First Momentum Ventures’ Post

According to the latest report from the Association of University Technology Managers, which assessed startup creation by universities in 2021, University of Colorado ranked fifth nationwide, ahead of Stanford and MIT. The University of Colorado Boulder produced 20 startups that year and has spun out 179 companies to date. The pace of startup formation is surging, having nearly doubled in recent years. That increase is no accident. “Venture Partners spends the majority of its resources and energy developing and growing innovators: teaching folks entrepreneurial skill sets, partnering with investors, running startup accelerators and other programs,” said Bryn Rees, associate vice chancellor for research and innovation and managing director of Venture Partners. The principal goal is to translate discoveries by researchers into products and services that benefit society while contributing to local, state and national economies. But maintaining a strong startup ecosystem confers other advantages as well, like expanding research funding opportunities and attracting innovative faculty and students. Read more ⬇️

🌟 Exciting News from the LunaCap Foundation 🚀 We are thrilled to share some very exciting news from two of our scholars who have taken a giant leap into the world of entrepreneurship. Jake Sortor (Harvard Law School JD & Harvard Business School MBA Candidate) and Justin Kan (MIT Sloan School of Management MBA & Harvard Kennedy School MPA Candidate) alongside two of their Harvard classmates, Christopher & Caroline, recently co-founded an early-stage startup, Rehydrate, that is looking to make waves in the tech and humanitarian sectors. Just a few short months ago, they embarked on a journey to address one of the most pressing global challenges - access to safe drinking water. Rehydrate, which began as a passion project, has rapidly evolved into a promising venture with a mission to revolutionize water accessibility. 🌐 Highlights: 🚀 Swift Progress: From ideation to action, the team wasted no time. Their startup journey kicked off in earnest in November 2023, demonstrating the drive and commitment we strive to instill in our scholars where sprinting is the default speed. 📑 IP: The duo recently filed a provisional patent for their groundbreaking technology, originally inspired by NASA science used aboard the International Space Station, marking a significant step towards realizing their vision for decentralized point-of-need water recycling units. 🎤 Pitch Traction: Their enthusiasm and innovation has caught the attention of the industry, leading them to pitch at numerous competitions including the prestigious SXSW event this weekend. 🤝 Strategic Partnerships: In talks with various entities to build out their prototype, they are actively engaging with key stakeholders including existing incumbents in their tech space to ensure the success and scalability of their venture. 💰 Early Stage Fundraising: Currently fundraising this spring to accelerate prototyping, pilots, and team expansion, the founders are rallying support to fuel the development and deployment of their innovative solution. 🌍 Global Impact: Rehydrate is focused on decentralized water recycling units tailored for military and disaster relief applications, but always with a broader vision of addressing water insecurity in historically vulnerable communities worldwide. Their commitment to tackling the water crisis aligns with the UN's estimation that 2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water and are increasingly vulnerable due to climate change. 🔗 Building Connections: Witnessing the collaborative spirit of our scholars evolving into impactful startups like Jake and Justin's is one of the many things that makes our Foundation special. Let's celebrate this inspiring journey and continue supporting initiatives that make a positive impact. If you're interested in learning more about their startup please visit www.rehydrate.tech or reach out at [email protected]. #WaterInnovation #Startup #Entrepreneurship #SocialImpact #VeteranEntrepreneurs #GlobalChallenge 

⚡ Latvian universities and UniLab are moving in the right direction (but we've always known that)! 👉 Technology transfer is becoming a European priority - in recent years, investors from different countries have created venture funds to support the development of university start-ups. Here's an example from Poland, where Warsaw University of Technology and VC plan to support 18 startups in the next 3-5 years https://lnkd.in/gRwkvFK6 Latvijas Universitate / Rīga Stradiņš University / Rīgas Tehniskā universitāte (Riga Technical University) / Latvijas Biozinātņu un tehnoloģiju universitāte #UniLab #startups #Izglītība #ZinātnesKomercializācija #founders #accelerator #venturecapital #Investīcijas #Accelerace

