Virginia Commonwealth University is a top-50 public research university in Richmond turning a health, engineering, and arts portfolio into licensed products and faculty startups.
Commercialization runs through VCU TechTransfer and Ventures (formerly Innovation Gateway), which holds exclusive responsibility for protecting, marketing, and licensing VCU inventions to existing companies and startups. Sponsored research funding surpassed $560 million in fiscal year 2025, the seventh consecutive year of record growth and a doubling in seven years. VCU also leads other Virginia public universities in total licensing revenue from its inventions, according to AUTM.
Over 10 years, the office reports:
- 90+ startups launched
- 60 new products to market
- More than $45 million in licensing revenue
- 1,978 invention disclosures, 2,521 patents filed, and 311 patents issued
- 324 licenses and options, and 700 industry engagements
Fiscal year 2025 added 111 invention disclosures, 171 patents filed, 20 patents issued, 27 options and licenses, 17 licenses to startups, and $4.3 million in licensing revenue. Inventors receive 40% of royalty revenue.
Faculty and student ventures move through invention disclosure, IP assessment, and a structured startup path that includes licensing university-owned technology and help on company formation. A Commercialization Fund, offered spring and fall, funds milestone work such as prototypes and marketing data. A partnership with Activation Capital, co-located in Richmond’s VA Bio+Tech Park, pairs life-sciences teams with experienced operators, wet-lab space, and investor connections. Most of those companies originate at VCU.
Investors and founders can reach Ivelina Metcheva, Ph.D., MBA, CLP, assistant vice president for innovation, through TechTransfer and Ventures.
VCU TechTransfer and Ventures · Virginia Commonwealth University
