Building a future of innovation
UConn is dedicated to unleashing the solutions to major challenges for tomorrow’s citizens, and supporting trailblazing businesses is key to achieving that goal.
As one of the nation’s top 25 public universities, UConn is actively engaged in promoting entrepreneurship and commercial ventures as part of its mission. Here to drive the future of innovation, enterprising students, faculty, and businesses alike can tap into a variety of resources, from our Technology Incubation Program (TIP) to the Learning Community Innovation Zone and beyond. UConn supports every aspect of innovation and business development, from the research that breeds new inventions to connecting entrepreneurs with funding resources and training.
Success Stories
Building a Successful Startup with UConn Support
University of Connecticut alum Matt Cremins ʼ13 (ENG) ʼ14 MS is not at liberty to discuss the details of the sale of his company and its Smartwell beverage-dispenser technology. But it is fair to say it was life changing. In less than six years, Cremins turned the company he began at UConn into a sought-after enterprise. He recently sold it to Elkay, an international manufacturing company known for water fountains and bottle filling stations commonly found in offices, schools, gyms, airports, and hotels.
Success Stories
Company Man And College Student
By their sophomore year in high school, Ben Grosse ’21 (BUS) and his good friend Bharat Pulgam had amassed an impressive collection of broken earbuds. But their parents were less than impressed at the bills for replacement sets. Now co-owner and sales director of the $100,000-a-year company, Grosse, 18, recently shared the story of his business journey with students at UConn’s new Peter J. Werth Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (formerly the NextGen Residence Hall).
Featured Event
Students from Miss Porter’s School who hope to become entrepreneurs met with female student entrepreneurs from UConn’s School of Nursing at the Werth Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation on May 22. They also did an art project in the Werth Tower Maker Space, followed by ice cream at the Dairy Bar.
Featured Event
Splunk Analytics Workshop
Presented by OPIM Innovate
During this workshop, attendees will be briefed on the Splunk Enterprise software and how Splunk, Inc. is revolutionizing the analysis of machine data. An American public multinational corporation based in San Francisco, California, Splunk, Inc.’s mission is to make machine-generated big data accessible. They do this through Splunk Enterprise, helping students and professionals identify data patterns and visualize findings, all via a web-style interface.
During the workshop, data security, Internet of Things, and machine learning concepts will be discussed and further explored through the Splunk Enterprise software. While a prior understanding of these concepts will be useful during the workshop, it is not required. We will be providing additional resources for those who would like to learn more.
When: February 22 | 1:00 p.m.- 3:00 p.m.
Where: Gladstein Lab – BUSN 391
Register here.
Featured Event
Medication Reconciliation Hackathon
Presented by UConn Health
When: April 5&6 | 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Where: Academic Entrance, UConn Health, 263 Farmington Ave, Farmington, CT
Click here to learn more.
Read about last year's hackathon on UConn Today.
Featured Event
2019 MassChallenge Accelerator
Attention UConn entrepreneurs! Applications for the 2019 MassChallenge accelerator are officially open! MassChallenge is looking for the world's most-promising startups across industries! Have an idea or early-stage venture you want to scale? Apply for the chance to access top corporates, expert mentors, tailored curriculum, free office space, scholarships, and up to $1M in cash prizes – all at zero cost and for zero equity.
Deadline: Wednesday, March 13 (Final)
Contact: Kathy F. Rocha at kathy.rocha@uconn.edu.
Click here to learn more.
Entrepreneurship and Community Impact
$60 million
raised in equity, debt, grants, and revenue by startups at UConn's Technology Incubation Program (in 2017)
$80+ million
in industry partnerships connected with the Innovation Partnership Building
600+
US patents based on UConn Technologies
