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

GAP Insights: Cornell invites startups into Activate Fellows
Cornell’s ongoing commitment to nurturing science-based startups was recently recognized when two of its incubator-affiliated ventures became Activate Fellows for 2025. The Activate Fellowship, now in its 11th year, supports transformative hard-tech entrepreneurs with direct funding, mentorship, and access to
Aarhus University and regional partners launch €80M venture fund for research startups – ArcticStartup
Delphinus Venture Capital, an Aarhus-based evergreen investment fund, has raised €80 million to finance research-driven startups in East and Central Jutland. Established by the Aarhus University Research Foundation, HEARTLAND, Norlys, and Salling Group, the fund will invest from pre-seed through scale-up stages, with a
1435 Capital launches $25M innovation fund for NJ startups
A New Jersey venture capital firm is continuing its remarkable growth – and launching a new fund to catalyze startup investment here in the state. 1435 Capital boasts more than $2.5 billion in assets under management. It features a wide range of notable
How McGill’s Innovation Fund Turns Research Into Real-World Impact
The McGill Innovation Fund was created to fill a big gap in early-stage research funding and help promising ideas make the leap from the lab into the real world. In this episode, Senior Communications Advisor Junji Nishihata shares the story
Wanted: Entrepreneurs to Launch Startups Based on University Innovations
The University of Colorado Boulder will offer a groundbreaking level of support for seven entrepreneurs looking to commercialize CU Boulder innovations. Embark Deep Tech Startup Creator will provide seven would-be startup founders six months of salary as CU Boulder employees, business training,
Two startups from UWM earn Bridge Grant funding
Two faculty members from the College of Engineering & Applied Science recently received Bridge Grants from the UWM Research Foundation to advance their startup companies. Launched in 2021, the Research Foundation Bridge Grant Program helps high-potential UWM startups overcome early
Smeal launches Penn State’s first undergraduate-centered venture investment fund
The Penn State Smeal College of Business has launched the Propel Penn State Seed Fund, an initiative designed to provide undergraduate students with hands-on experience in venture capital while supporting real-world startups seeking early-stage investment. The Propel Penn State Seed
1834 Ventures Launches $20M for Tulane Startups
NEW ORLEANS (press release) — 1834 Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm, announced the launch of its inaugural $20 million fund to invest in startups founded by Tulane University alumni, faculty, and extended community—including those who have engaged with Tulane programs, partnerships, or
3 faculty awarded Indiana U gap fund grants to commercialize their work
Three Indiana University researchers have received $25,000 each from the IU Innovation and Commercialization Office’s Gap Fund, which moves projects closer to commercialization. The Gap Fund is a translational research grant program that helps IU innovators overcome commercialization barriers by increasing the

Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Launch ‘Innovation Hub,’ Anchored by New $10M Venture Fund
Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences today announced the formation of the Innovation Hub, the partnership’s bold new initiative to accelerate commercialization of new technologies to improve health. The Innovation Hub aims to narrow the gap between