Michigan State University Research Foundation
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About Michigan State University Research Foundation
Advance Michigan State University research and innovation by commercializing discoveries, supporting startups and entrepreneurs, and investing in ventures and partnerships that translate ideas into real-world impact.
Focus Areas
technology commercializationstartup formation and supportlife sciences / MedTechadvanced materials & manufacturingagtechdata science & AIsustainability / recycling (SHAPE Engine)
Who They Fund
university researchersacademic founders / faculty-led startupsearly-stage startups (health/medtech focus)university-affiliated entrepreneurs
Funding Style
About Michigan State University Research Foundation
Michigan State University Research Foundation pairs very large support for Michigan State University with direct funding for startups tied to its commercialization mission. In the recent grants list, the two largest awards went to the Michigan State University Board of Trustees: $17,560,656 in 2024 and $14,823,054 in 2023, both marked support university. Beyond university support, the foundation is active in early-stage business building. It gave $400,000 to Grip Medical Properties I LLC for medical research, and it backed a cluster of Michigan startups with smaller startup-support grants, including Smart Bridge Medical, Elite Care Technologies, Justair Solutions, and Healthbar. The pattern fits a funder that uses grants and program-related investments to move research into market use, especially through venture and accelerator activity in Michigan. Its stated priorities include technology commercialization, startup formation and support, life sciences and MedTech, advanced materials and manufacturing, agtech, data science and AI, and sustainability and recycling through SHAPE Engine. The result is a portfolio that connects university research, faculty-led ventures, and early-stage companies with capital and commercialization support.
What Michigan State University Research Foundation Funds
Technology transfer sits at the center of the foundation’s grantmaking. That shows up in support for Michigan startups such as Smart Bridge Medical, which received $70,845 for startup support. The same pattern appears in smaller awards to companies like Reel Free LLC, which received $11,350, also for startup support. Life sciences and MedTech are another clear thread: Grip Medical Properties I LLC received $400,000 for medical research, while Vetr Health LLC and Trusted Rides were both among the startup-support recipients in Michigan. The foundation also supports venture formation and incubation through programs such as Conquer Accelerator, which is described as a cohort-based startup accelerator for technology companies, and Venture Fellows Postdoc, which focuses on turning discoveries into real-world solutions through mentorship and entrepreneurial training. These grants and programs point to a funder that backs translational work across research, entrepreneurship, and early company growth.
How Michigan State University Research Foundation Gives
Typical awards are modest for the startup portfolio, with a p25 of $7,000, median of $11,350, and p75 of $15,000. The distribution is highly concentrated: the two largest grants are university support payments that dwarf the rest of the recent list. The foundation also shows an operating pattern that combines grants with program-related investments, including venture funds and pre-seed vehicles. Several active programs are not open to unsolicited applications, while others are, including Purchase Order Financing, Conquer Accelerator, and Distinguished Professors. The grant list suggests a recurring relationship with Michigan State University itself, alongside a broader set of one-off startup awards in Michigan.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$33M
Total Assets
$600.4M
Total Revenue
$35.7M
Total Expenses
$29.2M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $7K and $15K, with a median of $11K.
25th Percentile
$7K
Median
$11K
75th Percentile
$15K
Geographic Reach
Local1 state funded
About 100% of grants go to recipients in MI.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
DAVID WASHBURN
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