At a glance
Indexed programs
7
All currently active
Top direct funding
No direct cash prizes indexed
Equity
Mixed equity terms
Program mix
7
Training Program · Accelerator · Pitch Competition
Programs to explore
Compare funding, equity, and timing before you apply.
7 programs indexed
Startups
Post a startupCosmunity
Comic Con community app; UT Dallas Seed Fund portfolio; 10,000+ early users.
Helio-Ops
Draper Pitch Competition 2026 finalist.
Medceptor
Draper Pitch Competition 2026 finalist.
MusiQ Bio
Drug delivery to brain; Draper Pitch 2026 alumni winner ($50K).
NanoPaws Therapeutics
Draper Pitch Competition 2026 finalist.
Pi
Marketing technology; CometX alumni; acquired by Merkle.
PoolControl.ai
Draper Pitch Competition 2026 finalist.
RadMap Robotics
3D radioactive contamination mapping; Draper Pitch 2026 graduate winner ($50K).
SalesPilot
AI sales tools; Draper Pitch Competition 2026 undergraduate winner ($50K).
ShearShare
Salon chair rental marketplace; UT Dallas Seed Fund portfolio; 325+ cities; Tech.co Startup of the Year.
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More about this ecosystem
Ecosystem Overview
- Central hub: Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Steve Guengerich, Executive Director) at Naveen Jindal School of Management since 2006
- Blackstone LaunchPad: Texas site since 2016; statewide network administrator for 10 UT System schools ($5M grant); Bryan Chambers campus director
- Pitch competition: Draper Pitch Competition (formerly Big Idea) — $350K pool, three tracks, Draper Foundation / Tim Draper sponsor; 2026 record $330K awarded
- Accelerator: CometX — free six-week summer program, HBS Foundry AI partnership, pitch week finale
- Incubator: Venture Development Center — office/lab space, below-market rates; IQ extension at Richardson Innovation Quarter
- Venture fund: UT Dallas Seed Fund — evergreen, $10K–$100K, student venture analyst course (ENTP 4398/6377)
- Tech transfer: Office of Technology Commercialization — invention disclosures, patenting, licensing, startup pathways
- Academic: MS in Innovation and Entrepreneurship; undergraduate minor and concentration
- Recognition: Hosted GCEC 2023 conference; historical Princeton Review #22 ranking; JSOM EDGE Award (Richardson Chamber)
Known Startups
- ShearShare — Salon chair rental marketplace; Seed Fund portfolio; UTD alumna Courtney Caldwell; 325+ cities; Tech.co Startup of the Year
- Cosmunity — Comic Con community app; Seed Fund portfolio; UTD student founders; 10,000+ early users
- Pi — Marketing technology; CometX alumni; acquired by Merkle
- SalesPilot — AI sales tools; Draper Pitch 2026 undergraduate winner ($50K)
- RadMap Robotics — 3D radioactive contamination mapping; Draper Pitch 2026 graduate winner ($50K)
- MusiQ Bio — Drug delivery to brain; Draper Pitch 2026 alumni winner ($50K)
- Medceptor, PoolControl.ai, Helio-Ops, NanoPaws Therapeutics — Draper Pitch 2026 finalists
News & articles
8 articles
University pages(7)
UT Dallas Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
CometX Summer Accelerator
Official CometX six-week summer accelerator page with HBS Foundry AI partnership, curriculum, and pitch week finale.
Read on UT Dallas Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
UT Dallas Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Draper Pitch Competition
Official Draper Pitch Competition page (formerly Big Idea Competition) documenting $350K prize pool, three tracks, and 2026 winners.
Read on UT Dallas Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship — About
UT Dallas Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
UT Dallas Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship — About
IIE about page describing mission, interdisciplinary programs, and ecosystem role for students, faculty, and alumni founders.
Read on UT Dallas Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship — Home
UT Dallas Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
UT Dallas Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship — Home
Official IIE homepage documenting UT Dallas entrepreneurial institute role supporting students, researchers, and alumni founders since 2006.
Read on UT Dallas Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
UT Dallas Seed Fund — Venture Analysts Program
UT Dallas Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
UT Dallas Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
UT Dallas Seed Fund — Venture Analysts Program
Official Seed Fund and ENTP 4398/6377 venture analyst course page documenting student-driven due diligence and startup investments.
Read on UT Dallas Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
UT Dallas Office of Research and Innovation
Office of Technology Commercialization
Official OTC innovation page documenting tech transfer mission, invention disclosure process, and industry licensing partnerships.
Read on UT Dallas Office of Research and Innovation
UT Dallas Office of Research and Innovation
Venture Development Center
Official VDC incubator page describing office/lab facilities, selection criteria, and IIE partnership for student, faculty, and alumni startups.
Read on UT Dallas Office of Research and Innovation
Compiled from public sources; not reviewed or endorsed by the school. Request a correction or removal.