WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue Innovates is pleased to share the launch of Third Coast Foundry, a new San Francisco-based hub created in partnership among eight leading Midwestern universities to strengthen connections between our region’s startups and the Bay Area venture ecosystem.
Purdue’s participation in this two-year pilot program is part of the recently announced Purdue@SV initiative to deepen research and industry engagement through partnerships with leading technology companies in Silicon Valley.
Through this collaboration, Purdue University has joined with the University of Chicago, Carnegie Mellon University, Northwestern University, Ohio State University, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Washington University in St. Louis to establish a shared base for Midwest founders, researchers and entrepreneurs in San Francisco.
“Third Coast Foundry represents an important milestone for the Midwest and Purdue, forging a front-door connection to the Bay Area ecosystem for Purdue startups, alumni, investors and future Boilermakers,” said Brooke Beier, senior vice president of Purdue Innovates. “Strengthening Purdue’s ties to one of the world’s most dynamic technology communities ensures we continue to fuel collaboration, unlock opportunity and amplify the global impact of Purdue innovation and Boilermaker startups.”
Located in the South Park neighborhood — just steps from one of the largest concentrations of venture capital firms in the world — Third Coast Foundry provides workspace where university startups can meet with investors, host showcases, connect with alumni and build relationships with partners in the Bay Area. By pooling resources across institutions, the initiative creates a stronger, collective presence for Midwest innovation while helping founders access networks that can accelerate the growth of their companies.
For Purdue faculty, researchers and entrepreneurs, the space will be available for investor meetings, small events and other engagements. The Purdue Innovates team will also use the hub to support startup showcases and other programming that connects Purdue ventures with investors and industry partners.
What they’re saying
- “Purdue consistently explores ways for students, alumni, faculty and partners to connect and innovate. The Daniels School is excited about this enhancement to the West Coast venture ecosystem. Our goal of providing transformational student experiences powered by industry partnerships perfectly aligns with the goals of this new Bay Area entrepreneurial hub.” — Jim Bullard, the Dr. Samuel R. Allen Dean of the Mitch Daniels School of Business at Purdue University
- “Third Coast Foundry signals that the Midwest is helping lead the global innovation conversation. With a Purdue presence in San Francisco, our students, faculty and alumni gain direct access to partners, investors and ideas that speed the path from discovery to impact.” — Lucy Flesch, the Frederick L. Hovde Dean of the College of Science at Purdue University
- “With the creation of Third Coast Foundry, our innovators share space for inspiration, connection and creation not only with each other but also with those from partner Midwest institutions. We look forward to the opportunities this joint venture creates for the Northwestern community and the greater ecosystem.” — Lisa Dhar, associate vice president for innovation and new ventures, Northwestern University
- “This is a significant moment for the Midwest’s innovation ecosystem. By establishing a visible footprint in the Bay Area, we’re creating new opportunities for our founders to access capital, talent and strategic partners while also strengthening ties between two of the country’s most dynamic innovation communities.” — Samir Mayekar, managing director, Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Chicago
- “The Third Coast Foundry represents a powerful collaboration among Midwestern universities that collectively produce some of the nation’s top engineering and science talent. With billions in combined research investment across our partner institutions, Third Coast Foundry creates a direct pathway for transforming Midwestern research breakthroughs into venture-backed companies. This shared presence in San Francisco creates more opportunities for our student entrepreneurs and research-driven startups to connect with the capital and partnerships needed to scale their innovations.” — Jed Taylor, assistant dean for innovation and entrepreneurship, Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- “The Third Coast Foundry represents more than just a physical space. Through this collaboration with our Midwestern peers, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation and UW-Madison have a permanent base in San Francisco, where the density of investors, talent and industry partners is unmatched. This strategic bridge enables our founders and researchers immediate access to the people and companies they need to scale and succeed.” — Greg Keenan, senior director and partner, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation Ventures and Accelerator
- “Third Coast Foundry helps create density for Midwest innovators to collide, where these interactions will strengthen collaborations with one another and elevate our exposure to the Bay Area’s robust investor ecosystem. By establishing a physical presence in this vibrant biotechnology community, the space enables WashU to extend its impact in solving urgent biomedical needs.” — Doug Frantz, vice chancellor for innovation and commercialization and the Office of Technology Management, Washington University in St. Louis
- “We are excited to partner on this space. As we grow and accelerate our work on supporting student innovation, startups and bringing our groundbreaking research to the world, the Third Coast Foundry space provides a collaborative hub for our alumni, faculty, students and partners.” — Shereen Agrawal, executive director, Center for Software Innovation, Ohio State University
- “From autonomous vehicles to cybersecurity and biotechnology, Carnegie Mellon has long been a leader in translating tough technologies into impactful companies. Third Coast Foundry brings together the strength of peer Midwestern research universities while connecting our founders to the Bay Area’s network of talent, mentorship and capital so that we can continue to build even more transformative companies.” — Meredith Meyer Grelli, managing director of the Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship and assistant dean of entrepreneurship initiatives, School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University
Media contact: Trevor Peters, peter237@purdue.edu
