What is ICAN?
Across the globe, colleges and universities are rapidly improving their ability to help students, faculty, and alumni launch investor-ready ventures. Innovation is thriving on campus—but funding remains a major obstacle.
Dr. Tom Duening founded ICAN after decades of experience building university-based entrepreneurship programs and working with early-stage founders. He observed a consistent pattern: while the support structures for venture creation were getting stronger every year, access to early-stage capital had not kept pace.
Even relatively small investments at this early stage can change the trajectory of a venture. ICAN was created to help close this gap by connecting Campus-Born Ventures to the capital, mentorship, and investor infrastructure they need to succeed.
What Is a Campus-Born Venture?
A Campus-Born Venture is any startup founded by:
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A current student (undergraduate or graduate)
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A faculty member or staff researcher
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A recent alumnus (within 3 years of graduation)
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A participant in a campus-based accelerator, incubator, boot camp, or innovation studio
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A venture that emerged from tech transfer or entrepreneurship center programs
If your venture began on campus, you belong in the ICAN community.
Dr. Tom Duening on Campus Ventures & the ICAN Model
Ready to Get Involved?
Whether you’re a founder, investor, or campus leader looking to build a dedicated angel group—we’d love to hear from you.
👉 Contact Dr. Tom Duening to explore opportunities with ICAN:
📅 Meet with Tom – Schedule a quick call
🔗 More About Tom