Now in its seventh year, the competition offers nearly $175,000 in total support with a $25,000 top prize along with expert advice on transforming a great idea into a viable, marketable, innovative business plan. The competition was recognized last year as one of the 15 largest college business plan competitions by Under30CEO, a news and
Osage Venture Partners expanding its novel venture firm model
Osage University Partners closed its first fund with $100 million in January 2011. The venture fund has since invested or reserved about half of that $100 million, says managing partner Bill Harrington (pictured above right), an experienced life sciences venture firm executive who joined the firm in 2012. The fund’s life sciences portfolio companies include Kolltan; MC10 of Cambridge, MA, which
Ohio TechAngel Fund raises fourth fund with support form Ohio Third Frontier, $610K to back university POC work
The Ohio Third Frontier program has seeded a fourth fund with a $3 million award to the Ohio TechAngel Funds as part of the latest round of distributions from the state bond-backed technology initiative. The Third Frontier Commission approved the award this week as part of $24 million for its Pre-Seed Fund Capitalization Program, which
Xavier X-Lab demonstrates key support program success factors
No fund, but Xavier X-LAB demonstrates a systematic approach to early stage concept development through an “internal accelerator/competition” program. From our experience, this program implements three key fundamentals of successful, university-led, gap programs: 1.Engages Innovation Community: An ideal gap program incorporates an extended network of technical, business, and investment professionals into the process. These individuals
University of Dayton gets support from Connor Group on new seed fund
The University of Dayton’s entrepreneurship program has made its first investment through a new seed fund to help a new Dayton-based manufacturing business get off the ground. The Connor Group Foundation Seed Investment Fund will provide a $50,000 loan toUDECX LLC. UDECX manufactures a modular decking system with easily assembled decking and patio kits constructed of
Few Awards Lead to Frustrations at Third Frontier Fund, Others Point to Recent Program Changes
Many of the people in charge of the Ohio Third Frontier program aren’t happy. Several members of the Third Frontier Commission and Advisory Board expressed deep frustration over the relatively meager number of awards that the technology-focused economic development program has made during fiscal year 2012, which ends on June 30.
Third Frontier moving to loans
The Dayton region has received nearly $128 million in Ohio Third Frontier funds since 2002, but emerging changes at the bipartisan economic development program have slowed the pace of statewide funding for the current fiscal year.
Kent State University receives three grants from Third Frontier Tech Validation and Start-up Fund
The Ohio Third Frontier program recently made three separate grants to Kent State University researchers through the newly established Technology Validation and Start-up Fund, which promotes the commercialization of Ohio technologies developed by the state’s institutions of higher education.
Ohio and Ohio State University talk about expectations related to their new venture partnerships
“Obviously, you’re making educated guesses on which companies will be successful, but we already do that through the private equity portfolio that we have, and we intend to run the innovation fund in a similar manner to how the other venture funds are run in the endowment portfolio,” said Golding. Golding said OU and Ohio
Nanofiber lands $500K from TechColumbus
TechColumbus announced Tuesday it has stepped up its commitment to incubator tenant Nanofiber Solutions LLC with a $500,000 loan that will convert to equity, the largest to date from the current $2 million round of state-backed Pre-Seed Fund investments.








