VentureWell Connect
VentureWell
We support early-stage science- and technology-based inventors driven to solve the world’s biggest challenges.
Week of March 22, 2024
Every week, we share a quick digest of stories and resources related to the science and technology innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Recap: We Just Wrapped Up OPEN 2024—A Celebration of Innovation and Community
This year, we welcomed almost 350 attendees from across the country to our annual OPEN conference! Higher education faculty, staff, administrators, researchers, and leaders in the STEM fields gathered in San Diego, California, for three days of dynamic programming that included four main stage sessions, 44 breakout sessions, and three evening networking receptions. Presenters hailed from 87 organizations, delivering thought-provoking content that delved into disruptive technologies and what the future holds for the next generation of innovation & entrepreneurship (I&E) advocates and thought leaders.
Were you at OPEN this year? Tag us on social media using the hashtags #OPEN2024 or #VWOPEN so we can hear your story! It’s never too early to join the waitlist for OPEN 2025 .
Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE) for Entrepreneurs
Teaching entrepreneurship can be exciting—but it can also be complex. Through the Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE) workshop series, funded by the National Science Foundation, social scientists collaborated with entrepreneurship educators to bridge the gap between their areas of expertise. Their white papers provide research-based insights into essential elements of inclusive entrepreneurship education—as well as tools, evaluations, and classroom exercises that teachers can use to guide their students through the complex process of building a startup.
The ongoing series begins with teamwork and motivation, and over time will examine critical thinking, empathy, and problem-solving.
This E-Team Program Alumnus Is Paving the Way for the Future of Sustainable Fashion
E-Team Program alumnus Ambercycle has been in the news a lot. Its co-founders, Akshat Sethi and Moby Ahmed, made the 2023 Forbes 30 Under 30 list . Their technology, which enables molecular separation of different fibers, became the first garment incorporating circular polyester to be featured in Paris Fashion Week . Recently, the company even announced a partnership with Gap and Athleta.
In 2015, Ambercycle completed both Stage One (Pioneer) and Stage Two (Propel) of our E-Team Program. The team leveraged the rigorous entrepreneurship training, dedicated mentorship, and $25,000 in grant funding to accelerate their business. Interested? Applications are open now for our next cohort of aspiring entrepreneurs with equally high-impact innovations.
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The Recipe for Success as a Solo Founder in Climatetech
For a seed-stage startup in the climatetech space, one-to-one mentorship with investors can be crucial. That’s what drew Shantonio Birch, founder of ThermoVERSE, to participate in our Aspire Climatetech program. “As a solo founder, it can be challenging to bring my venture to fruition,” he said. “I needed a consortium of mentors to really guide me to the finish line.” Recently, he secured a new location for his company at Newlab @ Michigan Central in Detroit, Michigan. Birch’s company is among the 177 startups that have received our dedicated investor engagement training since 2015. They have collectively raised over $453M in follow-on funding since taking part in Aspire, with an 82% venture persistence rate. Applications for our next cohort run through April 15. For more details, register to attend our Info Session on April 1 at 6:00 p.m. ET .
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