Stories

From idea to impact.

Founders, milestones and the partners building UVA’s innovation ecosystem.

All stories

Engineering · July 2026
UVA Engineering joins the Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network

KEEN membership brings entrepreneurial-mindset curriculum into the School of Engineering & Applied Science.

Capital · April 2026
The 13th Galant Challenge puts up to $6M in play

Founders from across the UVA community pitched live in Charlottesville for seed through Series A investment.

Student founder · February 2026
A conversation with student founder Santiago Schmitt

The CEO and co-founder of Due Flow is a member of the College’s Class of 2027.

Faculty founder · February 2026
A conversation with faculty founder Silvia Salinas Blemker

The Professor of Biomedical Engineering is CSO and co-founder of Springbok Analytics.

Commonwealth · February 2026
Lab-to-Launch gives faculty an “easy button” for startups

Standardized terms and $50,000 in commercialization funding for UVA faculty founders.

Biotechnology · January 2026
AstraZeneca signs a master research collaboration with the Manning Institute

The Paul & Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology is already operating — a year before its doors open.

Region · 2025
The Commonwealth BioAccelerator expands to $15M+

The region’s first wet-lab accelerator grows with state, UVA and regional support.