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The Next Leap

@thenextleap.is
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We report on university research commercialisation, produce an interview podcast, and write about spinouts and innovation ecosystems. Founded and edited by Thierry Heles. Find us at thenextleap.is Please note: DMs are not monitored.

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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 19h
UNH Innovation brings in Jason Wen as director of tech transfer thenextleap.is/news/jason-w...
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UNH Innovation brings in Jason Wen as director of tech transfer
Jason Wen's most successful licence negotiation to date resulted in a rare disease treatment with $1.7 billion in annual sales.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 29/09/2026
OSE brings in Jeff Moore as head of life sciences thenextleap.is/news/jeff-mo...
thenextleap.is
OSE brings in Jeff Moore as head of life sciences
Jeff Moore succeeds Ekaterina Smirnyagina, who will remain with Oxford Science Enterprises as an advisor.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 29/09/2026
Virginia Tech’s SVP for research and innovation Daniel Sui steps into new role thenextleap.is/news/daniel-...
thenextleap.is
Virginia Tech's SVP for research and innovation Daniel Sui steps into new role
Daniel Sui, former senior vice president for research and innovation, has been named special assistant to the president and is returning to teaching.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 29/09/2026
IIT Madras achieves ₹4.5bn first close for Unicorn Frontier Fund I thenextleap.is/news/iit-mad...
thenextleap.is
IIT Madras achieves ₹4.5bn first close for Unicorn Frontier Fund I
Seven months after announcing its venture fund, IIT Madras has secured an initial ₹4.5 billion thanks to family offices, corporates, and banks.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 28/09/2026
Czechia launches €50m IP Lab Ventures Fund I to back spinouts thenextleap.is/news/czechia...
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Czechia launches €50m IP Lab Ventures Fund I to back spinouts
The IP Lab Ventures Fund I will invest in advanced technologies such as AI, and has secured the backing of the European Investment Fund.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 23/09/2026
Project Ventures launches £5m fund to back Imperial College startups thenextleap.is/news/project...
thenextleap.is
Project Ventures launches £5m fund to back Imperial College startups
Project Ventures will make preseed and seed investments in startups emerging from Imperial College London's ecosystem.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 22/09/2026
University of Hawai’i recruits Denny Otsuga, makes Chad Walton permanent VP thenextleap.is/news/denny-o...
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Hawai'i recruits Denny Otsuga, makes Chad Walton permanent VP
Denichiro ‘Denny’ Otsuga is now director of the Office of Innovation and Commercialization, and Chad Walton is the permanent VP for research and innovation.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 21/09/2026
Main Sequence targets A$400m Fund IV, with its preseed subfund Atmosphere set to receive A$20m thenextleap.is/news/main-se...
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Main Sequence targets A$400m Fund IV, Atmosphere to get A$20m
CSIRO is quadrupling its backing for Main Sequence's preseed fund as part of ongoing fundraising activities for Fund IV.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 21/09/2026
Chile’s new tech transfer law attempts a high-wire act: balancing institutional profit, researcher rights, and a commitment to the public good. We speak with local expert Alvaro Ossa to find out what it all means: thenextleap.is/opinion/chil...
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Chile’s tech transfer tightrope between profit and public good
Chile’s new tech transfer law attempts a high-wire act: balancing institutional profit, researcher rights, and a commitment to the public good.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 21/09/2026
Western Michigan University promotes Remzi Seker thenextleap.is/news/remzi-s...
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Western Michigan University promotes Remzi Seker
Four years after he joined Western Michigan University, Remzi Seker has been promoted to senior vice president for research and innovation.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 21/09/2026
Emily Knight leaves The Engine for public office thenextleap.is/news/emily-k...
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Emily Knight leaves The Engine for public office
Emily Knight has been with The Engine since 2017 and currently leads the MIT-backed incubator. She will join the City of Boston next month.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 17/09/2026
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is launching a $50 million fund thenextleap.is/news/hebrew-...
thenextleap.is
Hebrew University of Jerusalem launches $50m fund
The fund, managed by Dvash Group, will gain deep insight into the pipeline of the tech transfer office Yissum to identify opportunities early.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 17/09/2026
UH Ventures hires Melissa Cohen as VP of venture development and investment thenextleap.is/news/melissa...