🚀 Introducing our associated partner: Conception X   Thrilled to introduce DEEP INVENTHEI associated partner, Conception X (CX), #uk’s leading cross-university PhD deeptech venture programme.   📖 About CX: Since launching in 2018 as a public innovation pilot within University College London, it has quickly grown as an independent not-for-profit that attracts aspiring PhD founders from more than 30 universities in the #uk, offering specialised deeptech support alongside their degree and the opportunity to access key early funding to accelerate their ventures. To date, CX has recruited five cohorts, built 260 founding teams, had one exit – quantum drug discovery company Rahko – and its portfolio startups have gone on to raise £26 million in early-stage investments and grants. 🤝 Our Collaborative Vision: Together, we aim to create an ecosystem where visionary minds can flourish, ideas can evolve into impactful ventures, and technology can be a force for positive change. 🔗 Join us on this journey of innovation and education. Together, we're shaping a future where learning and entrepreneurship go hand in hand to boost deep tech talents. 🌟Stay tuned for updates on each associated partner's unique contributions, and learn how together, we are transforming education for the better. #ConceptionX #VentureScientists #DeeptechInnovation #CollaborationForChange #FutureOfStartups . . . Universidade do Porto Tallinna Tehnikakõrgkool University of Pardubice Universitatea ”Valahia” din Targoviste Universidad de Santiago de Compostela The University of Sheffield The Silesian University of Technology Jönköping University INOVA UPTEC - Science and Technology Park of University of Porto Zhytomyr Polytechnic State University IDENAES USP - Universidade de São Paulo Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro PUC Minas FCJ Europe FCJ Venture Builder Capital Enterprise Conception X EIT Health EIT Manufacturing EIT RawMaterials EIT HEI Initiative

🚀 Switzerland's dynamic startup ecosystem is thriving, propelled by groundbreaking innovation, substantial DeepTech investment, and unwavering support from academia and government. Here are the trailblazers shaping the future: - CarbonPool (Zürich): Transforming carbon credit insurance. Founders: Coenraad Vrolijk, Nandini Wilcke, Frederic Olbert. 🌱 - Chiral Nano (Zürich): Revolutionizing microchip manufacturing with graphene. Founders: Seoho Jung, Natanael Lanz, Andre Butzerin. 💻 - FimmCyte (Basel): Pioneering endometriosis treatment. Founders: Valentina Vongrad, Mohaned Shilaih. 🧬 - Hive (Geneva): Innovating sustainable cloud platforms. Founder: David Gurle. ☁️ - JUA (Freienbach): Advancing AI in energy forecasting. Founders: Andreas Brenner, Marvin Gabler. ⚡ - Navignostics AG (Zürich): Tailoring cancer treatment with proteomics. 🩺 - planetary (Geneva): Leading the charge in alternative protein production. 🌾 - Swiss-Mile (ETH Zurich Spinoff): Developing AI-based wheeled-legged robots. 🤖 - terralayr (Zug): Creating innovative energy grid storage solutions. 🌍 - Voltiris (Lausanne): Enhancing greenhouse sustainability. (Founders information not found). 🌿 With over €1.5 billion invested in DeepTech ventures in 2022, these startups are at the forefront of innovation, sustainability, and technology, ready to make a global impact. Full article here: https://lnkd.in/eN2zEVMs 👉 Celebrate Swiss innovation and follow these startups as they grow into 2024 and beyond! #Innovation #Startups #SwissTech #DeepTech

