Bridging Scientific Innovation and Venture Capital
The Vanderbilt Venture Partners (VVP) initiative, from the Vanderbilt Center for Technology Transfer and Commercialization (CTTC), connects groundbreaking researches and their ventures with forward-thinking venture capital. By fostering strategic relationships and providing curated opportunity sourcing, VVP empowers scientific founders to transform research into market-ready ventures.
Our Purpose
Academic founders face a critical funding gap. Despite translational grants, entrepreneurial training and customer discovery programs, many research spinouts struggle to secure the capital, coaching, and connections needed to cross the “valley of death” and reach commercialization. Investors are crunched for time, inundated with capital requests, and seeking opportunities that align with their investment strategies while also collaborating with co-investors. VVP packages curated investment opportunities for its partnering investors.
What We Do
- Cultivating Relationships: Building trusted connections between investors and scientific founders.
- Aligning Investment Interests: Matching venture investment strategies with Vanderbilt’s cutting-edge startups.
- Educating Investors: Offering insights into the unique dynamics of academic ventures.
- Coaching Founders: Guiding scientific founders through the journey from lab to market.
Why Vanderbilt?
- $1.2B+ in annual research expenditures
- 118 startups facilitated (16 in FY25)
- Unparalleled culture and commitment to Entrepreneurship and venture building
- Dedicated venture professional team with combined 50+ years of experience
- Top 20 research university + top tier academic medical center
Mutual Value Creation
For Founders:
- Access to capital & coaching
- Market feedback & mentorship
- Ecosystem exposure
For Investors:
- Early access to innovation
- Tailored deal flow
- Influence on startup direction