Imperial College London recently launched an online portal that will empower startup founders to reach global investor audiences.

The investment portal launch coincided with a visit by Imperial President Hugh Brady to San Francisco and the Bay Area –?home to some of the world’s most recognised and established tech companies.  

The new Imperial Investment Portal was launched at a showcase event where five Imperial startups pitched to tech leaders and investors at San Francisco’s iconic SHACK15 venue.  

The Imperial Investment Portal is an exciting new offering to connect our student, staff and alumni founders directly with new and existing investors from around the globe Professor Hugh Brady, President of Imperial College London

Imperial’s President, Professor Hugh Brady said: “Imperial has built a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem to support our startup and spinout founders in developing innovative solutions that are helping to address global challenges. But for our ventures to grow, scale and reach their full potential they need vital early-stage investment from a wide range of sources.

“The Imperial Investment Portal is an exciting new offering to connect our student, staff and alumni founders directly with new and existing investors from around the globe – and I look forward to seeing the impact we can achieve together.”

Professor Mary Ryan, Vice-Provost (Research and Enterprise) speaks at the showcase

Providing investors across the globe with access to a curated range of startup investment opportunities through a single user-friendly platform is just one example of Imperial’s commitment to being accessible and responsive to do business with.

The investment portal provides a natural extension to Imperial’s current investment and marketing capabilities, furthering the ability to connect diverse investors and startups in our ecosystem, boosting the visibility of Imperial-associated startups seeking investment and offering up-to-date information about them.

Support for budding startups

The new portal will ease investment for budding Imperial startups like those that pitched at the showcase event, where Imperial’s entrepreneurial graduate founders working at the cutting edge of AI and healthcare showcased their innovations to an audience of alumni, investors and tech leaders from the San Francisco tech ecosystem.

The startups included MakeSense: a machine vision navigation device for the blind and vision impaired, Vera.AI: AI hyper-personalised women’s health platform, OSSTEC: 3D Printed Bone Healing Platform Technology, Phare Labs: The next gen AI smoke alarm, and dotplot: At-home breast health monitoring solution. 

Diana Canghizer, co-founder of vera AIArnau Donate Duch, co-founder of Phare LabsDebra Babalola, co-founder of DotPlotDr Max Munford, founder of OSSTECRobert Quinn, co-founder of MakeSense

Explaining the value of the new portal for startups like his, Dr Max Munford, CEO and Founder of one of the pitching startups, OSSTEC, and Imperial PhD graduate, said: “Fundraising is a crucial part of growing a venture but it can be difficult to connect with investors who are the right fit with your company.”

“Building and closing OSSTEC’s oversubscribed £1.2M seed round could have been much more efficient using the Imperial Investment Portal. More importantly, faster access to early angels means the team can focus on building the company.”

Fellow founder, Claire Trant, CEO and co-founder of Untap Health and Imperial PhD graduate, said: “We were lucky enough to be part of the Imperial ecosystem which was a huge help in our 2022 fundraise. But finding relevant and interested early-stage investors was a slow process. Having a portal where you can quickly see many investors and their interests would be a game changer.”

Building ties across the Atlantic

Imperial’s leadership and delegation of innovative startups attended the GBx Gala to network with fellow entrepreneurs, tech leaders and venture capitalists. The UK’s Chancellor of the Exchequer gave the event’s keynote speech, as well as hosting a reception which was attended by Imperial’s President, Professor Hugh Brady, and Vice-Provost (Research and Enterprise), Professor Mary Ryan. 

The Chancellor was in the area to meet with technology firms on the US West Coast as part of efforts to make Britain the next Silicon Valley and to encourage investment in the UK tech sector. Imperial’s newest campus in one of the most dynamic and rapidly changing parts of London, White City, echoes this ambition, and is fuelling an entrepreneurial ecosystem that mirrors the early days of Silicon Valley. 

During the trip, technology entrepreneur and Imperial alumnus Wendy Tan White welcomed the Imperial delegation to Intrinsic, a pioneering robotics software company, part of the Alphabet Group, where she is CEO.

The delegation also discussed collaborative and student training opportunities at cutting edge electric vehicle company Lucid Motors at invitation of CEO and Imperial alumnus Peter Rawlinson. 

More than just a shop window

Led by Imperial’s in-house Investment Services team, the Imperial Investment Portal is a web-based platform which allows members of Imperial’s Investor Network access real-time and relevant information on investment opportunities.

Startups are quality-assured by the Imperial team for investor readiness and their profiles are completed and updated by the founders – including links to video pitches, intellectual property and investment raised to date.