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UH Ventures hires Melissa Cohen as VP of venture development and investment
The newly created role will have Melissa Cohen in charge of designing, operating and deploying UH Ventures investment funds.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 15/09/2026
Tulane University-focused 1834 Ventures is close to its $20m target thanks to David Mussafer thenextleap.is/news/1834-ve...
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1834 Ventures close to $20m target thanks to David Mussafer
Venture capital firm 1834 Ventures launched a year ago to make early-stage investments in the Tulane University ecosystem.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 15/09/2026
Hokkaido University formally launches ¥3bn fund. Here are its LPs: thenextleap.is/news/hokkaid...
thenextleap.is
Hokkaido University formally launches ¥3bn fund
Hokkaido University partnered with 15th Rock in 2024 to create the Green Frontier Fund, and has now revealed a first close and two investments.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 14/09/2026
@utah.edu puts Kevin Whitty in charge of innovation thenextleap.is/news/kevin-w...
thenextleap.is
Utah puts Kevin Whitty in charge of innovation
Kevin Whitty succeeds Jamie Dwyer, who left his position as chief innovation officer after just half a year.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 14/09/2026
Vincent Lamande brings his SATT expertise to UniLaSalle Rennes thenextleap.is/news/vincent...
thenextleap.is
Vincent Lamande brings his SATT expertise to UniLaSalle Rennes
Vincent Lamande, former president and chief executive officer of SATT Ouest Valorisation, will now strengthen UniLaSalle Rennes' innovation activities.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 10/09/2026
New South Wales dangles A$150m spinout fund in front of voters thenextleap.is/news/new-sou...
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New South Wales dangles A$150m spinout fund in front of voters
The state's Labor government says it will launch an A$150 million spinout investment fund by July next year – but first it has to win the election.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 09/09/2026
Bath Spa appoints Martin Davies as head of knowledge exchange thenextleap.is/news/martin-...
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Bath Spa appoints Martin Davies as head of knowledge exchange
Martin Davies worked as a knowledge exchange consultant for Bath Spa University from May, and is a former pro vice chancellor at Kingston University.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 09/09/2026
British Business Bank launches £210m fund for southeast England, a massively underfunded region home to 17% of the country's spinouts thenextleap.is/news/british...
thenextleap.is
British Business Bank launches £210m fund for southeast England
The region is home to 17% of the UK's university spinouts, yet received only 5% of the country's total equity investments last year.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 08/09/2026
UKRI appoints Simon Hepworth as interim chief development officer thenextleap.is/news/simon-h...
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UKRI appoints Simon Hepworth as interim chief development officer
Simon Hepworth has taken on the additional responsibilities alongside his permanent position as director of knowledge exchange at UKRI.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 08/09/2026
UVC Partners adds Amanda Birkenholz and Alexander Huber to partnership thenextleap.is/news/uvc-par...
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UVC Partners adds two partners
Amanda Birkenholz and Alexander Huber have been appointed to the partnership, with Huber the first to join from outside the investment team.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 08/09/2026
Bioshore Ventures closes A$27m Fund I, plots A$50m Fund II thenextleap.is/news/bioshor...
thenextleap.is
Bioshore Ventures closes A$27m Fund I, plots A$50m Fund II
Bioshore Ventures has already fully deployed Australia's first medtech fund, backed by surgeons and clinicians who helped assess potential investments.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 07/09/2026
Israeli institutions join forces for $500m INBI Core thenextleap.is/news/israel-...
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Israeli institutions join forces for $500m INBI Core
More than a dozen Israeli universities, institutes, and academic medical centres are launching a $500 million venture fund called INBI Core.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 07/09/2026
Spinouts in the north of England to benefit from £150m scale-up fund thenextleap.is/news/north-e...
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Spinouts in the north of England to benefit from £150m scale-up fund
The fund will make investments in university spinouts ranging from £5 million to £15 million.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 03/09/2026
The BRYCK Startup Alliance, one of Germany’s ten so-called Startup Factories, has added TU Dortmund's Ronald Kriedel to its leadership thenextleap.is/news/ronald-...
thenextleap.is
Ronald Kriedel joins BRYCK Startup Alliance as managing director
Ronald Kriedel will continue in his roles with TU Capital and TU Dortmund in addition to his new responsibilities with the BRYCK Startup Alliance.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 03/09/2026
George Mason University has started its search for the next senior director of technology transfer as David Grossman announces his retirement thenextleap.is/news/david-g...
