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Clemson University
Clemson, South Carolina·University
At a glance
Indexed programs
8
8 currently active
Top direct funding
No direct cash prizes indexed
Equity
Mixed equity terms
Program mix
4
Entrepreneurship Center · Pitch Competition · Accelerator
Research verdict
Research in progress.
Programs to explore
Compare funding, equity, and timing before you apply.
8 programs indexed
Pitch Competition
Catalyst Competition
Pitch CompetitionAlso: Clemson Catalyst Competition
—
funding range
- Last activity
- 2026-07-01
- Participants
- Clemson College of Science students
- Verification
- Verified
Clemson Powers Business Pitch Competition
Pitch CompetitionAlso: Powers Pitch Competition
—
funding range
- Last activity
- 2026-07-01
- Participants
- Clemson undergraduate students
- Verification
- Verified
Spark Challenge
Pitch CompetitionAlso: CECAS Spark Challenge, Spark Pitch Competition
—
funding range
- Last activity
- 2026-07-01
- Participants
- Clemson CECAS students (undergraduate and graduate)
- Verification
- Verified
Accelerator
Clemson STRIDE/STRP
AcceleratorAlso: Clemson STRIDE, STRP
—
funding range
- Last activity
- 2026-07-01
- Participants
- Clemson faculty researchers
- Verification
- Verified
NextGEN Greenville
AcceleratorAlso: NextGEN, NEXT
—
funding range
- Last activity
- 2026-07-01
- Participants
- Greenville Area entrepreneurs, Clemson affiliates
- Verification
- Verified
Entrepreneurship Center
Arthur M. Spiro Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership
Entrepreneurship CenterAlso: Spiro Institute
—
funding range
- Last activity
- 2026-07-01
- Participants
- Clemson students, faculty, staff, alumni
- Verification
- Verified
Brook T. Smith Launchpad
Entrepreneurship CenterAlso: Clemson Launchpad, Brook T. Smith Launchpad
—
funding range
- Last activity
- 2026-07-01
- Participants
- Students, faculty, staff, alumni, community
- Verification
- Verified
Known startups and winners
Competition winners and notable student ventures from our research.
Annoviant
Clemson University · Clemson University Research Foundation
CURF portfolio cardiovascular medical device startup at Clemson University.
Apex Orthopaedic Technologies
Clemson University · Clemson University Research Foundation
CURF portfolio spine surgery technology startup at Clemson University.
Aptus Bioreactors
Clemson University · Clemson University Research Foundation
CURF portfolio tissue-engineered heart valve startup at Clemson University.
Aravis BioTech
Clemson University · Clemson University Research Foundation
CURF portfolio implanted medical device startup at Clemson University.
Biostreamline
Clemson University · Clemson University Research Foundation
CURF portfolio meniscus allograft startup at Clemson University.
CarbonCents
Clemson University · Clemson University Research Foundation
CURF portfolio SaaS sustainability startup at Clemson University.
Carolina Seed Systems
Clemson University · Clemson University Research Foundation
CURF portfolio agriculture technology startup at Clemson University.
CaseHug
Finalist
placement
Clemson University · Brook T. Smith Launchpad
Launchpad Liftoff 2026 finalist at Clemson Brook T. Smith Launchpad.
Crystal-XG
$40,000
prize won
Clemson University · Brook T. Smith Launchpad
Clemson student venture (Lukas Garcia); $25K America's Startup winner and e-Fest $15K prize.
DriveAi
Finalist
placement
Clemson University · Brook T. Smith Launchpad
Launchpad Liftoff 2026 finalist at Clemson Brook T. Smith Launchpad.
Elastrin Therapeutics
Clemson University · Clemson University Research Foundation
CURF portfolio biotech startup at Clemson University.
Mandorla Medical
1st place
placement
Clemson University · Brook T. Smith Launchpad
Launchpad Liftoff 2026 first-place winner at Clemson Brook T. Smith Launchpad pitch competition.
Nectero Medical
Clemson University · Clemson University Research Foundation
CURF portfolio vascular disease therapeutics startup at Clemson University.
Organovo
Clemson University · Clemson University Research Foundation
3D bioprinted tissue company; featured CURF portfolio startup at Clemson University.
PetroSeq
Finalist
placement
Clemson University · Brook T. Smith Launchpad
Launchpad Liftoff 2026 finalist at Clemson Brook T. Smith Launchpad.
Purilogics
Clemson University · Clemson University Research Foundation
Bioprocessing startup; CURF portfolio company acquired by Donaldson Company.
