about

funding opportunities

Purdue Innovates Ventures invests in Purdue-connected, early-stage startups with groundbreaking technologies and strong growth potential.

WHAT IS A PURDUE-CONNECTED COMPANY?

A company is considered Purdue-connected if it meets at least one of the below criteria:

  • Founder is a Purdue University student, faculty, staff, or alum.
  • At least one C-Suite team member is a Purdue University student, faculty, staff, or alum.
  • The company is licensing Purdue-owned IP.
apply for funding

Our INVESTMENT CRITERIA

A company is considered Purdue-connected if it meets at least 1 of the below criteria:

  • Founder or C-Suite team member is a Purdue University alum, student, faculty or staff
  • The company is licensing Purdue-owned IP

We invest in startups with solutions that align with the strategic innovation focus areas of the University across agriculture, deep tech, digital tech, life sciences, and mobility.

We invest Pre-seed to Series A+ in startups at key strategic inflection points in companies solving $1BN+ problems with a clear competitive advantage and product differentiation. Companies seeking our investment should have a demonstrated proof of concept, at least 1 full time equivalent (FTE) and ability to attract additional outside capital.

STRATEGICALLY ALIGNED INDUSTRIES

AGRICULTURE

  • Plant and Animal Science
  • Precision Agriculture
  • Sustainability

DEEP TECH

  • Semiconductors and Networks
  • Robotics
  • Advanced Materials

DIGITAL TECH

  • Physical AI and Sensors
  • Cybersecurity
  • Fintech and Web 3

LIFE SCIENCES

  • Therapeutics
  • Devices and Diagnostics
  • Healthtech

MOBILITY

  • Autonomy and connectivity
  • Alternative energy solutions
  • Smart infrastructure
investment funds

Purdue Innovates Ventures manages four pools of capital:

AG-CELERATOR FUND

Created in 2015 by the College of Agriculture and Purdue Research Foundation, this innovation fund supports the commercialization of technologies to benefit agriculture.

BLACK AND GOLD FUND

The Black and Gold Fund offers crucial pre-seed and seed funding to companies that align with the strategic innovation focus areas of the University.

FOUNDRY INVESTMENT FUND

Launched in 2014, the Foundry Investment Fund invests in Purdue-connected startups with a life science focus spanning human, plant, and animal health.

PURDUE STARTUP FUND

Purdue Startup Fund launched in 2020 as a partnership between the Purdue Research Foundation and Purdue University to advance Seed to Series A+ startups aligned with the strategic innovation focus areas of the University.

ANGEL NETWORK

(Coming Soon) The Purdue Angel Network helps forge connections between accredited investors and Purdue-connected startups ready to take their next giant leap.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR INVESTMENT PROCESS AND APPLY FOR FUNDING