Innovation Services for Universities
University Innovation
We equip universities with tools and resources to inspire our next generation of innovators.
Empowering the Next Generation of Unicorns
We believe that with the right team, anything is possible. To help transform innovative ideas into viable businesses, we provide funding and mentorship to university-affiliated startups.
university startups
university startups
university pitch sessions
university pitch sessions
investments per year
investments per year
partners
partners
VCs in our ecosystem
VCs in our ecosystem
University Pitch Sessions
Every week, we invite university startups to pitch in front of our network. Last year, 1,300+ university startups pitched to an audience of 1,000+ organizations and 2,500+ venture capitalists in these sessions.
Culture of Innovation
By being associated with Plug and Play's brand through our accelerators on campus, we inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs. We strive to show students there are no boundaries to their future success.
Career Growth
We recruit interns and host career fairs to connect students with opportunities within our global network. This opens job opportunities for students and provides them with valuable skills and knowledge.
Industry Connections
Through networking, meetups, and other events with corporations and governments, we provide new perspectives and serve as a valuable resource for students and researchers eager to advance their ideas.
Impactful Research
Collaborating with industry partners allows universities to conduct research directly relevant to real-world challenges. This research generates knowledge that can lead to new technologies and products.
Grant Opportunities
Partnering with a reputable organization like ours enhances a university's standing as a leading institution in innovation, opening doors to work on additional projects and grant opportunities with us.
SEE HOW WE WORK WITH UNIVERSITIES
Discover the strategies to cultivate next-generation entrepreneurs and game-changing startups.
Investing in the next generation
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs for Universities
What does a university partnership with Plug and Play involve?
We work with universities to support their entrepreneurial ecosystem through technology transfer, industry connections, career opportunities, and grant opportunities for their students and researchers. The relationship is built around getting your talent connected to real industry and investment opportunities.
How big is the Plug and Play university network?
We work with 100+ universities globally across industries including mobility, fintech, health, smart cities, aerospace, and enterprise AI. Stanford, MIT, Harvard, UC Berkeley, and University of Birmingham are among the universities represented in our ecosystem.
What do student founders and researchers actually get access to?
Students and alumni founders get access to our network of 550+ corporate partners, 300+ VCs, and weekly pitch sessions with audiences of 100 to 400 investors and corporate leaders. Last year alone, more than 1,300 university startups pitched to over 1,000 corporate partners and 2,500 venture capitalists through our sessions.
What are University Pitch Sessions?
Every week we invite startups founded by university alumni to pitch to investors and corporate decision-makers. We run 50+ of these sessions per year, giving founders repeated opportunities for visibility and introductions.
What outcomes can universities expect?
Our university partners have seen startups accelerated, co-investments secured, and founders connected to global industry. For example, our partnership with the University of Birmingham resulted in 24 startups accelerated and £28M in co-investment secured.
How many startups from universities has Plug and Play worked with?
There are 6,000+ university startups in our network today, and we make 200+ investments per year across our portfolio.
Do you work with universities outside the US?
Yes. Our university ecosystem spans 60+ offices worldwide and includes institutions across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and beyond.
What industries do university partnerships cover?
We support university innovation across 25+ verticals including mobility, fintech, health, smart cities, lifetech, aerospace and defense, and enterprise AI.
How is this different from a standard tech transfer office relationship?
We complement your tech transfer office rather than replace it. Where a TTO focuses on IP licensing and commercialization, we focus on connecting founders to capital, corporate partners, and global markets.
How do we start a conversation?
Reach out to our university partnerships team at alireza@pnptc.com or via our contact page to explore what a partnership could look like for your institution.
How we help our University partners
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Discover our global locations
We have a community of experts all over the world. We work as a bridge between Silicon Valley and the rest of the world, making innovation open to anyone, anywhere.