Clemson University
Clemson University, founded in 1889, is a public land-grant R1 research university in Clemson, South Carolina with approximately 27,000 students. Its entrepreneurship ecosystem is anchored by the Brook T. Smith Launchpad (9,000 sq ft entrepreneurship hub under the President's Office) and the Clemson University Research Foundation (CURF) for tech transfer.
Ecosystem Overview
- Central hub: Brook T. Smith Launchpad — 9,000 sq ft downtown hub under President's Office, memberships for students/faculty/alumni/community
- Pitch competition: Clemson Powers Business Pitch Competition — $10K+ prizes ($4K first place)
- Tech transfer: CURF — 123+ active licenses, 35+ startups, Technology Maturation Fund
- Academic arm: Arthur M. Spiro Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership — housed in Launchpad
- Research translation: STRIDE/STRP — NSF ART-funded seed translational research grants
- College pitch: Catalyst Competition — College of Science entrepreneurship challenge
- Engineering pitch: Spark Challenge — two-semester innovation program with $500 dev funds, $2.5K prizes
- Community accelerator: NextGEN — Greenville-based accelerator partnership
- Partners: SCRA, SC Launch, VentureSouth, NextGEN, Flywheel
Known Startups
- Crystal-XG — Lukas Garcia; $25K America's Startup winner, e-Fest $15K
- Mandorla Medical — Launchpad Liftoff 2026 first place
- PetroSeq — Launchpad Liftoff 2026 finalist
- CaseHug — Launchpad Liftoff 2026 finalist
- DriveAi — Launchpad Liftoff 2026 finalist
- Annoviant — CURF portfolio cardiovascular medical devices
- Organovo — CURF portfolio 3D bioprinted tissue company
- Purilogics — CURF portfolio bioprocessing startup (acquired by Donaldson Company)
Assessment
Recommendation: Include Tier: 1 Confidence: High Key Factors: Comprehensive ecosystem anchored by dedicated 9,000 sq ft Launchpad hub, strong CURF tech transfer (123+ licenses, 35+ startups), multiple pitch competitions ($10K+), STRIDE research translation grants, and statewide partnerships. The major gap is absence of a dedicated student venture fund and formal student accelerator.
News & articles
9 news articles and official sources documenting entrepreneurship programs, winners, and activity at Clemson University.
9 sources
News & articles(1)
Clemson University
Clemson STRIDE/STRP Grant
URL: https://news.clemson.edu/applications-now-open-for-clemson-stride-2026-seed-translational-research-project-strp-grant Captured: 2026-07-01 (re-audited) Clemson STRIDE (NSF ART-funded) Seed Translational Research Project grants for **Clemson faculty only**. **2026 STRP Cohort 3 timeline (past as of July 2026):** application deadline February 9, 2026; decisions March 16, 2026; earliest start May 1, 2026.
Read on Clemson University
Official sources(8)
Clemson University
Catalyst Competition
URL: https://www.clemson.edu/science/students/catalyst/ Captured: 2026-07-01 (re-audited) College of Science Catalyst Competition — two-semester entrepreneurship challenge for science/technology student ventures. **2026 finals:** March 12, 2026 at Brook T. Smith Launchpad (**past** as of July 2026). Prizes: $2,500 (1st), $1,000 (2nd), $500 (3rd). 2026 winner DermAlert advanced to Launchpad Liftoff (April 10, 2026, also past).
Read on Clemson University
Clemson University
CURF Startup Resources
CURF startup resources page detailing how the foundation supports faculty, students, and entrepreneurs forming companies around university IP.
Read on Clemson University
Clemson University
Clemson University Research Foundation
Official homepage for the Clemson University Research Foundation (CURF), Clemson's technology transfer office.
Read on Clemson University
Clemson University
Brook T. Smith Launchpad
Official page for the Brook T. Smith Launchpad, Clemson University's 9,000 sq ft entrepreneurship hub housed in the President's Office in downtown Clemson.
Read on Clemson University
Clemson University
NextGEN Greenville
Official website for NextGEN, a Greenville-based organization supporting high-growth entrepreneurs in the Upstate of South Carolina and partnering with Clemson University.
Read on Clemson University
Clemson University
Clemson Powers Business Pitch Competition
Official page for the Clemson Powers Business Pitch Competition, an annual spring pitch competition organized by the Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business.
Read on Clemson University
Clemson University
CECAS Spark Challenge
Official program page for the CECAS Spark Challenge, a two-semester engineering innovation program and pitch competition at Clemson University.
Read on Clemson University
Arthur M. Spiro Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership
Clemson University
Clemson University
Arthur M. Spiro Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership
Official page for the Arthur M. Spiro Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership, housed within the Brook T. Smith Launchpad at Clemson University.
Read on Clemson University
This profile lists 8 programs for Clemson University. Some details may be outdated until a director verifies them.
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