Pit Road Fund

This signals Monash’s commitment to building and backing high-impact spinout companies that translate world-class research into real-world innovation. Monash Ventures positions the University as a professional investor, aligning with global best practices and peer institutions. The new brand enhances market visibility and strengthens engagement with co-investors, founders, and ecosystem partners. Operating under the Monash Investment Holdings mandate, it offers a comprehensive platform for spinout support providing commercialisation strategy, investor readiness, capital access, and company formation for Monash-affiliated startups. This unified approach ensures consistent, professional operations across venture activities and fund management, while reinforcing Monash’s ambition to be a leader in research translation and innovation-driven entrepreneurship. In partnership with Breakthrough Victoria, Monash Ventures is investing in the next-generation of innovative start-ups and spinouts through the Monash Ventures Pre-Seed Fund.

Kyoto University Innovation Capital Co., Ltd. was established in December 2014 with 100% investment from the National University Corporation, Kyoto University. It is a venture capital firm dedicated to investing in startup companies that leverage the advanced research achievements of national universities, including Kyoto University, a world-class research institution. Our goal is to contribute to the creation of next-generation industries. A statement from a certain researcher remains vivid in my memory: “While there have been startup companies utilizing research results that I poured my heart into, many of them were overseas companies, with very few examples of Japanese companies.” In recent years, expectations for university-based startups have increased, and the number of excellent startup companies utilizing university research achievements in Japan has also increased. Considering the level and depth of academic research in Japan, we believe there should be even more entrepreneurial opportunities (seeds) at universities. Therefore, our company not only focuses on “discovering investment opportunities” but also devotes itself to “supporting entrepreneurship based on university research seeds” and is committed to creating university-based startups. In January 2016, we established the Innovation Kyoto 2016 Investment Limited Partnership (1st Fund); with the support of business corporations, financial institutions, and private venture capital firms, we have been actively engaged in financing start-ups, creating carve-out ventures in collaborations with large companies and investing in overseas start-ups. With the establishment of the Innovation Kyoto 2021 Investment Limited Partnership (2nd Fund) in January 2021, it became possible to, under certain conditions, invest in startup companies originating from national universities other than Kyoto University. Through such investments, we aim to share the expertise we have cultivated and contribute to uplifting the overall ecosystem of university-based startups not only at Kyoto University but also at other national universities. However, carrying out these activities independently poses a challenge for our company. Therefore, we strongly feel that increased support from everyone is more necessary now than ever before. For this reason, we sincerely appreciate your continued guidance and encouragement.

We are a venture capital studio bringing brilliant IP to market. Founded and staffed by seasoned entrepreneurs, every 1870 player has empathy for the challenges of building a business from zero to one. We focus on the biggest hurdles to bring IP to market: providing earliest-stage funding, developing company infrastructure, defining successful business models, and recruiting dynamic leaders.

We have a unique setup that combines venture creation and tech investments within a single organization. This advantage enables us to identify new research and deep tech opportunities with both commercial and impact potential, all within Chalmers’ entrepreneurial ecosystem. We are experts in starting up companies based on deep tech and research in the most effective manner possible. This process allows us to cultivate our own high-quality deal flow in which we invest and become active owners. Throughout the entire journey, we function as investors and venture builders until exit. Profits are reinvested through our evergreen model and allocated to Chalmers to support new, groundbreaking research. Our investment processWe identify market potential in research-based tech We match the team We invest in and startup the company We attract competent capital with external VCs We have active ownership until exit Our deal flow criteriaDeep tech / research based tech University spinouts Global commercial and impact potential Our process: from lab to market We use our long experience to create conditions required for a growth company to start up correctly and with the right structural capital. We are then involved in the startup through competence and capital until exit. Simply put: we take groundbreaking research from lab to market. IDENTIFY: We attract, seek out and evaluate research and technology ideas. The technologies with the greatest potential are matched with entrepreneurs. SHAPE AND START: Create the basic conditions to shape companies correctly and build structural capital. We are involved in starting up the companies and provides additional benefits during that first critical period. VALIDATE & VERIFY: Validating business model, working for paying customers and unlocking the business model. Find the right proof points to validate and verify the company’s unique idea to both the market and investors. SCALE: Becoming sustainable growth companies reaching out to an international market. Chalmers Ventures works with its skills as active owners, provides professional governance and syndicates the right growth capital. EXIT: Chalmers Ventures pursues a positive exit strategy at what it feels is the right time. We can focus our resources on those companies with the greatest potential and positive impact on the portfolio.

The Innovation Institute will add additional resources and support existing campus and community partners and priorities through funding, academic resources, and engagement to ensure new companies and technologies can launch, grow, remain, and thrive as they improve lives in New Orleans and throughout the world. This lnstitute's resources include proof of concept and pre-seed startup investment funds, as well as due diligence, development, and commercialization support from mentors and other business, scientific, and investment experts. Education: Mentorship & programming for innovators and entrepreneurs. Robert L. Priddy Innovation Lab: Our process for protecting ideas and determining if there's a market. Community: Partnering with community and industry to fuel the region. The Power of Innovation at Tulane Universities have launched programs with similar components and concepts; but the Tulane Innovation Institute is designed specifically for this university, in this city, at this time.

Strand Ventures. provides early-stage funding, mentorship, and a powerful network to student-led startups across the UK. Traditional venture capital firms rarely invest in founders at the idea stage. We bridge that gap by providing student entrepreneurs the capital and resources they need to launch and scale their ventures. Our approach is built on three core pillars: Capital – Early-stage funding to support product development and market entry. Network – Access to investors, mentors, and advisors across multiple industries. Community – A structured support system that connects student entrepreneurs with like-minded peers. Connecting Universities and Venture Capital. Strand Ventures. is built on a university-driven ecosystem, leveraging talent from King’s College London, LSE, UCL, and Imperial. Our deep connections with academic institutions, alumni investors, and industry partners give student founders unparalleled access to funding and mentorship. How We Help Startups. Funding – We provide pre-seed capital to help founders develop and validate their ideas. Mentorship – Our network of investors, alumni, and entrepreneurs guides founders through the early challenges of building a company. Network – We connect student startups with investors, accelerators, and strategic partners to help them scale. What kind of founders are we looking for? We invest in students with bold ideas and the expertise to execute them. Whether you have deep industry knowledge but need help developing your idea, or a well-developed concept but require guidance in execution, we provide the funding and support to turn potential into success. Strand Ventures backs student founders at the earliest stages, focusing on individuals with either: Deep expertise in their field, looking to build a business around their knowledge. A well-developed idea, but needing resources, mentorship, and funding to bring it to life. We don’t just invest in businesses - we invest in people with the vision, resilience, and drive to build something transformative. Why Partner With Strand Ventures? Student founders are shaping the future of innovation. By investing with Strand Ventures., you gain: Early access to promising university startups. Curated deal flow from top UK universities. A long-term impact on the startup ecosystem.