University Summer Investment Opportunity
A virtual investment opportunity for university-affiliated startups.
Calling all startups with intellectual property (IP) licensed from Oregon’s public research universities or who have graduated from one of their accelerator programs. Oregon State University, Oregon Health & Science University, the University of Oregon, and Portland State University are excited to announce a collaborative opportunity for startups built on university research. Companies whose core IP comes from OSU, OHSU, UO, and PSU are able to apply for potential investment from premier investors.
Successful applicants will go through a due diligence process, and finalists will make a public presentation via Zoom to the assembled group of investors. Each investor will make their own funding decisions and may choose to join others in a pooled investment. This is your chance to stand out and pitch your innovation to investors!
2026 Investors:
2026 Cohort Schedule
March 15: Applications open
May 1: Applications close (midnight PST)
May 2–14: Initial application review
May 15: Notification of acceptance
May 22–July 24: Diligence conducted by interns and staff
July 24: Final selection of presenters
July 31: Diligence reports sent to investors
August 6: Final virtual pitch presentations
Participating Universities
2026 Participating Investors
- Big Idea Ventures
- Cascade Seed Fund
- E8 Angels
- Elevate Capital
- Epic Ventures
- Founder First Fund
- ITIC
- Lam Research Ventures
- Launch Oregon
- Next Ventures
- ONAMI
- Orange Grove Bio
- Oregon Venture Fund
- Osage University Partners
- Portland Seed Fund
- VertueLab
- Wildwood Ventures
- Willamette Valley Capital
How Your Startup Can Benefit
- Potential investment ranging from $25,000 to $250,000
- Access to a network of top-tier investors focused on university-affiliated startups
- Diligence support from student interns and university staff
- Visibility across Oregon’s four major research universities
Application Requirements
- A pitch deck covering at minimum the elements found in the sample pitch deck.
- A three-year financial pro forma (an income statement and a statement of cash flows). The first year must be broken down by month, and the following two years by quarter.
- Must receive a link to the application which will come from your affiliated university representative.
Additional optional submission
- It is beneficial for companies to submit letters of intent (LOIs) from potential customers. Should an applicant choose to submit an LOI, it can be included along with the pitch deck and pro forma in the application.
Who Can Apply
This opportunity is open to startups affiliated with Oregon State University, Oregon Health & Science University, the University of Oregon, or Portland State University. Eligible companies must meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Graduates of a university accelerator program at OSU, OHSU, UO, or PSU
- Companies with intellectual property licensed from one of the participating universities
All applicants must submit the required documents detailed in the Application Requirements section. For questions about eligibility, contact Karl Mundorff.
Additional information
Market sectors: We encourage applicants to review each investor’s website to understand their investment thesis and focus areas. This will help ensure alignment between your startup and investor interests.
Important notes:
- Though it is expected investments will be made, investments are not guaranteed. Each investor makes independent funding decisions and may choose whether or not to participate.
- Companies that accept investment agree to be included in promotional materials and events hosted by the partner universities.
- This program is held entirely virtually—no in-person participation is required.
Questions and Application Link? Contact Us
For questions and a link to the application, reach out to the university representative for your institution:
- Oregon State University: Karl Mundorff
- Oregon Health & Science University: Phil Barish
- University of Oregon: Drew Worden
- Portland State University: Travis Woodland