VentureWell

We’re excited to announce that our very own Phil Weilerstein has been appointed to serve on the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s inaugural HBCU-MSI Federal Advisory Council. The council’s work will support the EPA’s goal of strengthening partnerships with HBCUs and MSIs and promoting environmental justice. Please join us in congratulating Phil and his fellow council members! https://bit.ly/4gsyZ3A

??Congratulations to EmpowerSun Solutions, founded by Monique Dyers, for winning the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Contest in all three rounds of the American-Made Solar Prize Round 7! ?? Their innovation empowers landowners in underserved communities and regions to profit from solar energy projects they own and control. ?? We spoke with Dyers about her experience with the Solar Prize and the JEDI Contest: https://bit.ly/3My45Jr

In this week's newsletter, learn five key strategies to foster empathy in the classroom.

?? Reminder! Our first info session for the VentureWell Ecosystem Futures Fellowship is just a few days away! ?? ?? Date: Thursday, September 12, 2024 ?? Starting at 3:00 PM EST Join us to learn about this exciting fellowship, including funding and networking opportunities, and how to apply. This session is designed for faculty, staff, and administrators from U.S. institutions, with a special focus on MSIs, HBCUs, and community colleges. Don’t miss out! ?? Register now: https://bit.ly/3XAB9a5 #VentureWell #idea2impact #STEMInnovation #Inclusivity #HigherEd #EcosystemFuturesFellowship #InfoSession

This week in VentureWell Connect: Learn how eight Michigan-affiliated startups are developing high-impact energy and mobility innovations! ?

Eight Michigan-affiliated startups have been selected to participate in the Ascend Energy & Mobility Accelerator, powered by VentureWell, TechTown Detroit, and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s EPIC Prize! ?Through six weeks of rigorous training, these founders will work with expert mentors to strengthen their company’s financial model and move their startups from customer discovery to commercialization. Their solutions include a mobile solar energy grid to provide reliable, sustainable power to rural communities ??; a method of producing inexpensive, distributed clean hydrogen for trucks and heavy-duty vehicles ??; and a scalable sodium ion battery with a low-cost design, storing power for an extended period of time and redistributing on demand ??. Learn more about their high-impact energy and mobility innovations: https://bit.ly/47co3Ts #VWaccelerator #AscendEnergyMobility

Read today’s edition of Innovation This Week—meet the winning teams transforming health care with their biomedical solutions!

Empathy is a key trait that drives innovators to design products and services that genuinely meet customer needs, foster stronger team relationships, and navigate challenges more effectively. But how do you incorporate this concept into your curriculum as an educator? ?? Try these five strategies: https://bit.ly/3T9hknF Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE) workshop series provides research-based insights into essential elements of inclusive entrepreneurship education. #Entrepreneurship #Empathy #IUSE

What if a simple test could save millions of lives by catching cancer early? ARPA-H’s Platform Optimizing SynBio for Early Intervention and Detection in Oncology (POSEIDON) Program aims to fundamentally change the field of cancer screening by developing first-in-class, over-the-counter, MCED tests that screen for 30+ cancers at Stage 1. POSEIDON intends to develop non-invasive synthetic sensors and reporters to reliably detect cancer from breath or urine samples at home. Register now to attend POSEIDON’s in-person Proposers’ Day on September 4 in Baltimore! → https://bit.ly/3Aq0cUl Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H)