Michigan University Innovation Capital Fund

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) has awarded funding from the Michigan Strategic Fund and Michigan Innovation Capital Fund to the University of Michigan (U-M) to create the Michigan University Innovation Capital Fund (MUICF). The MUICF was developed in collaboration with the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Wayne State University, Western Michigan University and Michigan Technological University.

U-M’s Innovation Partnerships will manage this new venture fund that is designed to unleash university innovation to drive economic growth by investing in early stage startups that are based on research from Michigan’s public universities.

The program builds on the state’s efforts to create an environment that supports technology-enabled economic growth by creating a strong university research commercialization infrastructure. This includes the ADVANCE University Early Stage Proof of Concept Fund, Michigan Translational Research and Commercialization (MTRAC) Hubs, and the Technology Transfer Talent Network (T3N). 

Powering University Startups Across Michigan

Michigan University Innovation Capital Consortium

In addition to the fund, the award will support the establishment of the Michigan University Innovation Capital Consortium, a collaborative platform that brings together university technology transfer and university managed pre-seed venture fund leaders in support of the fund and university research based startups. The consortium will provide advisory and strategic support to the fund and portfolio companies through knowledge exchange, networking, resource-sharing and fostering a collaborative environment where innovative ideas can support the state’s startups spinning out of Michigan’s public universities research enterprise. Initial members of the consortium will include investors and technology transfer leaders from the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Wayne State University, Western Michigan University, Grand Valley State University and Michigan Technological University. Over the past six years, these universities have launched a combined average of 26 technology-based startups per year.

Press Release

$5 million awarded to establish a new venture fund supporting the state’s university innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem (January 29, 2024)

  • The Michigan University Innovation Capital Fund and Consortium is a collaborative effort between the University of Michigan’s Innovation Partnerships and Michigan State University, Michigan State University Research Foundation, Wayne State University, Western Michigan University and Michigan Technological University
  • The new program will be funded by the Michigan Innovate Capital Fund to support pre-seed and early-stage companies across Michigan
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