Innovation Services
Advance Your Idea from Concept to Commercialization
IALS Venture Development programs are here to help you!
Our programs support development of startups and industry partnerships by UMass researchers based upon their technologies and product concepts. We do this by providing:
- Business research, analysis, and planning
- Mentoring and expertise
- Assistance in finding and accessing commercialization resources
- Visibility for pre-startups and startups
Contact Karen Utgoff kutgoff@umass.edu to discuss help for a startup effort or to explore mentoring and partnering opportunities.
Learn and Connect
Our Startup Navigator pages and Startup Know-How events expose UMass Amherst researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs to:
- Best practices for building UMass startups
- Advice from startups founders and venture development experts
- Perspectives from beyond the campus
Our Campus Partners
- Technology Transfer Office (TTO): Intellectual property protection
- I-Corps @ UMass Amherst: NSF-funded hands-on commercialization training
- Berthiaume Center for Entrepreneurship: Pan-campus support and competitions for student founders
- UMass Innovation Institute (UMII): University-industry collaborations
- UMass Patent & Trademark Resource Center: Patent searching
Startups we have worked with:
Join Our Community of UMass Startups
Portfolio
We are proud of the community of pre-startups, startups, and inventors that we serve. Our portfolio spans a wide range of industries and technologies from Idea to Investor Ready.
Applied Seed Funds
Manning/IALS Innovation Grants
UMass Amherst has created a new ‘Proof-of-Concept’ (POC) Seed Fund Program that will provide Innovation Grants of up to $100,000/award to advance translational and applied R&D efforts from faculty groups and/or startup companies.
Significant funding for this program comes from a gift to CNS from the Manning Family Foundation, and from the IALS Seed fund program. Additional contributions come from the College of Natural Sciences, the Berthiaume Center, the Isenberg School of Management, and the Office of Development and Alumni Relations.
Fueling Startup Development
Business Innovation Fellows
Business Innovation Fellows act as a catalyst within IALS and the local community, facilitating the commercialization of research by collaborating with founders to de-risk and add value from “concept to commercialization” and “idea to Series A.”
Training, Expertise and State-of-the-Art Resources
UMass Amherst Centralized Core Facilities
Our state-of-the-art laboratories, instrumentation, equipment, and world-class experts are helping researchers drive discovery and pursue scientific endeavors on the front line of innovation in Life Sciences; Cellular, Molecular, and Animal Sciences; Manufacturing, Engineering, and Material Sciences; and Human Health.
Affordable, Rentable Wet Lab Space
Collaboratories
Research laboratory spaces for industry partners located in the Life Science Laboratories on the UMass Amherst Campus. Residents have access to technologies to aid in precision manufacturing, medical device prototyping and validation, product candidate characterization and evaluation.
Additional Information & Resources
Startup Navigator
Find information and resources to help build a startup team, test product-market fit, build a prototype and secure funding.
Learn from the Experts
Events & Office Hours
We host regular office hours in LSL S485 to make it easier for researchers and founders to connect with a variety of resources, mentors, and experts from the campus and beyond. Information sessions and the Startup Know-How series bring founders the knowledge they need to move ventures forward.
Help for Collaborations & Partnerships
Industry Engagement
IALS industry engagement programs facilitate development of industry collaborations IALS affiliated faculty labs and research themes that are of interest to companies seeking novel technologies and expertise to complement their strategic and R&D priorities.
