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 several times a semester. During the office hour sessions, 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. Sign up for a virtual session using the links below:

Our Portfolio

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

View Our Full Portfolio

CARmor Therapeutics

CARmor Therapeutics

Interleukin therapy to enhance CAR-T cell efficacy.

Penn Founders: Avery Posey, PhD, Oula Dagher PhD, and John Thomas Keane, PhD (Penn Medicine)

PCI Ventures (UPadvisors)

Triso Therapeutics

Triso Therapeutics

Small molecules for targeted intervention of hematologic malignancies.

Penn Founder: Erle Robertson, PhD (Penn Medicine)

PCI Ventures (UPstart)

TheraVal

TheraVal

Novel liver-derived organoid platform that enables the company to develop and validate potential therapeutics for NASH and other hepatic diseases.

Penn Founder: Tobias Raabe, PhD (Penn Medicine)

PCI Ventures (UPadvisors)

AltruMed

AltruMed

Develops self-driven wearable medical drug delivery devices to combat substance use disorders

Penn Founder: Jacob Brenner, MD, PhD (Penn Medicine)

PCI Ventures (UPadvisors)

Riverrun Medical

Riverrun Medical

Medical devices for neuromodulation.

Penn Founder: Timothy Markman, MD (Penn Medicine)

PCI Ventures (UPstart)

Cogwear

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Cogwear

Affordable, mobile, comfortable, sustained, research-grade, brain state monitoring on the go

Penn Founder: Michael Platt, PhD (Penn Arts & Sciences)

PCI Ventures (UPstart)

Upcoming Events

All Events

PCI Open Office Hours at Penn Engineering

April 10 @ 11:00 am

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PCI Ventures Office Hours with Yi-Yen Chen (Virtual)

April 16 @ 9:30 am

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PCI Open Office Hours at Penn Engineering

April 16 @ 11:00 am

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Our Partners