UMass Lowell Innovation Hub

Happy Thanksgiving from the iHub! This season, we’re especially grateful for our innovators working toward a more sustainable future, and our partners who help make their visions a reality. We’re proud to support groundbreaking ideas and bold entrepreneurs making a real difference. Here’s to collaboration, creativity, and a shared vision for a better tomorrow. Wishing you all a joyful and relaxing holiday!

?? Giving Thanks for Our Amazing Community! Yesterday, we gathered at the UMass Lowell Innovation Hub to celebrate our Giving Thanks Turkey Day Lunch—and what a success it was! ?? From festive vibes to delicious food and great conversations, it was a joy to share this time with our incredible members, residents, entrepreneurs, researchers, and teams from the many organizations across the building, including UMassM2D2, the Fabric Discovery Center & the NERVE lab space. Thank you to everyone who joined us on the 3rd floor of 110 Canal Street to make this celebration so special. Your energy, innovation, and collaboration are what make this community thrive! Happy (early) Thanksgiving! ??

On November 7th, the Be Investor Ready pitch event at UMass Lowell’s iHub brought together innovators in sustainability and materials science with investors, fostering collaboration and industry growth. Eight startups showcased solutions, from carbon-capturing aluminum batteries to seaweed-based produce coatings. Highlights included a fireside chat featuring insights on strategic funding relationships and non-dilutive capital. Check out the full recap here:

One of our members, Z-Polymers is making an impact in the sustainability sector! We were fortunate enough to have Vikram Sharma as our MC at last night's event, and now CEO & Founder Mike Zimmerman sharing more about their new polymer, Tullomer. Tullomer bridges the gap by providing comparable or better properties to high-end materials like PEEK but can be printed on consumer-grade 3D printers, eliminating complex processing steps. It offers advantages such as better mechanical strength, lower outgassing, excellent chemical resistance, and RF transparency. Learn all about Tullomer and Z-Polymers in the full video:?https://lnkd.in/erZNQqBp

What an incredible evening we had last night at the Be Investor Ready, an event we’ve been eagerly anticipating after reaching record-breaking registration numbers! The evening featured an engaging discussion about LINC—the Lowell Innovation Network Corridor—set to unlock more employment opportunities and drive innovation. Last night’s event featured a fireside chat that captivated attendees with valuable insights on entrepreneurship and investment, likening investor-founder relationships to a marriage. They shared their journey of raising initial funding and the value of finding the right investor alignment, and highlighted their approach to early-stage investing, team assessment, and leveraging non-dilutive funding. Please join us in congratulating the 8 sustainability-focused startups who pitched their groundbreaking solutions and emphasized the importance of sustainable growth. A big THANK YOU to the many sponsors and iHub partners who helped make this event a success, and the Carson Moore Collective for their live entertainment! Rist DifferenceMaker Institute GC Ventures The Massachusetts Founders Network Saint-Gobain Jeanne D'Arc Credit Union Massachusetts Clean Energy Center Hamilton, Brook, Smith & Reynolds, P.C. Chemical Angel Network Henkel Rist Institute for Sustainability & Energy

Next up at Be Investor Ready: we caught up with Thomas Chepucavage from Flow Aluminum, presenting a safer, more sustainable, and cost-efficient battery alternative to lithium-ion. ?? What sets it apart? This battery technology not only stores energy but also captures carbon, functioning as a direct air capture device. It’s a revolutionary step toward reducing emissions and enhancing sustainability in energy storage. Flow Aluminum is here not only to make connections but to engage and educate. With lithium batteries dominating the market, they’re facing an uphill battle to raise awareness about the unique benefits of aluminum batteries. Educating the public and industry on the potential of this technology is essential to their mission. We're looking forward to hearing their pitch!

We’re here at Be Investor Ready, networking with the innovative startups pitching this evening! ? We just spoke with Mingyu Qiao from Atlas, who is presenting their natural coating that extends the shelf life of fresh produce. Why does this matter? It can significantly cut down on food loss, which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. ? Atlas is here to build connections in the fresh produce market and gain valuable introductions by pitching their solution. We wish them luck!

Applications for UMassM2D2's Barracuda Bowl close THIS Monday! Get your healthcare startup in front of investors and industry leaders at this pitch event. They are looking for groundbreaking solutions in point of care and proactive health to take the stage. Whether you're innovating in heart, lung, blood, or sleep health, or driving early disease detection and continuous wellness monitoring, this is your moment. Pitch your vision, gain invaluable feedback, and network with key players in the medtech field who are passionate about supporting solutions that make a difference. Be a part of the future of healthcare and apply now:?https://lnkd.in/gNr56tGw

Hey there, #climatetech community! Join the UMass Lowell Innovation Hub for Be Investor Ready, where investors and entrepreneurs will come together to explore the latest in sustainable material innovations. Don't miss out on this high-energy event filled with insights, tips, and networking opportunities. It's time to open the door to investment and strategic partnerships! Who should attend? - Materials-based, sustainability-focused startups seeking funding and partnerships - Researchers looking to build relationships for their early-stage innovation - Entrepreneurs wanting to network with potential investors and corporate strategic partners - Innovators, investors, academics, and students - basically anyone interested in the future of the materials-based innovation ecosystem See you there! Thursday, November 7 · 3:30 - 8pm RSVP today: https://ow.ly/KFEF50U0xim

We are so excited to have Rajan & the Ateios Systems team join us tonight at Be Investor Ready! Come join us 3:30-8pm to see our forward-thinking finalists pitch their sustainable solutions ??