GAP Community News
The University Gap Funding/Accelerator Weekly update, a resource for those interested in university-affiliated translational research, proof of concept, startup, and venture gap fund/accelerator program
University Gap Funding and Accelerator Community News
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
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

The Community of Action: A Consortium of University-affiliated Gap Funding and Accelerator Programs
Innovations come at a high cost and are often derailed momentarily by numerous challenges. Filling the gap between great ideas and the final product or service is a complex endeavor for any innovator. University technology and startups face wider 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
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
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
5 U California alumni entrepreneurs win opportunity to pitch at venture summit
The University of California today (Jan. 16) announced the five finalists of its new “I am a UC Entrepreneur” contest for alumni. The finalists, selected by a panel of prominent investors, have won the opportunity to pitch their startups to
MIT Skoltech Program calls for seed fund proposals
After two successful rounds of seed grants, the MIT Skoltech Seed Fund Program is calling for a third round of proposals from MIT principal investigators from any of the Institute’s schools, departments, laboratories, or centers. The call is open now
Two companies awarded innovation grants from University of New Hampshire
Voi-Reach and Watts Water Technologies, Inc. have received Granite State Technology Innovation Grants in the latest round of funding from the New Hampshire Innovation Research Center, a state program administered by the University of New Hampshire. The funding enables companies
Summer Founders Program offering $10,000 to accelerate Penn State startups
The 2018 Summer Founders Program will provide Penn State entrepreneurial teams with $10,000 to work on their startup, social good or nonprofit idea full time in State College over the summer. Applications open Feb. 1. A signature program of Invent