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THE VALLEY OF DEATHBRIDGINGCrossing the “Valley of Death” is a major challenge in moving promising university technology from the lab to commercial and investment partners
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UNIVERSITY GAP FUNDS AND ACCELERATORSCOLLABORATION THROUGHUniversities are implementing gap funding and accelerator programs to bridge this system weakness. Smart corporations and investors are collaborating with universities at this stage to tap into future technologies, investments, and insights
Developing and Sharing Best Practices
Create and expand access to best practices, insights, tactics, and benchmarking to support program improvement and stakeholder development
Increase public/private awareness of the capital and support gap for university innovation and build consensus around gap funding as a solution
Connect university translational research, proof of concept projects, and startups to sources of capital, talent, and commercialization partnerships
University Gap Funding and Accelerator Community News
Michigan Strategic Fund Approves Extensions for Business Incubators, Grant Programs Supporting Early-Stage and Commercialization of Tech Companies
Aimed at supporting the continued economic growth and stimulation of Michigan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, the Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF)—administered by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)—has approved funding extensions totaling $1.8 million for six statewide programs. Each program strategically capitalizes on resources allocated through state funding to promote early-stage startups and [...]
Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund Benefits Companies in EU
Minister of State for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection, Pat Breen has congratulated the four Limerick “groundbreaking projects” that have received €17.2 million under the first round of the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund. The successful Limerick projects are: A consortium including Curran Scientific, Raheen, will receive a maximum [...]
Calibrate Ventures Closes Inaugural Early Stage Venture Fund
Calibrate Ventures (“Calibrate”), a venture capital firm focused on backing transformative companies across the consumer and enterprise sectors, today announced the successful closing of its inaugural fund, Calibrate Ventures, L.P. (the “Fund”), with nearly $80 million in total capital commitments. Calibrate was founded in 2017 by veteran investors Kevin Dunlap [...]
Elevate Ventures makes three-year investment commitment to Bloomington, Columbus
Elevate Ventures, Bloomington-based incubator The Mill and the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce on Thursday announced they have entered a three-year agreement to invest $2.5 million to bolster the entrepreneurial ecosystems in Bartholomew, Brown and Monroe counties. The announcement was made at Big Woods at Hard Truth Hills restaurant in [...]
StartUpNV using federal grant to spark startup investment
Nonprofit startup incubator StartUpNV plans to launch an annual investor conference in Southern Nevada using a $300,000 federal grant. StartUpNV was one of 16 organizations to receive the Economic Development Administration’s 2018 Seed Fund Support Program grant. Jeff Saling, StartUpNV co-founder, said the incubator will use the funding to launch [...]
UNICEF’s Innovation Fund announces first cohort of blockchain investments in emerging markets
Six companies in developing and emerging economies will receive investment from UNICEF's Innovation Fund to solve global challenges using blockchain technology. The UNICEF Innovation Fund will invest up to $100,000 USD in the six companies; Atix Labs, Onesmart,Prescrypto, Statwig, Utopixar and W3 Engineers to deliver open-source prototypes of blockchain applications within 12-months. Selected from more than 100 applications [...]
RGU’s Start-up Accelerator to boost Aberdeenshire innovation
Robert Gordon University’s (RGU) new initiative, the first funded programme of its kind in the north-east of Scotland, will support 28 entrepreneurial teams of students, staff and recent alumni from RGU and North East Scotland College (NESCol). Organisers hope the programme will help the region’s entrepreneurs and innovators create new businesses. The business teams [...]
Case Western Reserve University, three NE Ohio companies receive a total of $950,000 from Third Frontier
The Ohio Third Frontier Commission on Thursday, Dec. 6, announced it approved a total of $3.15 million in awards to boost entrepreneurs and technology startups statewide — nearly $1 million of which went to recipients in Cuyahoga and Summit counties. The largest single award went to NextTech Inc. in Toledo, which received [...]
Tsinghua University investment unit to back Japanese high-tech startups
China's Tsinghua University's investment unit is set to become one of Japan's biggest supporters of high-tech startups, with plans to invest 4 billion yuan ($584 million) over several years in artificial intelligence and robotics ventures. Tus-Holdings, the leading research university's investment arm, established an office late last month with UTokyo Innovation Platform, its counterpart [...]
UA-focused venture fund invests in advanced antenna maker
A venture-capital fund focused on University of Arizona technology has invested in Freefall Aerospace, a UA spinoff that has developed a new, steerable antenna for satellite and ground-based communications. UA Venture Capital said it has acquired 20 percent in its fifth venture investment. The fund doesn’t disclose the value of [...]
Who We Serve
Research Universities, Hospitals, and Institutions
Accelerators and Incubators
Government Economic Development and Innovation Agencies
Angel Investors and Venture Capital
Corporate Innovation and Venture Groups
What We Support
Proof of Concept (POC) Gap Fund Programs
Startup and Venture Gap Funds
Translational Research Gap Fund Programs
Government-supported Innovation Initiatives and Funds
Angel Investors and Angel Networks
Corporate and Venture Capital
Student Venture Funds and Crowdfunding