The University of Utah (one of the nation’s leading research universities) and EPIC Ventures (a Salt Lake City based early-stage VC firm) have partnered to launch University of Utah Ventures, Powered by EPIC. And by combining the U’s innovation engine with EPIC’s extensive network, the partnership will catalyze growth for early-stage technology companies across various sectors, including software, health and life sciences and financial technology.
The fund was designed to leverage the U’s almost $700 million in research funding and rich history of alumni founders with EPIC Ventures’ expertise in scaling successful businesses. And the U and EPIC have a history of collaborating, having partnered in investing in and supporting the team at Recursion Pharmaceuticals, now a $2 billion publicly traded company.
The EPIC Fund and University of Utah partnership was facilitated by the U’s designated office for startups, the Utah Venture Hub, run by Jim Hotaling, associate VP of research for commercialization. And Utah Venture Hub was designed to connect faculty entrepreneurs with experts in business, early-stage capital and a network of advisors to fuel spin out companies.
KEY QUOTES:
“University of Utah Ventures represents a transformative opportunity for both the university and the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem. By partnering with EPIC Ventures, we are positioning ourselves to not only foster groundbreaking innovation within our institution but also to drive significant economic growth across the region.”
-Taylor Randall, president of the U
“Research is not only about innovation and solving societal challenges but transitioning those discoveries into access and economic development. The venture fund is part of a larger VPR strategic plan to improve our technology transfer process at the U and to include commercialization earlier into the research discovery pipeline.”
-Erin Rothwell, vice president of research at the U
“The fund is viewed as a major milestone in the journey of the University of Utah to become a leader in the innovation and commercialization space. The fund will provide unique opportunities for university affiliated startups, faculty spinouts and external entrepreneurs seeking to capitalize on the strategic value of the U’s resources and EPIC’s industry expertise.”
-Jim Hotaling
“This collaboration is more than just an investment fund—it’s a strategic initiative to empower entrepreneurs and transform ideas into impactful businesses. We are excited to work alongside the University of Utah to create a lasting legacy of innovation in the Intermountain West.”
-Nick Efstratis from EPIC Ventures
“We are thrilled about the launch of the University of Utah Fund, which will provide another crucial layer of capital to fuel the growth of early-stage companies. This initiative will significantly bolster the Utah Innovation Fund’s capacity in driving commercialization efforts. This collaboration is about more than just capital; it’s about building a comprehensive ecosystem that fosters innovation, drives sustainable economic growth and cements Utah’s reputation as a leader in translating academic research into real-world impact.”
-Jefferson Moss, managing director of Utah Innovation
