About OTL
For UF Inventors
For Investors &
For Industry
Funding Opportunities
Funding Opportunities | Resources
The University of Florida believes entrepreneurship is vital to its mission and strongly supports efforts to commercialize UF inventions. There are many ways UF may seek to commercialize technologies and launching a start-up company is one. In most start-up companies, the faculty inventor plays an important role, usually as chief scientific advisor. The following links provide you with information and resources to explore further the many components of creating technology-based companies.
Funding Opportunities
The links below are a selection of funding opportunities: grants such as SBIR/STTR; national and local investors, angel groups and other organizations of interest to entrepreneurs and investors.
Florida-Based Programs
Seed Capital Accelerator Program, Florida Institute for the Commercialization of Public Research
Repayable loans ranging from $50,000 - $300,000 to qualified Institute companies. In order to qualify for consideration for this program, companies must meet the criteria at http://www.florida-institute.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=funding.scap
Florida Venture Capital Program
A $43.5M source of funds for emerging Florida companies from the Enterprise Florida-managed Florida Opportunity Fund providing equity investments and convertible debt instruments with emphasis toward transactions within Florida's targeted industries
CTSI Award Program
Grants
Funding initiatives created to support researchers' efforts to go beyond basic research to proof of concept, prototype development, translational research and other applied research
Programs to ensure the nation’s small, high-tech, innovative businesses are a significant part of the federal government’s research and development efforts.
A frequently updated list of grants that enable researchers to move their new discoveries out of the laboratory and into the marketplace.
Local Investors
Member-managed angel funds that focus on early-stage companies developing leading-edge products, or proprietary technologies that possess the potential for rapid growth in significant markets
Provides growth capital to early-stage information technology and healthcare companies primarily across the Southeastern U.S.
A seed and early-stage venture-capital fund that emphasizes company building and harnesses regional, national, and international resources of the fund's managers and strategic partners
A private-equity medical technology development company. Synogen's consulting group provides services to medical and cleantech companies, and Synogen's venture fund partners in the creation of selected medical technology companies.
Angel Groups
A group of private investors dedicated to providing equity capital to early-stage entrepreneurial companies in Florida
Emergent Growth Fund, Gainesville
Member-managed angel funds that focus on early stage companies that are developing leading-edge products, or proprietary technologies that possess the potential for rapid growth in significant markets.
A group of private accredited investors dedicated to providing early-stage capital to entrepreneurs
Springboard Capital, Jacksonville
An equity investment fund specializing in early-stage venture investments.
Gulf Coast Venture Forum, Naples
A nonprofit corporation that promotes the success of Southwest Florida's new and emerging businesses by educating and bringing together entrepreneurs and angel investors
Catapult Capital, Orlando — 407/823-1442
An Orlando-based angel group that invests in a variety of industries, primarily in Florida
A Southwest Florida angel fund of growth capital organized to invest in Florida-based early-stage through expansion-stage companies
A private-equity firm that invests in healthcare companies
National Organizations
National Association of Seed and Venture Funds (NASVF)
An organization of innovation capital leaders committed to building their local economies by investing in local entrepreneurs
National Venture Capital Association (NVCA)
The venture capital industry's source for advocacy, networking, professional development and information
The trade association of leading angel investment groups in North America
Other
University Spinout Founder’s Handbook (PDF)
Investor Presentation Template
