Faculty

Investors

Moving discoveries to deals.

American universities play a pivotal role in driving U.S. innovation. More than 400 university startups are created each year based on federally funded research and development, companies like Google, Netscape and Lycos.

As a top 25 research university, Purdue is at the forefront of innovation and is among the most aggressive of the Big Ten universities in filing patents and starting new technology-based ventures. In 2006, Purdue had 14 startups—fourth in the United States behind the University of California System, MIT and the University of Utah. At the same time, Purdue Research Foundation’s Office of Technology Commercialization processed 256 new invention disclosures in 2007/2008; double the number disclosed by Purdue researchers five years earlier. Purdue’s rate of disclosure translates to approximately one innovation per $1.5 million in research funding compared to the national average of $2.4 million per disclosure, a significantly high return on research investment.  

The Emerging Innovations Fund is accelerating Purdue’s efforts to create more investable technology and startups by providing those with the most potential with seed and startup funds and support through the early commercialization phases. Funding is linked to critical milestones in the development plan to ensure forward momentum. The net result is products, services, and companies that are market ready, investor ready and ready to roll.

Purdue’s portfolio of technologies and startup companies hold dramatic promise in potential markets served and as investment vehicles. To learn more about investment opportunities, contact Jonathan D. Gortat.

Be a part of our investor database.

Timing is everything, particularly when investing in emerging technologies and startups. To keep investors on the leading edge of opportunity, Purdue has established an investor database that includes venture capital firms, angel funders and individuals with profiles of specific investment interests. Quite possibly the first database of its kind at a U.S. university, Purdue's investor database is maintained by the Purdue Research Foundation Office of Business Development to introduce  funders in search of opportunities and faculty and startups in search of investment. For more information or to submit a profile, click here.