This past September, we officially launched UVA Innovates, our new platform for catalyzing innovation and entrepreneurship at the University of Virginia. UVA Innovates is a gateway to support, training, and opportunities to help you succeed in your innovative endeavors.
:: WHAT’S HAPPENING ::
Quantitative Foundation Gives $20M for New Building To House Entrepreneurial Initiatives
University of Virginia President Jim Ryan announced a $20 million commitment from the Charlottesville-based Quantitative Foundation on Thursday. The grant will support the construction of a new building to expand the School of Data Science’s research, scholarship and teaching capabilities, while enhancing our budding entrepreneurial ecosystem on Grounds. Pending approval by the Board of Visitors, the planned building will be located beside the home of the School of Data Science at the east entrance of the Emmet-Ivy Corridor.
Venture Velocity Hosts Demo Day Event
The Venture Velocity Class at Darden held a demo day event on December 10 to mark the end of the ventures and to give the entrepreneurs in the class a chance to present their progress to a panel of entrepreneurs. The presenting companies:
MetricMatter (Founder Dahler Battle D'25)
Cabell's Designs (Founder Cabell Zakas D'25)
Tap Truck CT (Founder Bill Austin D'25)
Memorial Tribute Legacy (Founder Adar Maynard D'25)
Grapevine (Founder Tiger Zhang CAS '26)
The ventures presented and then answered questions and received feedback from a panel including: Doug Lebda (Founder LendingTree), Abby Fifer Mandell (Senior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship USC), and Robby Stout (Founder Ritual Chocolate). Venture Velocity is designed to enable student entrepreneurs to evaluate the viability of their ventures and to build them to sustainability after graduation.
Biomedical Engineering Faculty Lead Seven Coulter-Funded Research Projects
Coulter faculty drives real-world clinical impact. From advancements in breast cancer treatment to the development of noninvasive wearable lactate sensor technology, the center empowers groundbreaking solutions. Our commitment to innovation fosters meaningful progress in healthcare, delivering tangible benefits to patients and shaping the future of medicine.
:: OPPORTUNITIES ::
GALANT CHALLENGE is scheduled for 4/23.
This year a cohort of UVA-connected VC funds along with our long-term partners CAV Angels will be among potential startup funders. The Galant Challenge through its investor/judges is one of the largest sources of University-affiliated startup funding.
SUBMISSIONS will open mid-January and will be due February 14th
FINALISTS selected to present in live final round will be announced on 4/4
EVENT will be held on 4/23 from 4-6PM at McIntire School of Commerce
Look for more information beginning in early January.
Applications for the Entrepreneurship Minor are open!
The application for the pan-university Entrepreneurship Minor, with concentrations in Tech, Social and Business innovation is now open. Application Process and Timeline:
Eligibility: To be considered for the minor, you must have completed or be enrolled in ENTP 1010: Startup and be in good academic standing according to your school of enrollment.
Timeline: The application is available Nov. 1, 2024, and is due Feb. 21, 2025, at noon. Late applications will not be accepted under any circumstances. Decisions will be released on March 21, 2025.
Application components: The application includes 1) your academic information (transcript), 2) a summary of three meaningful activities, and 3) two short essay prompts.
:: WAHOOWA ::
Congratulations to BME Professor Silvia Salinas Blemker who has been elected as a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors! Her company Springbok Analytics recently received FDA approval.
START SOMETHING AWESOME!
Looking for connections to a co-founder or need help with a project? Email uvainnovates@virginia.edu.
Should you have any questions about UVA Innovates, feel free to check out our website, sign up for the newsletter, or email uvainnovates@virginia.edu.
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