U News | New funding from Arizona Board of Regents intended to forcibly make the case for research in public universities
Rice University has announced the launch of the Rice Venture Creation Fellowship to help with the transition from academic research to the creation of venture-backable start-up concepts.
From the Arizona Board of Regents:
A new initiative will help speed the time it takes for groundbreaking biomedical research at Arizona’s three public universities to be transformed into devices, drugs, and therapies that help people.
The project, fueled by a $1.5 million grant from the Arizona Board of Regents, will focus on helping Arizona State University, the University of Arizona, and Northern Arizona University move their research from the laboratory to the marketplace. The grant will focus on data collection and metrics.
The initiative will not only help the taxpayers of Arizona access better health care, but it will also create jobs and grow the biomedical industry in the state.
The challenges and potential benefits of this effort were outlined at a kickoff event on February 28, sponsored by the ASU Global Center for Technology Transfer and held at the Downtown Phoenix campus. The center focuses on best practices for technology transfer.
Fred DuVal, a member of the Board of Regents, told the crowd that there is much debate nationwide now about the value of university research.
“We’re in a moment in our national history where we need to forcibly make the case for research in public universities,” he said, adding that academic research led to the cure for childhood polio as well as the technology revolution in Silicon Valley. “In the past decades, we’ve filed thousands of patents, launched hundreds of start-ups, and brought transformative technology to market,” he said.
Duval said the new focus on technology transfer at Arizona’s public universities should be able to double venture capital investment, double the number of university start-up companies, and create 10,000 jobs.
From Duquesne University:
The 2024-2025 Duquesne New Venture Challenge (DNVC) has selected five finalists from a highly competitive pool of applicants. Hosted by the Palumbo-Donahue School of Business, this prestigious national entrepreneurship competition continues to drive innovation and empower early stage start-ups.
Now in its sixth year, the DNVC has solidified its reputation as a catalyst for entrepreneurial success, providing emerging ventures with resources and recognition.
“The DNVC continues to reach new milestones, with the 2024-2025 cycle attracting a record-breaking 150+ entries. Not surprisingly, the 15 semi-finalists presented compelling and innovative business concepts, making the selection process for the final round particularly challenging,” said Dr. Dean McFarlin, Dean of the Palumbo-Donahue School of Business. “The School remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering and advancing early-stage entrepreneurial ventures. This year’s five finalists exemplify the talent and ingenuity of emerging entrepreneurs, each developing difference-making ventures with significant potential for impact.”
To learn more about the program and the finalists, click here.
From the University of Iowa:
As the University of Iowa’s Venture School gears up to head into its 11th year, the program is expanding its services across the state of Iowa.
Since beginning in 2014, the program has collaborated with several local community colleges and universities, such as Des Moines Area Community College, North Iowa Area Community College, Eastern Iowa Community College, and others.
Currently, the seven-week program is offered in Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, Dubuque, Mason City, the Quad Cities, and Sioux City.
The program offers a curriculum to help individuals validate business ideas and improve pitching skills, serving various communities with diverse ideas. Attendees can enhance their entrepreneurial skills, collaborate with others to gain hands-on experiences, and ultimately learn what it takes to create a business.
From Rice University:
The Rice Biotech Launch Pad, a Houston-based accelerator focused on expediting the translation of the university’s health and medical technology discoveries into cures, has announced the launch of the Rice Venture Creation Fellowship, a program aimed at providing recent doctoral graduates passionate about innovation and start-up development with the training and resources they need to transition from academic research to the creation of venture-backable start-up concepts.
The program will provide support for entrepreneurial, strategically minded fellows to develop target product profiles, discover potential customer bases, prototype products and generate initial data to derisk product performance, develop business plans and a refined pitch deck, and build expert scientific and clinical advisory boards for continued mentorship of scientific programs. Complementing the Biotech Launch Pad Fellows program for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers working in labs at the BioScience Research Collaborative, this program will also support trainees as they navigate the challenging journey of pushing scientific developments from the academic research lab to the clinic and commercialization.
“Since its launch, the Rice Biotech Launch Pad has played a pivotal role in accelerating the transformation of Rice University discoveries and technologies into clinical applications, ensuring that patients have rapid access to cutting-edge therapeutic advances and further positioning Houston as a growing hub for life sciences innovation,” said Omid Veiseh, Director of the Biotech Launch Pad. “With the introduction of the Venture Creation Fellowship, we’re expanding on this momentum by providing a tailored path for recent Ph.D. graduates to transition into entrepreneurial roles. This program not only enhances the Launch Pad’s efforts but also broadens our reach across the U.S., allowing us to attract emerging talent to Texas’ burgeoning biotech ecosystem.”
From The Ohio State University:
The Ohio State University’s Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship and the Fisher College of Business Honors Cohort recently co-hosted the inaugural Buckeye Made Market, an event designed to highlight and support retail businesses created by Ohio State students. The event was held Friday at the Student Entrepreneurs’ Center.
“The Buckeye Made Market is all about supporting and celebrating student businesses,” said Ashley Lippincott, a Program Coordinator at the Keenan Center. “It’s amazing to see so many students share their passions and connect with the Ohio State community in such a fun and meaningful way. We’re grateful to the Fisher Honors Cohort for helping us bring this engaging, purposeful event to the Student Entrepreneurs’ Center.”
The market featured approximately a dozen student businesses selling products ranging from food and fashion to collectibles and custom goods. In addition to gaining practical experience in marketing their businesses, students had a chance to sharpen their entrepreneurial skills and broaden their professional networks.
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