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George Mason University's David Grossman announces retirement
David Grossman will step down at the end of the year after leading George Mason's Office of Technology Transfer for five and a half years.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 01/09/2026
The University of California, San Diego has promoted Sam Ward to senior associate vice chancellor for research and innovation thenextleap.is/news/sam-war...
thenextleap.is
USCD promotes Sam Ward to senior associate vice chancellor
Sam Ward has been promoted from a vice dean for research to the senior associate vice chancellor for research and innovation.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 27/08/2026
The University of Waikato has launched a search for its next director of research and enterprise as Simon Lovatt prepares to step down after nearly a decade in the role thenextleap.is/news/simon-l...
thenextleap.is
Simon Lovatt set to leave the University of Waikato
The Next Leap is a digital publication and data research consultancy dedicated to the university venture fund and tech transfer communities.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 27/08/2026
VITO has promoted Nils Wuytens to director of technology transfer and investments after nearly four years with the Flemish multidisciplinary research institute thenextleap.is/news/nils-wu...
thenextleap.is
VITO promotes Nils Wuytens to director of tech transfer and investments
Nils Wuytens joined VITO as a venture development manager in 2022.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 25/08/2026
Colorado State University has promoted Amber Krummel to assistant vice president for research innovation, after a year and a half of serving as director of deep tech initiatives thenextleap.is/news/amber-k...
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Colorado State University picks Amber Krummel to lead innovation
Amber Krummel quietly became the assistant vice president for research innovation last month.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 24/08/2026
Indiana University has appointed Jamie Hoberg as its next associate vice president for innovation and commercialisation, effective 8 September thenextleap.is/news/jamie-h...
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IU hires Jamie Hoberg as AVP for innovation and commercialisation
The news follows a report by The Next Leap three months ago that Indiana University was looking for a successor to Nick Hammond.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 24/08/2026
PSV, the venture firm founded at TU Denmark (DTU), has hired Ove Feddersen as chief investment officer of PSV Foundry thenextleap.is/news/ove-fed...
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PSV recruits Ove Feddersen as chief investment officer
Ove Feddersen has joined the TU Denmark-affiliated venture firm PSV as chief investment officer.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 18/08/2026
When lateness is a critical advantage: South Korea's science and technology institutes are reshaping the local ecosystem thenextleap.is/opinion/sout...
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When lateness is a critical advantage
Editorial: South Korea's science and technology institutes are reshaping the local ecosystem.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 18/08/2026
Christoph Igel has been promoted to director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processing and Ergonomics (FKIE) as it seeks to strengthen its tech transfer activities. thenextleap.is/news/christo...
thenextleap.is
Fraunhofer FKIE promotes Christoph Igel to bolster tech transfer
The Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processing and Ergonomics is looking to get more innovation into the defence sector.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 17/08/2026
Carnegie Mellon University has recruited Damion Shelton as associate vice president and executive director of the Swartz Centre for Entrepreneurship, two months after Meredith Meyer Grelli's promotion thenextleap.is/news/damion-...
thenextleap.is
Carnegie Mellon's Swartz Center recruits Damion Shelton
Damion Shelton succeeds Meredith Meyer Grelli, promoted to inaugural vice provost for entrepreneurship and associate vice president in June.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 13/08/2026
Wadi Jeddah, the investment arm of King Abdulaziz University, is planning to launch a $10 million venture fund in early 2027 thenextleap.is/news/wadi-je...
thenextleap.is
Wadi Jeddah readies $10 million fund launch
King Abdulaziz University's commercialisation arm plans to launch a venture fund by early 2027 to invest in local spinouts and startups.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 29/07/2026
Warwick Dawson has left the University of Newcastle after three and a half years as pro vice chancellor, industry and engagement thenextleap.is/news/warwick...
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Warwick Dawson leaves the University of Newcastle
Warwick Dawson has revealed his departure from the Australian university, where he had been pro vice chancellor, industry and engagement.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 28/07/2026
André McDonald will join Memorial University as VP for research and innovation thenextleap.is/news/andre-m...