How are European startups in quantum leveraging public EU funding? 27% of young European companies that successfully secured private investment in the years 2022 and 2023 were also active participants in major European public funds. Horizon 2020, operational from 2014 to 2020, and its successor Horizon Europe, spanning from 2021 to 2027, stand as the largest research and innovation funding programs in the European Union. Through their diverse initiatives, they aim to bolster Europe's global competitiveness by supporting and promoting research projects, including those within the quantum sector. Of the projects identified, 37% in which the invested startups participated were under Horizon 2020, meaning that 63% of these projects fall under the newer Horizon Europe, still in the midst of its operational phase. This significant rise is explained by the new program's larger budget, but also by the growing interest in this kind of funding. The funding amounts are also much higher. Under Horizon 2020 projects, startups received an average of €514,000 per project. In contrast, under Horizon Europe, this figure has doubled, with companies now receiving an average of €1,040,000. During Horizon 2020, the most popular specific programs supporting quantum-oriented startups included the Industrial Leadership, Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) initiatives, and Maria-Sklodowska Curie Actions. Meanwhile, under Horizon Europe, a majority of companies found support in funding from the European Innovation Council, under Horizon’s Cluster 4 funding: Digital, Industry, and Space, as well as Maria-Sklodowska Curie Actions. While private investments play a pivotal and essential role in supporting quantum startups, engagement in EU initiatives, such as Horizon projects, can offer supplementary advantages beyond the financial ones. These initiatives provide opportunities for building networks and partnerships with stakeholders from academia, industry, and the public sector. Within the Qu-Test and Qu-Pilot projects, we are diligently tracking all global investments and deals in the quantum technology sector. Our goal is to regularly share updates, so stay tuned for more valuable insights to quantum founders, investors, and professionals alike. Keep an eye on further insights! AMIRES Institut d'Optique Graduate School Sonnenberg Harrison Partnerschaft mbB TNO VTT Rudolf Fryček Robert Harrison Audrey Durand Roman Pašek Mika Prunnila Clara I. Osorio Tamayo Gabriele Bulgarini Weronika Słomińska

🌟 Great News! We have extended the Application Deadline ❗️️ If you are an early-stage deep-tech startup, you still have 2 weeks, until the 15th November, to apply for the "11th Acceleration Program” by Commercialization Reactor in cooperation with ALTUM❗️️ ------------------------------- The CR managed Fund provides up to 💶 EUR 50 000 of pre-seed investments and an Acceleration program for early stage deep-tech start-ups. It runs over 6 months and focuses on customer and market development. 280 applicants have been reviewed so far, more than 60 have participated in the program, 40 of them have finished it and 1,5M EUR were invested in total 🌟 Program benefits and provided tools will help with 💪: 💼 finding and validating market applications, 💼 establishing contacts with industrial partners and customers, 💼 preparing for the first industrial pilots, 💼 developing a business case, 💼 getting ready for seed investments. Teams can enjoy the power of the CR community and benefit from our wide network of industrial partners and investors. ------------------------------- 🚦Deadline: • Nov 15th, 2023 Register here: • https://lnkd.in/d8MTRNFD Eligibility criteria: ✅ science- based project 🧬 ✅ technology readiness level (TRL) at least 3-4 ✅ early-stage (before sales or sales have just started) ✅ the committed team, consisting of at least an entrepreneur and a developer of technology ------------------------------- 💡Apply to the Commercialization Reactor Fund acceleration program and for pre-seed investments and get a chance to be considered for seed-investments for up to 💶 EUR 250 000 as you develop. Commercialization Reactor is an international platform for science commercialization founded in 2009 with a goal to build new, meaningful companies based on scientific and technological achievements. Among “Commercialization Reactor” alumni and community are such startups as “PurOceans Technology”, "Catalyco", “Naco Technologies”, “CONELUM”, “Eventech”, “Snowision”, “VeritaCell”, “Adianano”, “InLable ”, “3DStrong”, “EMPYRIO”, “Semantic Intelligence”, Fintelligence SIA, TerraWaste (Techstars '22), PrintyMed, WatchBuilt, Pestevene, and many more! Join the Commercialization Reactor deep-tech community! #science #business #investments #development #accelerator #deeptech #commercialization

Congratulations to Juan Guzman and Capro-X Inc.! Every kilo of Greek yogurt produced also results in two - three kilos of waste acid whey. The potential to valorize waste whey (for example, into fatty acids via the Capro-X platform) and avoid its otherwise costly disposal has huge importance to the dairy industry. #circularbioeconomy #upcycling #valorization