About this programme
The UVMVentures Fund is a competitive program run by the University of Vermont's Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR), funded at $100,000 per year by the State of Vermont. It exists to accelerate the commercialization of technology developed at UVM and to build next-generation employment opportunities across the state.
The award covers work that is otherwise hard to fund: final validation of prototypes and other proof-of-principle steps that a UVM invention needs before it can move toward a startup or a license. Day-to-day, the program is led by Director Corine Farewell, with Tina Thornton as Faculty Entrepreneurship Lead and Mollie Davis as Student Entrepreneurship Coordinator, all within OVPR.
How it works
Applicants apply through an annual competition run on the InfoReady Review platform. Awards are judged on potential for local and state economic development, the probability of attracting future investment into Vermont, commercial potential and business viability, technical merit, project maturity, sustainability of any competitive advantage, and the qualifications of the team.
Funds can go toward retaining highly technical workers in Vermont, building a startup venture, moving a technology further down the commercialization path, and toward using the Vermont Advanced Computing Core or the Instrumentation and Model Facility. Faculty salary cannot be paid from the award.
First-time applicants are given priority over researchers who have already received a UVMVentures award.
Who can apply
Applicants must be UVM faculty or staff who have filed an Invention Disclosure with UVM Innovations and have already met with that office about pursuing a commercial path for the technology.
How to apply
- Go to the UVM InfoReady Review site.
- Click "Log In" in the upper right corner.
- Click the blue "University of Vermont Login" button and sign in with your UVM NetID.
- On the homepage, scroll to the list of open competitions and click "UVM Ventures."
- Read the competition details, then click "Apply."
Documents you’ll typically need
- A filed Invention Disclosure with UVM Innovations (required before applying)
Frequently asked
Who can apply for the UVMVentures Fund?
UVM faculty or staff who have filed an Invention Disclosure with UVM Innovations and met with that office about commercializing it.
Can I use the award to pay myself a salary?
No. The program specifically excludes faculty salary as an allowed use of the funds.
Have I got a better chance if this is my first time applying?
Yes. UVM gives priority to first-time applicants over researchers who have received a UVMVentures award before.
Where do I submit an application?
Through UVM's InfoReady Review portal, after logging in with your UVM NetID and selecting the "UVM Ventures" competition.
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Reviewed 2026-09-25. Programmes change, so check eligibility, amounts and deadlines on the official page before you apply. CapEasy is a private firm and is not part of any government body.