Blog

Masters of Invention: What Lonnie Johnson and Franziska Trautmann Teach Us About Innovation

Dr. Lonnie Johnson and Franziska Trautmann share insights into their journeys as inventors.

5 Must-Know Tips for Healthtech Innovators

VentureWell alumni offer advice to healthtech innovators.

What’s Next in Academic Innovation

VentureWell CEO Phil Weilerstein shares takeaways from a listening session at the 2025 NAI Annual Meeting.

New Publication Highlights Opportunities To Improve Medical Reimbursement Landscape

Explore key findings from the Investor Catalyst Hub’s network survey.

ARPA-H Investor Catalyst Hub Connects Innovative Small Business With Partners on Their Path to Commercialization

The ARPA-H Investor Catalyst Hub connected Belle.ai to spokes within its network that could help it validate its customer segments.

The Challenges of Bringing a Revolutionary Innovation to Market—And Some Solutions

ReBlood Rx, founded by Carlos Munoz and Christopher Caballero, has developed a revolutionary hemoglobin-based oxygen delivery system—essentially a blood alternative.

How Prospect Growth Is Revolutionizing Farming With Nanofertilizers

This E-Team Program and NSF I-Corps™ alumni startup is working to bring new technologies to farmers, helping them increase profitability while being responsible stewards of the environment.

FLIPspace in Action: Linking Federal Labs to Arkansas Innovators

At the final FLIPspace: Advanced Mobility Arkansas pitch event in May, attendees got a front-row seat to watch this bold VentureWell pilot unfold.

From Strategy to Action: Reflections From the Ecosystem Futures Fellowship New Orleans Gathering

VentureWell’s higher education team convened 26 Ecosystem Futures Fellows from across the country for their first On-Campus Immersive Experience (OCIE).

Five Key Takeaways From “The Philanthropy Pivot”—VIA Learning Series

On July 30, VentureWell hosted a webinar focused on strengthening collaborations between higher education institutions and philanthropic funders.

Medtech to Market: Advancing the First Point-of-Care Hepatitis C Test

As the Commercialization Center, VentureWell provided infrastructure support for a life-saving hepatitis C test-to-treat breakthrough.

Designing for Change: How Kit Switch Is Rethinking Construction

E-Team Program and Aspire Climatetech alumnus Kit Switch delivers ready-to-install apartment interior kits designed to streamline construction and reduce project timelines.

Tick Testing at Home: LymeAlert’s Bold Vision for Early Lyme Detection

LymeAlert created a kit to help people identify whether a tick carries Lyme-causing bacteria—right at home.

Why We Flipped the Model: A New Era for Higher Ed Innovation

VentureWell launched the Ecosystem Futures Fellowship to further broaden and deepen our support, focusing on institution-wide transformation, cross-campus collaboration, and leadership engagement.

Summer Reading Picks From the VentureWell Executive Team

Members of our executive leadership team share a selection of books that have recently inspired or challenged them.

From Coast to Coast, A New Future for Blue Innovation Is Rising

VentureWell and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have embarked on a four-year mission to help startups transform novel ocean technologies into market-ready products.

Sustainable Industrial Laundry Using Ultrasonic Waves: A Journey of Customer Discovery

Ultropia, an E-Team Program and Aspire Climatetech alumnus, is working to revolutionize the laundry space, with ultrasonic technology that works faster and uses less water and energy.

Stepping Back To Move Forward: Practical Strategies for Healthier Startup Cultures

Founder mental health isn’t a peripheral issue. It’s a critical factor in startup outcomes.

Creative Funding Sources for Early-Stage Entrepreneurs: Interview With Brian Kerns

Aspire mentor Kerns advises that creative founders turn over all rocks when pursuing funding—exploring federal, state, and local options as well as accelerators, incubators, and assistance programs.

Five Essential (and Mostly Free!) IP Resources Every Innovator Should Know About

Intellectual property is the cornerstone of many products in the marketplace today, providing significant value by granting inventors exclusive rights.