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Dear Colleagues,
I’m pleased to share the May edition of our Impact Newsletter, which highlights key milestones and momentum across the University of Michigan’s innovation landscape.
This month, we feature the release of the Accelerate Blue Fund’s 2024 Annual Report. Since launching in October 2019, the AB Fund has been a catalyst for startup success within U-M’s research ecosystem. As of December 31, 2024, the Fund has invested $6.8 million in 25 U-M startups. These strategic investments have attracted an impressive $347 million in follow-on funding, translating to $50 in external capital raised for every $1 invested by the AB Fund. These companies have generated 367 jobs, including 293 here in Michigan, a clear demonstration of the Fund’s role in creating local economic opportunity. I encourage you to read the full report to learn more about these remarkable achievements.
This month also marked a personal highlight: I had the honor of opening Ann Arbor SPARK’s Annual Meeting. As Chair of SPARK’s Board of Directors, I’m proud to support the organization’s vital role in advancing regional economic development. In 2024, SPARK provided consulting and essential services to over 450 startups, contributing to more than 1,000 jobs through its Entrepreneurial Services team. To date, over $59 million has been invested via SPARK Capital and the Michigan Angel Fund, helping Michigan-based startups secure more than $1.5 billion in follow-on investment.
As always, I invite you to keep reading to explore the inspiring work of U-M startups and the programs driving our innovation ecosystem forward. Thank you for your continued partnership and dedication to fostering innovation at U-M.
Sincerely,
Kelly Sexton, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President for Research - Innovation Partnerships and Economic Impact
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Accelerate Blue Fund Highlights $6.8M Total Investment in U-M Startups In 2024 Impact Report
The Accelerate Blue Fund recently published their 2024 Annual Report, detailing the Fund’s performance and the progress of their portfolio companies. Pivotal in transforming research breakthroughs into tangible societal benefits, the Accelerate Blue Fund offers necessary seed capital to early-stage startups.
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MTRAC Advanced Transportation Innovation Hub Supports Groundbreaking Electric Vehicle Battery Research
U-M researchers Jeff Sakamoto and Neil Dasgupta are revolutionizing electric vehicle batteries. With support from the MTRAC Advanced Transportation Innovation Hub, they have launched two startups, Zakuro and Arbor Batteries Innovations. These U-M startups are driving advancements in EV technology by providing safer and more efficient solid-state and lithium ion battery technology, respectively.
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U-M Startup APT Solar Solutions Celebrates Official Launch with Ringing of Startup Bell
APT Solar Solutions is redefining the boundaries of solar energy with their
pioneering three-dimensional (3D) solar module technology. Engineered to capture the sun’s rays from all directions, their unique vertical solar arrays ensure unparalleled efficiency in solar power generation, regardless of the space available.
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Courage Therapeutics Receives $7.8M Investment to Advance Weight Regulation Drugs
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MemryX Receives 2025 Edge AI and Vision Product of the Year Award
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H3D Detectors Arrive at the International Space Station
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HistoSonics Secures Insurance Coverage for Histotripsy from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
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Uber Strikes Deal with May Mobility to Deploy ‘Thousands’ of Robotaxis
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From Startups to Sustainability: SPARK Annual Meeting Explores Innovation and Climate Resilience
Business, academic and community leaders from across the region gathered at the Eastern Michigan University Student Center for Ann Arbor SPARK’s Annual Meeting, a celebration of the organization’s 2024 accomplishments and the people and programs driving innovation across Michigan. Kelly Sexton, associate vice president for research – innovation partnerships and economic impact and chair of the SPARK Board of Directors, highlighted SPARK’s far-reaching impact in 2024, emphasizing how its programs are fueling startup growth, creating jobs and strengthening the regional economy. The meeting keynote was presented by Abrahm Lustgarten, award-winning investigative journalist and author of On the Move. His presentation examined how climate migration will shape the future of communities like Washtenaw County.
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New Michigan Regional Engagement Principal Appointed by Department of Defense
The Defense Innovation Unit’s Commercial Operations Team, a Department of Defense (DoD) organization focused on adopting commercial technology at speed and scale for national security, is pleased to announce the appointment of Helena Krusec as the new Michigan Regional Engagement Principal. Krusec will cultivate partnerships across Michigan’s academic and venture ecosystems and drive ideation around defense and dual-use technology research and applications.
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PREACT Motion Sickness Technology Highlighted by Michigan Engineering
Engineers at the University of Michigan have developed a new technology, ready for implementation in current vehicles, that reduces motion sickness by nearly half. Called PREACT, the technology sends cues through the seat to alert those passengers to upcoming movements. The team developing PREACT, led by professor of mechanical engineering Shorya Awtar, worked with Innovation Partnerships to found Motion Sync, a high-tech startup seeking to commercialize the technology.
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OUP Webinar: Entrepreneur-in-Residence Programs | from the EIRs' Perspectives
June 5, 2025 | 12pm | Virtual
Join Osage University Partners on June 5th at 12pm for a webinar titled, “Entrepreneur-in-Residence Programs - from the EIRs' Perspectives.” This webinar will feature three Entrepreneurs-in-Residence as they share why they joined their respective EIR programs, the skills they bring to the programs, their multitude of tasks, the impacts EIRs can have and more.
Featured speakers include:
- Don Manfredi - University of Michigan
- Julie Schoenfeld - Caltech
- Althea Stillman - University of California - San Francisco
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Save the Date: Celebrate Invention 2025
Wednesday, September 24, 2025 | Michigan League
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Fidelity Center for Applied Technology Opens Two RFPs
The Fidelity Center for Applied Technology (FCAT) is accepting applications for the FCAT University Research Award and the FCAT Applied Technology Award.
The FCAT University Research Award will provide recipients up to $100,000 for one year (renewable) for projects on fundamental and applied research that aligns with an FCAT identified research area of interest.
The FCAT Applied Technology Award will provide recipients up to $25,000 for six months for applied, short-term technology prototypes and/or proof of concepts that are defined in scope and in a deliverable format. Monthly demos are required, as well as a final PoC that FCAT can showcase your sponsored work. Research should focus on emerging technologies or cryptocurrency mining.
Submissions are due June 23, 2025.
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ONO Pharmaceuticals RFP - Funding Opportunity for Rare Genetic Disorder Researchers
In alliance with Innovation Partnerships and Michigan Medicine’s rare disease interest group (MIRARE), ONO Pharmaceuticals is expanding its research and development efforts to identify potential collaborative research efforts with U-M faculty focusing on rare genetic disorders. This opportunity is designed for research in early-stage discovery with an identified target, novel genetic therapeutic approaches and new technologies or platforms that can be applied to multiple targets.
Proposals are accepted on a rolling basis.
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69° and Sunny
