About the Fund
The Accelerate Blue Fund (AB Fund), established in October 2019, is an early-stage venture fund dedicated to investing in University of Michigan (U-M) licensed startups. The Fund's primary mission is to bridge the critical funding gap between a startup's initial launch and its ability to attract angel or venture capital funding. By focusing on startups rooted in U-M's cutting-edge intellectual property, the AB Fund not only bolsters the university’s nationally acclaimed reputation in research, technology innovation, and commercialization but also serves as a vital resource to accelerate the growth of these high-potential companies.
Beyond providing patient, risk-tolerant early-stage capital, the AB Fund team offers comprehensive business mentoring and intellectual property support through U-M Innovation Partnerships. This holistic approach ensures that startups are equipped to scale effectively and sustainably.
The economic impact of the Accelerate Blue Fund extends far beyond the university. By catalyzing the growth of U-M-affiliated startups, the Fund contributes to job creation, talent retention, and economic diversification in Michigan. These ventures have the potential to attract additional investment into the state, stimulate innovation-driven economic activity, and ultimately strengthen Michigan’s position as a hub for technology commercialization and high-growth entrepreneurship.
How to Support the Fund
The Accelerate Blue Fund is an evergreen venture fund being raised through philanthropy from the generosity of our Alumni, friends of the University of Michigan, and corporate partners. Fundraising is ongoing and we need your support to hit our $20 million fund goal.
Interested in learning more about supporting AB Fund?
Strategic Advisory Board
Supporters that make a significant donation to the Fund will be invited to join the Strategic Advisory Board (SAB). SAB members will be included in exclusive networking events held on campus to meet with portfolio company teams and University leadership. SAB members will have early visibility to a curated portfolio of promising startup companies and the opportunity to shape the innovation ecosystem at the nation’s largest public research university.
Rob Bronstein*
Co-Founder, President, The Scion Group
The Martin Family Foundation*
Bill, Sally, Seth, and Mike Martin
Ron and Kathy Colby*
Amazon Web Services, Inc*
Don and Anais Hicks*
Richard Douglas and Dr. Anita Kupriss*
Don and Erica Sweeney*
Toby Brzoznowski*
Co-Founder, Chief Strategy Officer, LLamasoft, Inc.
The Bayer Family Foundation*
Matt Bayer and Joyce Yaung
Ehrenberg Family Charitable Fund*
Roger and Carin Ehrenberg
Melvyn Yeo*
Founder, TRIREC
Jonathan C. Oberheide and Ashley N. Oberheide*
MCRA LLC - Anthony Viscogliosi
Brad Sacks
President, BS Global Investments LLC
Founders Circle Members
SAB members listed above with an asterisk denotes an individual who made an early, leading contribution during the first and second fundraising rounds to the Accelerate Blue Fund. Additional Founders Circle Members are:
George and Danielle Skestos
Ventures Team
The Accelerate Blue Fund is managed by a team of experienced investors, founders, and domain experts. Innovation Partnerships Ventures team provides years of portfolio management, startup leadership, and fundraising experience to U-M startups. The team is positioned to accelerate the growth and success of Accelerate Blue portfolio companies.
Investment Advisory Board
The Investment Advisory Board consists of venture and industry experts that advise the Managing Director on company investments and fund strategy including suggesting appropriate allocation of funds.
“I am a strong believer that the University needs to invest in and nurture startups from our talented faculty and students. I know my donation to this evergreen fund will support the Michigan start-up ecosystem.”
- Wendell Brooks, President, Intel Capital (former)
Portfolio
Accelerate Blue provides early-stage investments for U-M startup companies working to commercialize research and technologies spinning out of University of Michigan's research enterprise. The Fund is solely focused on startups that are commercializing licensed IP and research resulting from U-M's 19 schools and three campuses.
Movellus Circuits
End to End Solutions for High Performance and Ultra Low Power SoCs (Systems on Chips)
Ulendo
Cloud-based 3D printing software that enables faster and more accurate printing leading to higher quality parts with less waste.
CubeWorks
CubeWorks’ CubiSens™ Platform empowers ubiquitous wireless sensing, smart processing, and energy harvesting – all in unprecedented, millimeter-scale form factors.
Arcascope
Making apps that utilize algorithms to track circadian rhythms and generate personalized recommendations.
NX Fuels
Providing cost effective, sustainable solutions for production of green fuels (such as H2, CH4, etc.) from CO2 and water using only renewable solar energy.
