University Gap Funding and Accelerator Community News

Kansas State University has given seven local entrepreneurs a boost in resources and funding through the Center for Entrepreneurship Accelerator program, which provides participants with faculty-led courses, hands-on student research teams and access to an extensive alumni mentor network. Each of the seven companies also received a grant of $5,000 in equity-free

Two years ago, as a University of Nebraska-Lincoln freshman, Sam Lockhart knew nothing about venture capital — let alone things like due diligence, term sheets or how to analyze a business plan. But at a College of Business recruitment event for student organizations, one caught his eye: The Husker Venture Fund (HVF).

Ontario says they’ve launched the Health Innovation Pathway, a new program designed to accelerate the adoption of health-care technologies and improve patient care across the province. The initiative they say, focuses on Ontario-made innovations, including medical devices, digital tools, medical imaging, lab and genetic testing, and new models of care.

There are 498 private AI companies valued at over $1 billion. A new initiative in the Hankamer School of Business has many hoping number 499 comes from Baylor. “Think you’ve got the next big idea in AI?” asks the flyer for Baylor’s inaugural AI Venture Challenge, a Shark Tank-style startup competition in

Cornell Tech welcomes 11 new startups to its campus this September through its Runway Startups Program — with ventures tackling challenges that range from agricultural robotics and energy systems to fertility care, global trade compliance, and AI safety. To date, more than 120 companies have launched from the Runway program — run

UConn will host its first-ever Tech Showcase on Thursday, Sept. 18, gathering some of the state’s top innovators in celebration of groundbreaking research and entrepreneurial talent. The Showcase will provide opportunities for established professionals, newcomers, and students alike. It will feature cutting-edge business startups, presentations from career-motivated postgraduate students, expert insights

The Bold Challenges Initiative has awarded nearly $1 million in grants to 10 University of Michigan teams pursuing large-scale, interdisciplinary grants. The projects receiving “Accelerate” funding range from finding ways to treat a common cause of heart disease to identifying the barriers that low-income families face when trying to utilize

For the first time, The University of Queensland’s Ventures ilab Accelerator is partnering with the Momentum Accelerator to offer a one-of-a-kind experience for UQ-affiliated startups. This combined program supports two distinct streams, each with unique goals and funding opportunities to help get their ideas off the ground. The ilab stream is designed for early-stage ventures,

The Michigan State University Research Foundation has secured $4 million to transform PitchMI as a founder-focused startup competition aimed at fueling Michigan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The reimagined PitchMI will award eight $250,000 investments to regional winners, who will then advance to a statewide final for a shot at an additional $1