VentureWell Connect
VentureWell
We support early-stage science- and technology-based inventors driven to solve the world’s biggest challenges.
Innovation This Week: Meet the winning teams transforming health care with their biomedical solutions. ??
August 29, 2024
Meet the Winners of the 2024 DEBUT Challenge
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Eleven teams and five honorable mentions have been selected as winners of the 13th annual Design by Biomedical Undergraduate Teams (DEBUT) Challenge, supported by the National Institutes of Health and VentureWell. Teams will receive prizes of up to $20,000 from a total prize pool of $160,000 for their transformative biomedical solutions that aim to solve pressing medical challenges through innovation. Their innovations include an ingestible probe that changes chemical composition when in contact with dysplastic or cancerous tissue, offering a cost-effective, accessible solution for early colorectal cancer detection. This year, 85 applications were submitted from 48 colleges and universities in 24 states, engaging a total of 362 students. Submissions were selected based on a demonstrated mastery of analytical and design skills and capabilities, the ability to manage the product development process, the ability to work effectively in teams, and technical communication skills.
Applications Are Open For VentureWell’s New Ecosystem Futures Fellowship
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We are thrilled to announce that applications are now open for VenureWell’s new Ecosystem Futures Fellowship! A one-year program that aims to strengthen campus innovation and entrepreneurship, this fellowship enhances both in-class and out-of-class student engagement and institutional culture by growing ecosystem networks. Teams of two will receive $35,000 in funding—a $10,000 award and $7,500 in travel stipends for each fellow—and 12 months of immersive programming and communities of practice. Mark your calendars:
Final Call: Submissions for Aspire Medtech Must Be Submitted by September 3
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Do you know a committed and competitive medtech startup that is preparing for investor engagement? We want to hear about them! As part of our Aspire Medtech cohort, we select 10-15 dedicated science- and engineering-based startups from across the nation that are launching high-impact inventions. Teams should have initial evidence of product-market fit and preparation for a round of equity investment within the next 12 months, and an initial prototype developed with pilot studies/field trials underway. We invite you to remind your network about the approaching September 3 deadline, and share with them our resources:
How VentureWell Is Taking Action for Equity
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At VentureWell, we’re driving inclusive innovation through three key pathways: spurring institutional change, training and funding diverse innovators, and supporting the creation and commercialization of innovations. Here are a few of the ways we have put this into practice over the past year:
Innovation & Entrepreneurship News
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Job Posting: Financial Analyst
We’re looking for a financial analyst with experience in the nonprofit sector and a solid background in accounting. This person will support the monitoring and tracking of departmental and organizational budgets, collaborate with team members to review budget variances and provide input on necessary changes, and support senior analysts by compiling data and developing preliminary recommendations to enhance resource allocation and support organizational goals.