A collection of upcoming events and opportunities, from both VentureWell and the innovation & entrepreneurship community.
From VentureWell
VentureWell Innovation in Action Summit (VIA)
June 10-12, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana, experience a transformative gathering at the VentureWell Innovation in Action Summit (VIA), where visionaries from education, industry, and government unite to shape the future of innovation. Building on the powerful legacies of the OPEN conference and the Deshpande Symposium, VIA is a must-attend event driving collaboration, sparking bold ideas, and creating lasting impact across the STEM ecosystem. Explore the latest trends, immersive solutions, and strategic pathways to solving real-world challenges. Whether you’re advancing policy, pioneering research, or preparing the next generation of innovators, VIA is where the journey from idea to impact begins. Don’t miss your chance to lead change and be part of this groundbreaking summit. The Call for Proposals is now open—this is your opportunity to lead conversations and showcase your transformative ideas. Learn more and submit your proposal.
FLIPspace: Advanced Mobility Arkansas
FLIPspace is a groundbreaking initiative designed to empower university teams of faculty, researchers, student innovators, and industry experts to tackle regional challenges by providing exclusive access to federal intellectual property (IP) through a partnership with the Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer (FLC). Unlike traditional innovation programs, FLIPspace, working with FLC FLEX, supplies teams with cutting-edge IP from the national network of federal labs, enhancing participants’ entrepreneurship skill sets to help them develop impactful business solutions. FLIPspace: Advanced Mobility Arkansas is a seven-month program that focuses specifically on addressing the transportation challenges of the region, offering participants the opportunity to develop and commercialize new mobility technologies that will shape the future of transportation. Learn more and apply by December 4.
E-Team Program
Applications for the Spring 2025 cohort of the E-Team Program are now open! This program helps student teams kickstart their innovation through a powerful mix of grant funding and entrepreneurship training. Selected teams receive up to $25,000 to launch their ideas, and work directly with the VentureWell team to explore possible pathways for their innovation. E-Team Program participants become part of a nationwide network of VentureWell Accelerator alumni, who include peer innovators and industry mentors! Apply by January 28, 2025!
From the I&E Community
Technology Entrepreneurship: Lab to Market Course
Developed in collaboration with the Laboratory for Innovation Science at Harvard and the University of California San Diego, this self-paced, introductory course is being offered free on the edX platform. Enroll today to learn how entrepreneurs match technology with customer needs and bring cutting-edge innovations to market. The course will run over five weeks, with the option to pursue a verified certificate. Learn more.
ACRE @ Urban Future Lab
Rapidly scale and transform your startup into a vehicle for solving the world’s greatest challenge, climate change. ACRE provides unmatched access to strategic advisement, introductions to industry stakeholders, marketing and branding support, investor networks, and access to a community of like-minded founders solving real challenges in energy, water, waste, infrastructure, transportation, and resiliency. Learn more and apply.
Dorm Room Fund
Dorm Room Fund (DRF) is a student-run venture fund, backed by First Round Capital, that supports college students and recent graduates looking to grow their startups. Selected teams receive a $20,000 investment, plus access to mentors, resources, and the DRF community. At least one team member must be an undergraduate or graduate student to be eligible for the program. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program
Hosted by the National Science Foundation, the SBIR program aims to support scientific discoveries and technological innovation that is moving from the lab to the market. The program provides non-dilutive funding and entrepreneurial support at the earliest stages of company development. Consider applying if your discovery can be transformed into an innovation with commercial potential and/or societal benefit. Applications are accepted throughout several seasonal cycles. Learn more.
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