TLDR:
- The University of Arizona has received an anonymous $1 million donation to its Wildcat Philanthropic Seed Fund.
- The fund will help support UA startups launched to commercialize ideas and innovations stemming from the work of university faculty, staff, and students.
- It will provide hands-on investing experience for students and help companies get through the “valley of death” stage.
The University of Arizona has announced that it has received a $1 million gift to its Wildcat Philanthropic Seed Fund. The fund is designed to support startups launched by the university to commercialize ideas and innovations from its faculty, staff, and students, and the donation will be used to establish an evergreen funding source to support young companies. The fund will also provide hands-on investing experience for students and help startups get through the challenging early stages of their ventures, commonly known as the “valley of death.” The goal is for the fund to reach $2 million before making any investments and eventually grow to $5 million. Investments from the fund are expected to range from $25,000 to $250,000. Additionally, the fund will involve students in due diligence and investment decisions, giving them a seat at the table and inspiring them towards impactful entrepreneurship in the future.