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101 Best & Most Active United States University Startup Programs

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University Startup Programs play an important role in the startup ecosystem. We have curated a list of the top United States University Startup Programs. We have tried to select a variety of different types of investors across a variety of niches.

This list is designed to show off the investors with exceptional track records, industry experience and a unique understanding of the ecosystem.

Top United States University Startup Programs

Data sourced from Crunchbase and SemRush.


Plug and Play Tech Center

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: Accelerator, Co-Working Space, Corporate Venture Capital, University Program, Venture Capital

Investment Stage: Early Stage Venture, Seed

Plug and Play is an innovation platform bringing together startups and large corporations.


OUP (Osage University Partners)

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program, Venture Capital

Investment Stage: Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture, Seed

OUP is a venture capital fund investing in start-ups that commercialize university research.


Dorm Room Fund

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: Micro VC, University Program

Investment Stage: Seed

Dorm Room Fund is the strongest community of entrepreneurial students in the nation


ATDC

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: Incubator, University Program

Investment Stage: Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture

ATDC helps entrepreneurs launch and build transformative technology companies.


ASU Venture Devils

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: Accelerator, University Program

Investment Stage: Seed

Arizona State University’s venture capital arm.


MIT delta v

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: Accelerator, University Program

Investment Stage: Early Stage Venture, Grant

delta v is MIT’s premier venture accelerator, that prepares entrepreneurs to hit escape velocity and launch into the real world.


IDEA Northeastern University’s Venture Accelerator

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage: Grant, Seed

IDEA Northeastern University’s Venture Accelerator help Northeastern students start business.


CITRIS Foundry

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: Accelerator, University Program

Investment Stage: Grant, Seed

CITRIS Foundry is UC Berkeley’s deep tech accelerator.


Stanford University

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

Stanford University is a teaching and research university that focuses on graduate programs in law, medicine, education, and business.


Berkeley SkyDeck Fund

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program, Venture Capital

Investment Stage: Seed

Investment Arm Behind UC Berkeley’s SkyDeck Accelerator


MIT Venture Mentoring Service (MIT VMS)

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

MIT Venture Mentoring Service matches prospective and experienced entrepreneurs with skilled volunteer mentors.


Texas A&M New Ventures Competition

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage: Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture, Seed, Venture

Texas A&M New Ventures Competition recognizes companies with high-growth potential and provides grant funding.


Skandalaris Center for Interdisciplinary Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage: Early Stage Venture, Grant, Late Stage Venture, Seed

Washington University’s hub for startups, innovation, and entrepreneurship.


Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage: Early Stage Venture

WARF is the private, nonprofit patent and licensing organization for the University of Wisconsin–Madison.


Holekamp Seed Fund

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage: Grant

Startup grant fund for Washington University in St. Louis student startups


Yale Africa Startup Review

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

YASR is a student and alumni-led publication featuring founders and startups shaping the future of Africa with entrepreneurship.


UPMC

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

UPMC is one of the leading nonprofit health systems in the United States. A $10 billion integrated global health enterprise headquartered


Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage: Early Stage Venture, Non Equity Assistance, Seed

The Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation drives venture creation and technology commercialization at the University of Chicago


CREATE-X

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: Accelerator, Entrepreneurship Program, Incubator, University Program

Investment Stage: Grant

CREATE-X is a Georgia Tech initiative and accelerator for students to launch successful startups.


Carnegie Mellon University

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

Carnegie Mellon University is a global research university bringing ideas to market and creating successful startup businesses.


The University of Chicago Innovation Fund

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program, Venture Capital

Investment Stage:

UChicagoTech launched the Innovation Fund in 2010 to accelerate the commercialization of promising.


Duke University

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

Duke University is a private research university providing undergraduate and postgraduate education in medicine and other disciplines.


Boston University

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

With 250 fields of study, our two campuses are always humming, always in high gear.


CatalyzeCU

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage: Grant

Catalyze CU is a summer-long startup accelerator designed for CU students, faculty, and staff.