Members of Imperial’s Investment Network will get notified by email when companies move to ‘actively fundraising’ and investors can filter the opportunities by sector and contact founders directly through the portal – all free of charge to founders and investors.

Dr James Groves, Head of Investment Services at Imperial Enterprise, said: “More than just a shop window, the portal will dynamically alert members of the Investor community to new opportunities. If you are a registered member of our network, you will hear about new companies opening their investment rounds regardless of where you are on the planet.

“We know many investors find it challenging to secure high quality deal flow from UK Universities, with access to founders and opportunities often restricted to personal referrals. Rather than replacing the human interaction which is so key in early stage investing, we see the portal as a means to augment and accelerate the Imperial’s founders engage with the investor community.”

Untapped potential

The innovation ecosystem at Imperial is now extensive and well-developed – ranging from the Enterprise Lab co-working space, where students can experiment and test business ideas, to Scale Space, which takes companies to the next level in the heart of the thriving White City Innovation District.

Imperial’s startups are already having a tangible impact, delivering solutions to global challenges. For example, Dotplot is a healthtech company aiming to increase early detection of breast cancer – the second most prevalent cancer in the world with 2.3 million cases per year causing 685,000 deaths globally. With early detection, survival rates increase up to 93%. Dotplot offers a handheld device that pairs with a mobile app to help women perform breast checks every month.

Meanwhile, Makesense is developing a cost-effective, hand-held ‘sensory substitution device’ to help people with vision impairment navigate completely independently. Users hold the device in front of them like a torch, while advanced AI-based computer vision and localisation technology provides haptic cues to direct them. It could provide a cost-effective alternative to guide dogs, which cost £55,000 to train and are only offered to 1% of people with vision impairment.

Photography: Orange Photography

The post Imperial launches new Funding Portal in San Francisco | Imperial Information appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

The news of Jaren Holmes’ departure from the St. Bonaventure men’s basketball team came late Friday night, and a day later, the guard confirmed he will enter the transfer portal after three seasons with the Bonnies.

The program didn’t waste time finding a replacement, though. Guard Daryl Banks III announced Sunday he will transfer to Bona after three seasons at Saint Peter’s. And Monday, Marcus Hammond ended more than a month of speculation as to his next destination, when the former Niagara guard announced he would join Notre Dame as a graduate transfer.

The St. Bonaventure men’s basketball team picked up a shooting guard through the transfer po…

The moves were part of a busy stretch for transfers to leave or join Big 4 men’s and women’s basketball programs, and expect a flurry of last-minute movement this week because the deadline for athletes in fall and winter sports to enter the transfer portal without having to sit out a season, unless they are granted a waiver that provides immediate eligibility, is Sunday.

In all, at least 20 players from Big 4 men’s teams and at least 10 players from Big 4 women’s teams have entered the portal as of 8 pm Monday, either confirming their transfer or having it reported by various outlets. Additionally, at least 13 men and two women from Big 4 programs have yet to announce their next destinations.

People are also reading…

According to Stadium, more than 1,250 men’s basketball players who were on scholarship this past season are in the transfer portal.

The NCAA on Monday released a dashboard that displays Division I transfer portal data for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 academic years. Of the 1,692 men’s basketball players who entered the portal in 2020-21, 63% transferred to NCAA schools.

According to The Athletic, as of April 12, 1,143 women’s basketball players were in the transfer portal following the 2021-22 season.

According to NCAA data, of the 1,134 women’s basketball players who entered the portal in 2020-21, 63% transferred to NCAA schools.

Here’s a look at some of the recent movement – and moves that could come soon – among Big 4 men’s and women’s basketball players who have entered the transfer portal or have joined Big 4 schools.

New UB women’s coach Becky Burke continues to fill a roster that was depleted by transfers out of the school with incoming players, including Kiara Johnson, a 6-foot-2 forward from Tonawanda who is a Cardinal O’Hara graduate. UB announced Johnson’s transfer Monday.

She was a second-team All-Western New York selection in 2018, played for two seasons at Eastern Michigan and for one season at Towson, but did not play last season. Johnson averaged 4.0 points and 4.4 rebounds in 76 games in three seasons with Eastern Michigan and Towson.

Dyaisha Fair entered the transfer portal March 28, but has not yet announced her transfer destination. Fair, a guard who was fourth in the nation in scoring last season (23.4 points per game), recently posted on her social media accounts that she has visited Baylor and South Carolina, the defending national champion.

Three women’s players — guard Georgia Woolley, forward Saniaa Wilson and guard Cheyenne McEvans — have followed former UB coach Felicia Legette-Jack to Syracuse.

