PCI Ventures

PCI Ventures supports the creation of spinouts from Penn through targeted programs and activities

PCI Ventures (PCIV) is a division of PCI specifically focused on creating early-stage businesses founded on Penn technology.

PCIV prides itself on promoting entrepreneurial activities and new company formation around Penn’s leading research and innovations. PCIV actively seeks entrepreneurs to lead its companies and investors to provide funding for a portfolio of new ventures in development. PCIV also provides a suite of products and services to support its portfolio as spinouts make their way towards commercial success.

How PCIV Helps Penn Spinouts

Since 2010, PCIV has worked with over 200 faculty and staff members to form and launch new companies based on selected inventions and innovative technologies.

While there are many paths to commercialization of a new technology, the PCIV team works with Penn inventors to develop a commercial strategy that utilizes company creation as a means to increase the value of the technology while giving it exposure in the marketplace. PCIV will assist the business team through the entire commercialization process with an array of services that includes matching a strong entrepreneur to each company, providing a network of partners to help with any number of startup needs, and assisting with fundraising.

By connecting local entrepreneurs, investors and partners with Penn inventors, PCIV adds a powerful platform for a larger entrepreneurial ecosystem in greater Philadelphia and beyond.

PCI Ventures Services

UPstart

UPstart offers a wide array of services to assist entrepreneurial faculty members with the company formation and development process. UPstart smooths the path to future success by working closely with faculty members to create a commercial opportunity for their technology through a new venture.

UPadvisors

UPadvisors provides support to companies that operate independently and want to leverage the resources of the PCI Ventures team, services, programs, and network to help navigate the challenges of an early-stage startup. PCI Ventures provides a Company Formation Handbook and advises UPadvisors companies during Weekly Office Hours.

Venture WarmUP

Venture WarmUP is designed to assist faculty prior to starting a company as they explore different options for technology development and commercialization. Program participants may choose to work with PCI to pursue licensing or R&D alliance opportunities, start a company through PCI Ventures, start a company on their own (or with an outside partner), or simply continue with additional research.

PCI Ventures Weekly Office Hours

PCI Ventures  hosts virtual office hours every Wednesday from 9:00 to 12:00. Each week, a member of the PCI Ventures team will be available to answer business questions on topics ranging from company formation and legal agreements to benefits and insurance.

Anyone is welcome to take advantage of the office hours, click here to sign up for a session today!

Our Portfolio

Read about the wide variety of companies in the PCIV portfolio here.

View Our Full Portfolio

FloBio

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FloBio

Analyzes dynamic blood flow as a diagnostic technique in trauma, ER, and clinical settings

Penn Founder: Scott Diamond, PhD (Penn Engineering)

PCI Ventures (UPstart)

Ventru

Ventru

Aims to improve the safety and efficacy of neurosurgical procedures through surgical instrument innovation

Penn Founders: Rachel Blue, MD & Michael Spadola, MD (Penn Medicine)

PCI Ventures (UPstart)

Hysplex

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Hysplex

Developing small molecule PARP inhibitors for the treatment of cancer and neurological disorders.

Penn Founder: Ben Black, PhD (Penn Medicine)

PCI Ventures (UPadvisors)

Veltion Therapeutics

Veltion Therapeutics

Novel approaches for cancer treatment by targeting the Integrated Stress Response and its role in tumor as well as stroma adaptation to stress

Penn Founder: Costas Koumenis, PhD (Penn Medicine)

PCI Ventures (UPadvisors)

Mechano Therapeutics

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Mechano Therapeutics

Therapeutic delivery platform using mechanically-activated microcapsule technology

Penn Founders: George Dodge, PhD & Robert Mauck, PhD (Penn Medicine)

(continued) Daeyeon Lee, PhD & Bhavana Mohanraj, PhD (Penn Engineering). PCI Ventures (UPstart)

Daimroc Imaging

Daimroc Imaging

Using Argentavue, a silver nanoparticle contrast agent for breast cancer imaging

Penn Founder: David Cormode, DPhil (Penn Medicine)

PCI Ventures (UPadvisors)

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