Georgia Research Alliance

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage: Early Stage Venture, Grant

The Georgia Research Alliance (GRA) expands research and commercialization capacity in Georgia’s universities to launch new companies,


YEI Innovation Fund

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: Incubator, University Program

Investment Stage: Seed

The YEI Innovation Fund offers $3 million in funding to eligible Yale startups. The Fund was created in September 2013 by Yale University


UCLA Ventures

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage: Non Equity Assistance

A community of Bruin Entrepreneurs support UCLA’s entrepreneurial ecosystem


Boston University Technology Development Fund

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program, Venture Capital

Investment Stage:

Boston University Technology Development Fund is a Venture Capital Firm.


University of Michigan

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

The University of Michigan is a public research university that caters business, engineering, law, and medical courses.


Northwestern University

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

Northwestern is one of the country’s leading private research and teaching universities, located in Evanston, IL.


Alfred P. Sloan Foundation

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage: Grant

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is a philanthropic nonprofit institution established by Alfred Pritchard Sloan, Jr., former President and


Simon School Venture Fund

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program, Venture Capital

Investment Stage: Early Stage Venture, Seed, Venture

Alumni-backed venture capital fund managed by 2nd-yr MBA students under Board oversight at Simon Business School, University of Rochester.


Mississippi State University Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage: Early Stage Venture, Grant, Seed

MSU’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach helps students, faculty, and community members start and grow successful companies.


Harvard University

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

Harvard University is devoted to excellence in teaching, learning, and research, and to developing leaders who make a difference globally.


University of Pennsylvania

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

The University of Pennsylvania is an American private Ivy League research university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania


Yale University

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

Yale University is an American private Ivy League research university in New Haven in Connecticut.


Harvard Business School

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

Harvard Business School educates leaders who make a difference in the world.


Cornell University

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

Cornell University is an American private Ivy League and federal land-grant research university located in Ithaca, New York.


Vanderbilt University

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

Vanderbilt University is a private research university offering various learning programs.


UConn Innovation Fund – University of Connecticut

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

The University of Connecticut, in partnership with Connecticut Innovations


CMU OFEF

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage: Seed

CMU OFEF offers early-stage business financing to recent graduates of Carnegie Mellon University.


New U Venture Partners

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

New U Venture Partners is a Salt Lake City-based venture firm.


Princeton University

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

Princeton University is a private Ivy League university in Princeton, New Jersey, United States


University at Buffalo

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

UB is a premier, research-intensive public university and a member of the Association of American Universities


Princeton Alumni Entrepreneurs Fund

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage: Seed

Matching Investments in Early-Stage Startups Founded by Recent Princeton Alumni


Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is a business school driven to create economic and social value.


Singularity University

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

Singularity University is a benefit corporation that provides educational programs, innovative partnerships, and a startup accelerator.


University of Washington

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

University of Washington is an educational institution that provides undergraduate, graduate, and research programs.


University of Maryland

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

The University of Maryland is a public research university and is the flagship institution of the University System of Maryland.


The University of Chicago Booth School of Business

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

The University of Chicago Booth School of Business provides full-time MBA courses.


University of California, Santa Barbara

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

UC Santa Barbara is a leading center for teaching and research, distinguished by its interdisciplinary programs.


University of Colorado

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

University of Colorado offers higher education and serving as the catalysts in business, arts, health, and community growth.


RCT BioVentures

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program, Venture Capital

Investment Stage: Early Stage Venture

The RCT BioVentures program is the vehicle through which Research Corporation Technologies invests in start-up or early-stage companies


Wharton Angel Network

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

Founded in 2007, the Wharton Angel Network (WAN) seeks to provide a transparent forum for Wharton alumni entrepreneurs and Wharton alumni


University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is the nation’s first public university.


Rice University

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

Rice University is a private research university focused on providing undergraduate education services.


University Hospitals

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

In 1993, University Hospitals developed a new vision, a new strategy and a new model for healthcare delivery.


Washington State University

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

Washington State University is a school in Pullman, Washington.


The University of Texas at Austin

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

The University of Texas at Austin is a public research university providing public access to education and tools of discovery.


University of Delaware

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

The University of Delaware is a private-public research university located in Newark, Delaware. UD is the largest university in Delaware


Science Center

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

The University City Science Center accelerates technology commercialization, regional economic development, and the market availability of


Harvard Innovation Labs

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

An educational collaborative for all current Harvard students from any school to explore innovation and entrepreneurship at any stage.


Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine is a school in Philadelphia.


