VentureWell, a global nonprofit that supports early-stage science and technology innovators driven to create lasting impact for social and environmental good, is proud to announce that Ashley Taylor, Collegiate Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics at Virginia Tech, alongside Christopher Arena and Andre Muelenaer, also of Virginia Tech’s Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, have been awarded catalytic grant funding from VentureWell.
This grant, part of the highly selective Course & Program Grants program, supports faculty and staff in U.S. higher education institutions to expand and strengthen STEM innovation and entrepreneurship (I&E) ecosystems, with the end goal of accelerating sustainable and inclusive innovation.
The grantee team will utilize the funds to develop a new interdisciplinary program that helps students develop solutions that improve rural health equity in the Appalachian region. This initiative seeks to mobilize faculty and partners in the local community to identify unmet needs and strengthen the innovation ecosystem on campus.
“VentureWell is committed to broadening pathways for science and technology innovators and the faculty supporting them—particularly those from historically underrepresented groups in the field,” said VentureWell President and CEO Phil Weilerstein. “We are excited to provide these talented grantees with resources and support to create impactful programs and learning experiences on their campuses, in their communities, and in the broader innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.”
Virginia Tech’s project was selected from a competitive national pool of applicants, highlighting the institution’s innovative spirit and commitment to sustainability and entrepreneurship.
In addition to funding, VentureWell engages grantees in a cohort-based community of practice that provides them with technical assistance to support the implementation and sustainability of their project within a network of peers.
Since 1996, VentureWell has awarded more than $21 million in faculty grants in partnership with The Lemelson Foundation to support course and program development. Over the past three years, the organization has funded 460 STEM I&E courses, serving over 27,000 students from 265 institutions across the United States.
For more information about the grant and the other esteemed recipients, visit: our website
About VentureWell
VentureWell supports the cultivation of an emerging generation of science and technology inventors and the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems that are critical to their success. Since its founding in 1995, VentureWell has funded or trained over 16,000 science and technology inventors and innovators, resulting in the emergence of nearly 3,900 ventures with groundbreaking technological advancements in fields like biomedicine and healthcare, sustainable energy and materials, and solutions for low-resource settings. The startups they have supported have raised subsequent funds totaling close to $5.7 billion and are reaching millions of people in 50 countries. Visit venturewell.org to learn more.