On the men’s side, Tra’Von Fagan, a forward who played for UB for the last four seasons, will transfer to UMBC, according to CBSSports.com.

Canisius is dipping into the portal and the junior-college ranks to replenish its lineup, after five players from the 2021-22 roster entered the transfer portal.

The Griffs added Tre Dinkins on Sunday. The 6-foot-2 guard, averaged 15.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 34 games this season for Harcum College in Bryn Mawr, Pa. He joins Jamir Moultrie, a 6-1 guard from Kennesaw State, and Sarion McGee, a 6-8 forward who has played at Grambling and Logan CC in Carterville, Ill.

Of the five who entered the portal, two will head to new programs: Malek Green will enroll at Youngstown State, and, according to multiple reports, Armon Harried will transfer to Binghamton.

Hammond is among five Purple Eagles who have entered the portal, and is the second to announce his transfer choice. Guard Raheem Solomon has announced his transfer to Sacred Heart.

Niagara has added Keith Kiner, a 6-6 junior college forward from Three Rivers Junior College in Missouri.

Banks’ transfer to Bona came two days after Moses Flowers, a guard from Hartford, announced he would join the Bonnies as a transfer.

Banks averaged 11.3 points and 2.6 rebounds in 34 games at Saint Peter’s this season, but drew plenty of attention in the NCAA Tournament. In the Peacocks’ 85-79 first-round upset of Kentucky, the 6-foot-3 guard scored 27 points. He averaged 13.5 points in four tournament games.

Quadry Adams confirmed Monday he has entered the portal. Stadium.com reported that Abdoul-Karim Coulibaly, who played one season for the Bonnies, will transfer to UMass-Lowell.

Big 4 movement in the transfer portal

Includes players who have confirmed their transfer portal entries or transfers, or those that have been reported

Entered portal/new school

David Skogman, F/C, Davidson

Transfer ring in/previous school

Kanye Jones, G, Boston College

Canisius

Entered portal/new school

Malek Green, F, Youngstown State

Armon Harried, G, Binghamton

Transfer ring in/previous school

Jamir Moultrie, G, Kennesaw State

Entered portal/new school

Raheem Solomon, G, Sacred Heart

Marcus Hammond, G, Notre Dame

St Bonaventure

Entered portal/new school

Abdoul Karim-Coulibaly, F, UMass-Lowell

Transfer ring in/previous school

Moses Flowers, G, Hartford

Daryl Banks III, G, Saint Peter’s

Entered portal/new school

Loren Christie, F, San Francisco

Saniaa Wilson, F, Syracuse

Georgia Woolley, G, Syracuse

Cheyenne McEvans, G, Syracuse

Adebola Adeyeye, F, Kentucky

Transfer ring in/previous school

Latrice Perkins, G, College of Charleston

Chellia Watson, G, USC Upstate

Re’Shawna Stone, G, Glenville State

Zakiyah Winfield, G, Glenville State

Kiara Johnson, F, Towson/Eastern Michigan

Canisius

Transfer ring in/previous school

Jane McCauley*, G, Vermont

Giana Hernandez-Bouldon*, G, West Virginia/Rhode Island

*mid-year transfers

Entered portal/new school

Kyra Grimshaw, F/G, Newman

St Bonaventure

Entered portal/new school

Asianae Johnson, G, Mississippi State

Ene Adams, F, New Mexico State

Get local news delivered to your inbox!

The post Shifting items: Why tempo of switch portal might choose up this week | Faculty Sports activities appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – The exodus of UTEP players out of the men’s basketball program continued on Wednesday afternoon.

Souley Boum, the leading scorer in Conference USA in 2021-22 at 19.9 points per game, announced on social media that he was entering his name in the NBA Draft, while also maintaining his collegiate eligibility and entering his name in the NCAA Transfer Portal.

Boum thanked UTEP fans and the city of El Paso in a social media post. Boum was an integral part of the Miners team under both Rodney Terry and Joe Golding after transferring in from San Francisco in 2018.

In addition to entering the Portal, Souley Boum has also entered his name in the NBA Draft. Keeping his options open. https://t.co/vC3YffOLo8

— Colin Deaver (@ColinDeaverTV) April 6, 2022

“All the memories UTEP has brought me will be cherished in my hear forever, and I am forever blessed to wear UTEP across my chest,” Boum said in a statement.

A three-year starter for the Miners, Boum was the Miners’ leading scorer in 2020-21 and 2021-22 and his play under Golding greatly improved this past season. In addition to leading C-USA in scoring, Boum averaged 4.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists and shot 37% from three-point range.