Socratic Ventures

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

Socratic Ventures drives impact by investing in platforms that lower the cost of access to education.


Purdue Foundry

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

The Foundry is focused on Purdue’s entrepreneurial resources that are aimed at launching new ventures.


Aeneas Ventures

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage: Early Stage Venture, Seed

Aeneas Venture Corp is the venture capital arm of Harvard Management Company.


Purdue Foundry Investment Fund

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

Purdue Foundry Investment Fund provides matching funds for investments in Purdue startups.


California State University

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage: Seed

California State University is a public university system in California


Oregon Health & Science University

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

OHSU is a health and research university in Oregon, brings together patient care, research, education of the next generation of health care.


University of Cincinnati

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

The University of Cincinnati offers students a balance of educational excellence and real-world experience.


Oregon State University

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university in the northwest United States, located in Corvallis, Oregon


Georgia State University

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

Georgia State University is a public research university offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs across eight academic colleges.


Marquette University

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

Marquette University (MU) is a large Catholic school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin


Kent State University

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

Kent State is a one of the best public research Ohio universities.


Rowan University

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

Rowan University combines liberal education with professional preparation from the baccalaureate through the doctorate.


Avathon Capital

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

Avathon Capital is an investment platform


University of Central Florida

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

University of Central Florida is an American public research university in Orlando, Forida.


The University of Texas System

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

The University of Texas System is to improving the people all over the world through education, research and health care.


Butler University

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

Butler University is a private university located in Indianapolis, Indiana.


University of Chicago New Venture Challenge

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: Accelerator, University Program

Investment Stage:

Launched in 1996, the Edward L. Kaplan, ’71, New Venture Challenge (NVC) is one of the nation’s premier business launch programs.


Columbia Technology Ventures

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage: Early Stage Venture

Columbia Technology Ventures engages in the facilitation of technology transfer services for the Columbia University.


UM Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

UM Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship engages in creating new businesses and economic value.


Colgate Entrepreneurs Fund

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: Accelerator, University Program

Investment Stage:

The fund was established in 2013 to grow and advance the ventures of Colgate student and alumni entrepreneurs who are solving problems.


Lorain County Community College Innovation Fund

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: Accelerator, University Program, Venture Capital

Investment Stage: Seed

The Innovation Fund, founded by the Lorain County Community College Foundation (2007), is a regional fund focused on supporting


University of Utah Endowment

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program, Venture Capital

Investment Stage: Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture

University of Utah Endowment is a venture capital fund that offers a range of investment services.


University of Arizona

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

University of Arizona is a public research university that offers bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and professional degree courses.


The Johns Hopkins University

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: Accelerator, University Program

Investment Stage: Early Stage Venture, Seed

Johns Hopkins University is a research university that enrolls full and part-time students throughout nine academic divisions.


New York University

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

New York University is a private research university that provides education in the arts and sciences, law, medicine, business, and others.


Santa Clara University

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

Jesuit University in Silicon Valley


University of Maine

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

UMaine is a public university with various graduate and undergraduate degree programs and research opportunities.


University of Nebraska Medical Center

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

University of Nebraska – Medical Center is a school in Omaha.


Loyola University Maryland

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

Loyola University Maryland is a private institution located in Baltimore, Maryland.


University of Illinois

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign-College of Business (UIUC)


Indiana University Foundation

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

Indiana University Foundation is a fundraising organization that supports Indiana University.


Tufts University

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

Tufts is a private university that excels at research and is committed to providing students with a personal experience.


Colgate University

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

Colgate University is a liberal arts institution distinguished by academic excellence and interdisciplinary inquiry.


San Jose State University

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

San José State is conveniently located on 154 acres in downtown San José, midway between San Francisco and the Monterey/Carmel area at the


American Public University System

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

American Public University System is a school in Charles Town.


St. Luke’s University Health Network

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

St. Luke’s University Health Network is a nonprofit, regional health network that provides care primarily in Pennsylvania and New Jersey


Willamette University

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage:

Willamette is a private liberal arts university in Salem, Oregon.


University of Missouri Enterprise Investment Program

Crunchbase | Website | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

Investor Type: University Program

Investment Stage: Seed

EIP is designed to support Missouri based early-stage high tech start-up companies.

Written by Mark Kendall

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