The College of Utah, one of many nation’s main analysis universities, and EPIC Ventures, a Salt Lake Metropolis based mostly early-stage enterprise capital agency, have partnered to launch College of Utah Ventures, Powered by EPIC. By combining the U’s innovation engine with EPIC’s intensive community, the partnership will catalyze progress for early-stage know-how corporations throughout numerous sectors, together with software program, well being and life sciences and monetary know-how.
“College of Utah Ventures represents a transformative alternative for each the college and the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem,” mentioned Taylor Randall, president of the U. “By partnering with EPIC Ventures, we’re positioning ourselves to not solely foster groundbreaking innovation inside our establishment but additionally to drive vital financial progress throughout the area.”
The fund is designed to leverage the U’s virtually $700 million in analysis funding and wealthy historical past of alumni founders with EPIC Ventures’ experience in scaling profitable companies. The U and EPIC have a historical past of collaborating, having partnered in investing in and supporting the crew at Recursion Prescribed drugs, now a $2 billion publicly traded firm.
“Analysis will not be solely about innovation and fixing societal challenges however transitioning these discoveries into entry and financial growth. The enterprise fund is an element of a bigger VPR strategic plan to enhance our know-how switch course of on the U and to incorporate commercialization earlier into the analysis discovery pipeline,” mentioned Erin Rothwell, vice chairman of analysis on the U.
The EPIC Fund and College of Utah partnership was facilitated by the U’s designated workplace for startups, the Utah Enterprise Hub, run by Jim Hotaling, affiliate vice chairman for commercialization. Utah Enterprise Hub is designed to attach college entrepreneurs with specialists in enterprise, early-stage capital and a community of advisors to gas spin out corporations.
“The fund is considered as a serious milestone within the journey of the College of Utah to grow to be a frontrunner within the innovation and commercialization area,” mentioned Hotaling. “The fund will present distinctive alternatives for college affiliated startups, college spinouts and exterior entrepreneurs searching for to capitalize on the strategic worth of the U’s sources and EPIC’s business experience.
“This collaboration is extra than simply an funding fund—it’s a strategic initiative to empower entrepreneurs and remodel concepts into impactful companies,” mentioned Nick Efstratis from EPIC Ventures. “We’re excited to work alongside the College of Utah to create a long-lasting legacy of innovation within the Intermountain West.” EPIC Ventures brings practically three a long time of expertise to this partnership. The agency’s experience in early-stage investments will likely be instrumental in serving to College of Utah Ventures obtain its targets.
“We’re thrilled concerning the launch of the College of Utah Fund, which can present one other essential layer of capital to gas the expansion of early-stage corporations. This initiative will considerably bolster the Utah Innovation Fund’s capability in driving commercialization efforts,” mentioned Jefferson Moss, managing director of Utah Innovation. “This collaboration is about extra than simply capital; it’s about constructing a complete ecosystem that fosters innovation, drives sustainable financial progress and cements Utah’s fame as a frontrunner in translating educational analysis into real-world influence.”
Concerning the College of Utah
The College of Utah is the state’s flagship establishment of upper schooling, with 18 faculties and schools, greater than 100 undergraduate and 90 graduate diploma packages and an enrollment of greater than 35,000 college students. It’s a member of the Affiliation of American Universities—an invitation-only, prestigious group of 71 main analysis establishments. Lately ranked No. 1 Public College within the West by the Wall Avenue Journal, the U strives to be a mannequin public college in delivering unmatched worth in greater schooling and well being care whereas making social, financial and cultural contributions that enhance the standard of life all through the state, the nation and the world.
About Utah Enterprise Hub
Utah Enterprise Hub on the College of Utah serves as a central useful resource for innovation and startups, dedicated to supporting college, entrepreneurs, and traders. By fostering collaboration and offering entry to important sources, the Hub drives the commercialization of groundbreaking applied sciences and contributes to the financial progress of Utah. Its essential aim is to cut back the activation vitality obligatory for college to type profitable enterprise backable corporations.
About EPIC Ventures
Established in 1994 in Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah, EPIC Ventures is a number one enterprise capital agency specializing in early-stage know-how investments. With a give attention to software-as-a-service, healthcare, biotech, safety, fintech, and future of labor sectors, EPIC has been on the forefront of tech investing because the web’s infancy. Led by a crew of seasoned traders and operators, EPIC brings a long time of operational and funding expertise to the desk. This distinctive mix of experience permits EPIC to supply extra than simply capital; they supply strategic steering and business connections which can be essential for startup success. EPIC’s spectacular monitor document consists of a number of profitable acquisitions and IPOs, cementing their fame as a useful accomplice for formidable tech startups. Whereas deeply rooted in Utah’s thriving tech ecosystem, EPIC actively pursues funding alternatives throughout the US.
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