Brandeis University

SparkTank Pitch Competition

--- title: "SparkTank Pitch Competition" source_url: https://www.brandeis.edu/innovation/in-the-news/newsletter-articles/spark-program-finalists-announced.html capture_date: 2026-06-25 source_type: web --- Annual pitch competition and Brandeis' largest. Spark Program finalists present to panel of innovators and business leaders. Winners receive funding, mentorship, and support from the Virtual Incubator. 2022: 25+ proposals, 12 finalists. Finalists competed for funding at SparkTank in February.

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Brandeis University

Ain Family Start-Up Award

--- title: "Ain Family Start-Up Award" source_url: https://www.brandeisstartup.com/challenges/ibs/ain-family-start-up-award capture_date: 2026-06-25 source_type: web --- Summer grant program providing up to $5,000 per selected startup to Brandeis students working on ventures during summer. Tied to Ain Family Professor of Practice in Entrepreneurship and the business school. Promoted through Brandeis Innovation newsletter and social media. Active as of 2025.

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Brandeis University

Asper Center for Global Entrepreneurship

--- title: "Asper Center for Global Entrepreneurship" source_url: https://www.brandeis.edu/global/about/centers/asper/ capture_date: 2026-06-25 source_type: web --- Entrepreneurship center within Brandeis International Business School. Faculty Director: Philippe Wells. Established by Leonard J. Asper '86. Offers courses, seminars, conferences, business plan competitions, field visits, and meetings with global entrepreneurs. Runs Asper Pitch Summit, Asper Award for Global Entrepreneurship (awarded to Robert Herjavec 2023, Stuart Weitzman 2025), Asper Student Startup & Innovation Prizes. Supports Brandeis Startup Hub (brandeisstartup.com).

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Brandeis University

Brandeis Innovation / Hassenfeld Family Innovation Center

--- title: "Brandeis Innovation / Hassenfeld Family Innovation Center" source_url: https://www.brandeis.edu/innovation capture_date: 2026-06-25 source_type: web --- Central hub for innovation and entrepreneurship at Brandeis University. Combines Office of Technology Licensing with Virtual Incubator. Associate Provost for Innovation and Executive Director of OTL: Rebecca Menapace, MBA, CLP. Located at Bernstein-Marcus, 415 South Street, Waltham. Signature programs: Spark (non-bench accelerator), Sprout (bench commercialization), I-Corps support. Fosters technology commercialization across all disciplines.

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Brandeis University

Office of Technology Licensing

--- title: "Office of Technology Licensing" source_url: https://www.brandeis.edu/innovation/what-we-do/office-of-technology-licensing.html capture_date: 2026-06-25 source_type: web --- Brandeis University's tech transfer office. Part of Brandeis Innovation. Executive Director: Rebecca Menapace, MBA, CLP. Handles patenting, licensing, and commercialization of Brandeis innovations. Supports faculty, researchers, and inventors in bringing innovations to market. Located at Bernstein-Marcus, 415 South Street, Waltham.

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Brandeis University

Spark Program

--- title: "Spark Program" source_url: https://www.brandeis.edu/innovation/grant-programs/spark/index.html capture_date: 2026-06-25 source_type: web --- Brandeis' accelerator for non-bench research. Open to undergrads, grad students, postdocs, faculty, staff. Provides training, mentorship, and eligibility for seed funding. Up to $10,000 in funding divided among most promising projects. Fall application cycle. Teams own IP (for students exempt from IP policy). Culminates in SparkTank pitch competition. Eligible projects: environment, education, computer science, healthcare, economic solutions, social needs.

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Brandeis University

Sprout Program

--- title: "Sprout Program" source_url: https://www.brandeis.edu/innovation/grant-programs/sprout/index.html capture_date: 2026-06-25 source_type: web --- Seed funding program for bench-based research projects and early-stage technology development. Supports commercialization pathways for Brandeis faculty, postdocs, and grad students engaged in lab-based or scientific innovation. Part of Brandeis Innovation Virtual Incubator's signature programs alongside Spark and I-Corps.

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