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André McDonald to join Memorial as VP for research and innovation
André McDonald is currently a professor at the University of Alberta and will join Memorial University in October.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 27/07/2026
Sintija Meissner has joined the Czech Technical University as head of tech transfer and entrepreneurship as Europe's oldest technical university builds out its innovation team thenextleap.is/news/sintija...
thenextleap.is
Sintija Meissner takes on tech transfer role at the Czech Technical University
After a short stint in venture capital, Sintija Meissner has joined the Czech Technical University as head of tech transfer and entrepreneurship.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 27/07/2026
Harmen Steele has left the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to become the director of technology transfer at the University of Montana thenextleap.is/news/harmen-...
thenextleap.is
University of Montana recruits Harmen Steele as director of tech transfer
After three and a half years with Innovate Carolina, Harmen Steele is now the director of tech transfer at the University of Montana.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 20/07/2026
Michelle Perugini, CEO of AU Ventures at Adelaide University, is leaving the tech transfer profession at the end of this month thenextleap.is/news/michell...
thenextleap.is
Michelle Perugini leaves tech transfer profession
Michelle Perugini, whose roles have included CEO of AU Ventures at Adelaide University, is transitioning into a new career.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 16/07/2026
Graz’s universities band together for a joint tech transfer centre dedicated to high-potential spinouts thenextleap.is/news/ihub-gr...
thenextleap.is
Graz's universities band together for tech transfer centre
The Medical University of Graz, the University of Graz, and TU Graz are establishing iHub Graz to advance particularly promising spinouts.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 15/07/2026
Ananay Aguilar has left TenU to join the National Research Foundation of Singapore, where she will build a national tech transfer alliance thenextleap.is/news/ananay-...
thenextleap.is
Ananay Aguilar departs TenU for Singapore
TenU's inaugural director has left the transatlantic organisation to build a national tech transfer alliance in Singapore.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 14/07/2026
National Tsing Hua University launches NT$1 billion NTHU Future Fund thenextleap.is/news/nationa...
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National Tsing Hua University launches NT$1 billion NTHU Future Fund
National Tsing Hua University has partnered with Top Taiwan Venture Capital to launch the spinout investment fund.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 13/07/2026
The Institut Polytechnique de Paris has recruited Jacques Pinget, former CEO of SATT Lutech, as its vice president for corporate relations, effective 7 September thenextleap.is/news/jacques...
thenextleap.is
Jacques Pinget joins Institut Polytechnique de Paris
Jacques Pinget, a former CEO of SATT Lutech, has joined the Institut Polytechnique de Paris as VP for corporate relations.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 13/07/2026
Simon Braham takes over from Marion Bernard at Northern Gritstone thenextleap.is/news/simon-b...
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Simon Braham takes over from Marion Bernard at Northern Gritstone
Simon Braham has been promoted to chief investment officer at Northern Gritstone following the departure of Marion Bernard after four years.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 13/07/2026
WIPO has appointed Laura Peter, current executive director of UNC Charlotte's tech transfer office, to a six-year term as deputy director general of the Patents and Technology Sector, effective 1 October thenextleap.is/news/laura-p...
thenextleap.is
WIPO brings in UNC Charlotte's Laura Peter
Laura Peter has been appointed to a six-year term as WIPO's deputy director general for the Patents and Technology Sector, starting 1 October.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 09/07/2026
The Quebec government has committed a total of C$38 million to commercialisation firm Axelys, whose operating agreement it renewed as part of the budget in March thenextleap.is/news/axelys-...
thenextleap.is
Quebec injects C$38 million into Axelys
The total comprises a C$20 million commitment made this week and another C$18 million allocated in the budget published in March.
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The Next Leap @thenextleap.is · 08/07/2026
Toronto and McMaster form the Genesys University Seed Fund, marking the fourth university venture fund launch in Canada this year thenextleap.is/news/toronto...
thenextleap.is
Toronto and McMaster form the Genesys University Seed Fund
Managed by Genesys Capital, the fund will invest in early-stage university spinouts and is the latest vehicle to be launched by Canadian institutions.
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