A state-backed venture capital fund (recently rebranded as the Nucleus Fund under the Nucleus Institute) that invests in early-stage, deep-tech, and life science startups commercializing technologies developed at Utah's higher education institutions.
About Utah Innovation Fund
Utah Innovation Fund, at utahinnovationfund.com with a LinkedIn presence, is a regionally focused vehicle supporting commercialization of research and innovation tied to Utah’s higher education and research institutions. Without explicit stage or check size data in the input, the firm is best understood through its mandate type: tech-transfer-adjacent capital that often participates in seed rounds for university-affiliated spinouts, with a geographic anchor in Utah and patient capital appetite for science-based companies. For healthcare AI founders, this is a relevant target only if you have a credible Utah linkage: a university affiliation, IP licensed from a Utah institution, or a commitment to operate or hire significantly in the state. Without that anchor, the fund is unlikely to engage. The healthcare ecosystem in Utah is real, particularly around Intermountain Health, the University of Utah Health system, and clusters in genomics and digital therapeutics, which means founders building diagnostics, computational biology, clinical decision support, or care-delivery software with a Utah pilot or research partner have a credible angle. Check sizes for funds of this profile typically span USD 250K to USD 2M and often co-invest with state and university partners. Best entry path is a warm introduction through the University of Utah’s tech transfer office, the David Eccles School of Business venture community, or an Intermountain Health innovation contact. Be specific about the local economic impact narrative in your pitch; regional funds reward founders who can articulate why their state matters to the company’s plan.
Founder reviews
Other portfolio companies
Companies in Utah Innovation Fund's portfolio not currently in our directory.
- Rebel Medicine · 2024
- Inherent Biosciences · 2024
- 3Helix · 2024
- Paterna BioSciences · 2024
- BIOS (Biologic Input Output Systems) · 2024
- Purgo Scientific · 2024
- Microvascular Therapeutics · 2025
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Have you raised from Utah Innovation Fund? Founders only — share your honest experience (anonymous OK, moderated before publishing).