The StartUP Fund
The University of Pennsylvania StartUP Fund provides early-stage investment to Penn researcher-founded start-ups for advancing and commercializing innovative Penn technologies.
Funder: University of Pennsylvania
Due Dates: Rolling (applications accepted year-round; decisions quarterly)
Funding Amounts: Up to $250,000 per award, typically for one year; ~4–5 investments annually
Summary: Provides seed capital to early-stage start-ups founded by Penn researchers to accelerate commercialization and company growth.
Key Information: Company must be based on Penn technology and have at least one Penn-affiliated founder.
Description
The StartUP Fund is a seed capital investment initiative led and funded by the University of Pennsylvania, managed through the Office of the Chief Innovation Officer (OCINO). Its purpose is to provide early-stage funding to promising start-up companies founded by Penn researchers, with the aim of bridging the funding gap at the earliest phases of company formation. The fund supports ventures based on innovative ideas and technologies originating at Penn, spanning all technology sectors and all twelve of the university’s schools. Investments are intended to catalyze company growth, help ventures achieve critical milestones, and prepare them for follow-on institutional investment.
