Sponsors
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has been a national leader with promoting and driving economic development. Idea Foundry has partnered with the Commonwealth to transform university innovation into new start-up companies thereby creating high tech jobs in Pennsylvania.
For more than 50 years the Richard King Mellon Foundation has maintained a commitment to southwestern Pennsylvania, supporting programs that relate to Human Services, Education, Medicine, Civic Affairs, and Cultural Activities. Beginning in January 2005, the Trustees began working with a new set of priorities. The five program areas, each with a southwestern Pennsylvania focus, include Conservation; Regional Economic Development; Children, Youth, and Young Adults; Education; and Human Services and Nonprofit Capacity Building. Idea Foundry has partnered with the Foundation to transform university innovation into new start-up companies thereby creating high tech jobs in Pennsylvania.
The Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation is an independent foundation established in 1944 by Michael and Sarah Benedum, natives respectively of Bridgeport and Blacksville, West Virginia. During his lifetime in the oil and gas business, Michael Benedum amassed a fortune, ranking him in his day among the 100 wealthiest Americans. Michael Benedum operated his worldwide business from corporate headquarters in Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Benedum established residence in Pittsburgh in 1907 and lived here for over 50 years. They named the Foundation in memory of their only child, Claude Worthington Benedum, who died in 1918 at age 20. In creating the Foundation, Mr. and Mrs. Benedum expressed the wish that grantmaking be focused in West Virginia and Pittsburgh, their native and adopted homes.
Idea Foundry has been fortunate to garner strong support from other major foundations and contributors that have wished to remain anonymous in name. We thank them for their support.
Economic Development Partners
Throughout the TechMentor Process other organizations play various roles in helping to achieve entrepreneurial success. These organizations are interested in economic development in the Western Pennsylvania region.
- Innovation Works
- Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse
- Pittsburgh Technology Council
- The Technology Collaborative
- The Allegheny Conference on Community Development
- Central Ben Franklin
- eBizITPA
- PCKIZ
- GOKIZ
- Pennsylvania NanoMaterials Commercialization Center
- Urban Redevelopment Authority
- Allegheny County Economic Development
- Pittsburgh Venture Capital Association
- Pittsburgh Film Office
Innovation Partners
Idea Foundry works closely with other innovation partners to accelerate technology transfer projects.
Education Partners
Western Pennsylvania is fortunate to have some of the finest educational institutions in the country. Their research, graduates and programs are world renowned. Idea Foundry is proud to be working with the faculty of these schools, their administration and their tech transfer offices in a partnering relationship.