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Inside the Studio

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December 2, 2025

Inside SVS, University Partners

Pitch Here: Funding for University Startups

ThursDeal is a new monthly pitch event, hosted by Summit Venture Studio, designed to help university- and research- born technologies gain funding, visibility, and expert support from investors and commercialization partners.
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About the Blog

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At Summit Venture Studio, we turn university-developed software into high-impact startups. This blog shares insights from our journey—covering early-stage validation, venture-building strategies, and founder tools. Whether you’re a first-time entrepreneur or a seasoned operator, we’re here to equip you with practical knowledge to build smarter, faster, and with purpose.

Venture studio team and university partners shaking hands in a modern office, symbolizing collaboration and successful commercialization of university innovations.

How Summit Venture Studio Helps Commercialize University IP

November 12, 2025

Summit Venture Studio partners with universities and research institutions to commercialize their IP and bring research to market. Through its Discover–Develop–Deploy model, SVS transforms academic software innovations into funded spinouts, helping researchers build scalable startups and generate real-world impact.
Entrepreneur analyzing research data and documents at a computer workstation in a modern office environment with Summit Venture Studio branding.

Using SBIR & STTR Grants to Fund Your Startup

October 30, 2025

Federal commercialization grants like SBIR and STTR provide powerful, non-dilutive funding for startups and university innovations, helping bridge the gap between early research and market-ready products. These programs give inventors and entrepreneurs the capital to prove feasibility, build prototypes, and validate demand—all without giving up equity. In this post, Summit Venture Studio Managing Partner Taylor Bench explains how founders and university researchers can strategically leverage I-Corps, SBIR, and STTR grants to accelerate commercialization, improve success rates, and build sustainable companies grounded in innovation. Whether you’re a scientist preparing your first proposal or a startup founder looking for non-dilutive funding, this guide breaks down how to navigate each program and maximize your chances of success.
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How to Engage Your Community and Grow Impact

October 15, 2025

This blog post is based on a Midday Connect presentation by Candy Isabel, Founder & CEO of Khamai Strategies, who guides nonprofits and organizations in centering stakeholder voice to scale their impact. Drawing from her session, 'How to Connect with the Community You Serve,' this post shares actionable advice for founders on building authentic relationships with their communities. Learn how to listen first, co-create solutions, and build trust through transparency, consistency, and accountability.
A modern computer lab scene with overlay icons showing a university building connected by a dotted line to symbols of a gear, lightbulb, and storefront, representing the journey from academic research to commercialization.

Turning Research Into Startups: The Entrepreneur’s Guide to University Tech Transfer

October 10, 2025

This comprehensive guide walks founders through the university tech transfer journey—from finding and evaluating technologies to licensing and launching startups. Learn the process, access resources, and see how Summit Venture Studio helps entrepreneurs bring research to market faster.
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Services Business vs Product Startup: What Every New Founder Needs to Know

September 30, 2025

Every founder faces the question: should I start with a services business or a product startup? This guide breaks down the pros, cons, and trade-offs of each approach to help new founders make a confident decision.
Illustration of a bridge connecting a university building icon on the left and a storefront icon on the right, symbolizing the licensing process that moves research into the marketplace.

How to License University Technology for Startup Commercialization

September 24, 2025

Feedback builds deal flow. Licensing builds startups. Founders can strengthen their relationships with tech transfer offices by providing useful feedback when passing on opportunities, and by following a clear playbook when they decide to license a university technology for commercialization.
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  • About Us
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