Research Institution Gap Funding and Accelerator Programs (GAP) Insights

Proof-of-concept programs (POC) are often described in terms of validation, but in practice, their role is much broader. At this stage, technologies are not simply being tested. They are being shaped. Use cases are defined, potential markets are explored, and decisions are made about where a technology fits and where

Across research institutions, gap fund and accelerator programs (GAP) are often still described as a collection of individual efforts. A proof-of-concept fund here, an accelerator there, maybe an affiliated venture fund layered on top. In practice, that framing is becoming outdated. What is emerging is not a set of standalone

Program Overview The Tulane Innovation Institute, in partnership with the Office of the Provost, established the PPOC Fund to address the gap between research discovery and market readiness. The program provides grants of up to $50,000 to support: • technical development and prototyping• customer discovery and market validation• commercialization pathway

Award & Program Overview The Bezos Earth Fund has awarded $10 million to support a UC Berkeley–led research program developing biodegradable textile fibers derived from waste-based proteins. The initiative is led by Ting Xu, professor in Materials Science and Engineering and Chemistry, and includes collaboration across: • Six departments at

Award & Investment Overview QuantumCore has raised $10.7 million through a combination of: • $9 million in private placements (brokered and non-brokered)• $1.7 million in non-dilutive funding through the NSERC Alliance Grant The company has also completed a public listing on the Canadian Securities Exchange, providing access to broader capital

Proof-of-concept programs (POC) sit at the center of most GAP strategies, but the amount of work they are expected to do has expanded significantly. They are not just funding early validation. They are expected to reduce technical risk, shape market applications, support early team formation, engage external stakeholders, and prepare

A strong piece in Nature Biotechnology highlights a challenge that continues to surface across research institutions: the gap is not a lack of ideas, it is what happens before commercialization even begins. Technology transfer offices play a critical role, but they are structurally designed to engage once intellectual property is

Investment & Exit Overview CrossBridge Bio has been acquired by Eli Lilly and Company for $300 million, representing a significant exit for the Texas Medical Center Venture Fund. The company was founded in 2023 through the TMC Innovation Accelerator for Cancer Therapeutics, with the venture fund serving as lead and