but will also increase the competitiveness […]