He also recorded the second triple-double in UTEP history on March 19 in a win over Western Illinois in the first round of The Basketball Classic (20 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists).

A few minutes after Boum entered the Portal, guard Cam Clardy followed suit. A walk-on, Clardy played in just 14 games for UTEP in 2021-22.

Guard Kezza Giffa also entered the Transfer Portal after Boum and Clardy did on Wednesday afternoon. A native of France, Giffa played sparingly last season, averaging just 3.7 minutes in 14 games.

Boum’s departure makes him the 10th member of the 2021-22 UTEP roster to leave – so far – since the season ended. Alfred Hollins graduated; Christian Agnew, Clardy, Giffa, Bonke Maring, Jorell Saterfield and Emmanuel White entered the Transfer Portal; Tydus Verhoeven and Boum entered both the NBA Draft and the Portal, keeping their options open; and Jamal Bieniemy turned pro while hiring an agent, ending his collegiate career.

Sources told KTSM that UTEP expected to lose 9-10 players from the 2021-22 roster and have to replace them. So far, that is playing out. The one to watch now will be guard Keonte Kennedy, who has yet to make an announcement either way. Kennedy missed much of the season with a foot injury, but averaged 14.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game in 2021-22.

Also hitting UTEP on Wednesday was the departure of assistant coach Butch Pierre. According to a report from Jon Rothstein, Pierre is heading to Wichita State to join Isaac Brown’s staff.

Sources: Wichita State’s Isaac Brown will hire Butch Pierre as an assistant coach.

Highly experienced assistant who has been a very successful recruiter over his career.

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) April 6, 2022

A well-regarded recruiter, Pierre helped bring multiple players to El Paso in year one under Joe Golding, including Jamari Sibley. The timing of Pierre’s departure could hurt UTEP because as the Miners are in need of bringing in top players, their top recruiter is on his way out.

Time will tell where UTEP goes from here, but expect there to be more changes before the end of the week.

The post UTEP’s Souley Boum enters NBA Draft and NCAA switch portal; Pierre shifting to Wichita State appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Photo credit: Kai Wings

SAN FRANCISCO – The infamous illegal auto shows known as Sideshows are moving to some of the quieter neighborhoods of San Francisco. Sideshows took place almost at the same time in the west of the city.

Neighbors say they see more and more of the illegal car shows and the burned-out rubber they leave on the city zebra crossings.

Police disband siding in San Francisco’s West Portal neighborhood

The infamous illegal auto shows known as Sideshows are moving to some of the quieter neighborhoods of San Francisco. Sideshows were held on the west side of the city almost at the same time on early Sunday morning.

Sideshow breaks out in San Francisco

The nightly quiet of San Francisco’s West Portal neighborhood was broken early Sunday morning by the roar of engines and the screeching of tires at the intersection of Ulloa Street and Claremont Boulevard.

The nightly quiet of San Francisco’s West Portal neighborhood was broken early Sunday morning by the roar of engines and the screeching of tires at the intersection of Ulloa Street and Claremont Boulevard. In a video recorded by a neighbor, you can hear her ask, “Sorry, why West Portal? It’s so random.”

A man answers from the camera: “Enjoy the show!”

At one point, you can see several cars burning rubber and someone getting up from a car’s lunar roof and spinning donuts. The sideshow started after midnight and lasted more than 15 minutes before police broke it up.

Another sideline was being held at about the same time at Lawton and 30th Avenue, just 10 minutes’ drive away. In a viral video filmed at the crime scene, a young woman can be seen trying not to be hit by a spinning car.

San Francisco police released a statement confirming both sideshow and said officials arrived at both scenes at 12:40 p.m. and 12:50 p.m. and dispersed the crowd. Police said, “We currently have no arrest or summons to report.”

San Franciscans say these newest sideshow in quiet, residential neighborhoods are shocking not necessarily surprising. They say they happen more often across town.

“Yes, last week our son had basketball near St. Brendan’s and during training around 8:00 am, the smell of burning tires came into the gym, disrupting training, closing doors and so on,” said Marty Gähwiler.

SEE ALSO: Suspects charged with retail theft in San Francisco plead not guilty

Local residents say that with the recent mass raids, they fear the sideshow is a symptom of bigger problems in the city. “Yeah, it’s kind of a general outlaw trend, right?” said Gähwiler. “You know, mass slumps, mass sideline shows. You know, I think we need different approaches to dealing with these quality of life issues.”

Police say if residents hear or witness a sideshow, call 911 or the police emergency number.

The post Police break up sideshows in San Francisco’s West Portal neighborhood appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.