The High Impact Technology (HIT) Fund

The High Impact Technology (HIT) Fund aims to accelerate the commercialization of Stanford-based innovations.

We provide seed funding along with strategic and advisory support to faculty, students, postdocs, and staff to help transform innovative, advantaged, and scalable Stanford technologies into new products, services, or companies.

Purpose

Accelerate Impact: Help accelerate the transition of technologies with the potential to have a societal or economic impact on the world’s most pressing problems, by addressing the critical technical and market risks
Advance Education: Enable access to industry-specific advisors and domain experts, friendly VCs, patent attorneys, and MBA Interns, and provide guidance helping to enhance the team's practical, entrepreneurial, and commercialization education

To have impact, great ideas need to leave the lab and enter the world. The HIT fund works with innovators to identify the best path forward, supporting them at a pivotal stage to help makes their research a reality. - Dean Arun Majumdar

Learn About the HIT Fund

How to Apply

Please note: the applications submission period for 2023 is now closed and we are no longer accepting submissions. All applications received before the deadline are now being reviewed. Thank you!

The HIT Fund awards are for Stanford University innovators whose work has progressed towards developing solutions for scalable end use applications. The awards are intended to provide the needed funding for de-risking critical activities that enable technology transfer to industry or the formation of a start-up.

Funding must be for projects undertaken at Stanford University that have a disclosure filed with the Office of Technology Licensing. Proposals must include a Stanford faculty PI or sponsor. This is a competitive selection process and only the top-ranked proposals will be awarded.

Key Dates

Panel of Illustrations for Process: 1) Call for applications 2) Screening 3) Expert Review 4) Finalist Pitches 5) Award

Call for applications opens: Thursday, June 1, 2023

Deadline to submit an application: The July 15th, 2023 deadline has passed - 2023 Applications are no longer being accepted. Thank you!

Finalists selected: September 5, 2023

Finalist pitches (in person): Tuesday, September 19 and Thursday, September 21, 2023

Awards announced: September 29, 2023

Funding begins: October 2, 2023

The 2023 application submission period has closed. Applications are now being reviewed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Reach out to the team: HITfund2023@stanford.edu.

HIT Fund Takes Flight

The HIT Fund was featured as OTL's FY 2022 Annual Report cover story.

Read the HIT Fund story (.pdf)

Meet the HIT Fund Team!

Read more about the HIT Fund team members, including our MBA interns.

Learn about the HIT Fund Team

FOR INDUSTRY

Collaborate with the HIT Fund

Opportunities for domain-specific industry experts and corporates to advise, support, or collaborate with project teams.

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The HIT Fund Portfolio

Electric car - Credit: Michael Fousert/Unsplash.com

Lithium metal battery innovation

Novel liquid electrolyte technology allows for energy dense lithium batteries, ushering in a new generation of electric vehicle batteries.

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Wastewater treatment from above - Credit: Avigator Fortuner/Shutterstock.com

Wastewater energy flexibility

A software platform for wastewater utilities that de-risks energy investments, controls energy resources, and monetizes carbon savings.

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Cathedral interior - Credit: igorovsyannykov/Pixabay.com

Immersive virtual acoustic spaces

Creating immersive sonic experiences by situating participants in the acoustics of any building or physical structure in augmented and mixed reality.

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airplane on tarmac - Credit: VOO QQQ/Unsplash.com

Catalyst technology for liquid fuel

Catalyst technology to improve the efficiency and reduce the cost of systems that generate liquid fuels.

Learn more