Ecovia Renewables
Creating high-performing water soluble and water swellable biopolymers for personal care, agricultural and industrial applications.
BlueConduit
BlueConduit is a water analytics company that has developed cutting-edge, predictive machine learning software to locate lead service lines, empowering local officials and their engineering partners with the information to efficiently remove those pipes.
INHERET
INHERET supports those affected by hereditary cancer, through easy-to-use tools that capture important family health history, assess risks, and inform patients and families on the next best steps toward protecting their health. (Acquired)
MemryX
MemryX Inc. is a fabless semiconductor company that designs edge AI processing solutions powered by a proprietary compute-at-memory technology and data-flow architecture.
Mountain Pass
Offering a faculty position management software that brings proven workflow efficiency and accuracy to medical schools, universities, and health systems.
Neurable
Building full-stack neurotechnology tools that interpret human intent, measure emotion, and provide telekinetic control of the digital world.
New Haptics
Newhaptics is a microfluidic technology company that specializes in full-page digital braille and tactile graphics displays.
AngioInsight
A fully automated computer-based platform to assist with coronary angiogram video interpretation.
Zakuro
Zakuro is an energy storage company developing energy-dense solid-state batteries for Li-ion replacement.
Ripple Sciences, Inc.
Providing technology to solve patient recruitment and retention challenges, the #1 reason cited when clinical trials fail.
Auricle, Inc.
Auricle is a medical device company developing treatments for tinnitus, a chronic ringing in the ears that impacts up to 15% of people.
M3D
M3D offers a variety of radiation gamma cameras for use in healthcare facilities by surgeons, physicians, physicists, and environmental safety personnel.
Decimal Code
Capturing underbilled revenue for healthcare providers using automated CPT coding.
Poas Bioenergy
Providing gasification technology that takes in the biomass and agricultural waste to produce high energy density syngas and biochar.
Lumetec
Providing software and data to detect environmental conditions on and around fiber optic cables.
ONL Therapeutics
Developing innovative therapeutics to protect and improve the vision of patients with a range of retinal diseases and conditions.
Brightwater Tools
BrightWater Tools develops building-scale wastewater nutrient recovery systems.
Pathways GI
Maximizing Endoscopic Video Interpretation for Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
“This gift achieves my goal of supporting the university in a direct and tangible way. In addition to promoting research and innovation, the Accelerate Blue Fund is the perfect vehicle to create opportunity and economic growth.”
— Rob Bronstein, Co-Founder, President, The Scion Group
Accelerate Blue News
Premium Audio Brand Master & Dynamic Launch New Era of Smart Audio Products Powered by Neurotechnology Leader Neurable Inc.
BlueConduit announces integration with Esri
University of Michigan Developed Software Recognized for Successfully Battling Lead Pipe Water Contamination (BlueConduit)
NewHaptics Raises Growth Capital From The Accelerate Blue Fund
Study shows promising treatment for tinnitus (Auricle)
Unlocking the Mind (Neurable)
Accelerate Blue Fund Publishes First Annual Report
University startup efforts push forward as new capital comes available
Amazon makes corporate gift to U-M philanthropic venture fund
U-M creates investment fund to fill gap for early-stage capital for university startups
“The Accelerate Blue Fund will help ensure that innovations developed on our campuses achieve broader use to help solve challenging societal problems and enhance the quality of life.”
— Rebecca Cunningham, M.D., Vice President for Research,
William G. Barsan Collegiate Professor of Emergency Medicine, University Of Michigan
Contact us
U-M Startups
Startups with licensed U-M intellectual property: if you have demonstrated proof-of-concept with early market validation, have a viable value proposition for your product or service that is supported by customer discovery and sector expert insights, please email us at startupABFund@umich.edu to learn more about investments and support our team can provide to your company.
Donors and Supporters
The AB Fund is an evergreen venture fund that relies on the generosity of donors to reach the fund’s goal of $20M under management. Your philanthropic donation to the University of Michigan will help support early-stage companies positively impact the world.
Please email us at supportABFund@umich.edu
General Inquiries
For general inquiries please contact us at the following, or fill out the form below:
1600 Huron Parkway, Bldg 520, 2nd Floor
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2590
P: 734 763 0614
Are you a University of Michigan innovator interested in commercializing your invention? Talk to us at Innovation Partnerships.
Serving the University of Michigan community of innovators, Innovation Partnerships is responsible for commercializing research discoveries. We enhance research discoveries to encourage licensing and broad deployment with existing businesses and newly-formed University of Michigan start-ups.
