Venture Catalyst at ASU
Venture Catalyst at ASU is Arizona State University’s entrepreneurial assistance initiative designed to help faculty, students, alumni and ASU-linked companies launch new startups or accelerate existing ventures.
The program leverages the expertise of the ASU Office of Knowledge Enterprise Development and Arizona Technology Enterprises to identify and develop investment-grade companies.
The Venture Catalyst team works one-on-one with faculty entrepreneurs to determine the steps needed to advance ideas to market launch. The in-house Venture Catalyst team, an extensive mentor network and pre-selected service providers (market research, legal, IP assistance, etc.) are then engaged to provide tailored business services.
Mentors
Faculty with Venture Catalyst can be matched with experienced entrepreneurs and seasoned business executives based on their specific needs and required time commitments. Approximately 100 mentors are currently participating in Venture Catalyst mentor programs.
SBIR / STTR grant support
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program provide funding for early-stage technology ventures that are still too high-risk to attract funding from private investors. Both programs are coordinated by the U.S. Small Business Administration and offer applicants a three-phase development cycle:
- Phase I – Awards of up to $100,000 for approximately six months support exploration of the technical merit or feasibility of an idea or technology.
- Phase II – Awards of up to $750,000, for as many as two years. During this time, R&D work is performed and the developer evaluates commercialization potential. Only Phase I award winners can apply.
- Phase III – Period during which Phase II innovation moves from the laboratory into the marketplace. No SBIR funds support this phase. The small business must find private or non-SBIR federal agency funding.
Venture Catalyst supports faculty SBIR/STTR applications by providing research, writing and submission support, along with making critical connections to large corporate partners.
