Grit Labs

Grit Labs bridges technology and talent to industry.

Grit Labs is a platform that brings together a strategic network of innovators spread across America’s marquee university and government labs. We partner with big industry to bring startups to market. We focus on the intersection of ready technology and deep market opportunity, with an eye toward impact.

Academic Council

Grit engages industry advisors to collaborate in support of the Grit Ventures portfolio and Grit Labs. Grit Industry Advisors have deep expertise spanning industrial automation, defense, AI, construction and energy.

Dr. Dorsa Sadigh

Former Council Member
Stanford University

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Xiaoming Yin

Dr. Monroe Kennedy

Stanford University

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Xiaoming Yin

Dr. Changliu Liu

Former Council Member
Carnegie Mellon University

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Adity Sherma

Dr. Matt Travers

Carnegie Mellon University

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Chris Stern

Dr. Howie Choset

Carnegie Mellon University

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Dr. Luis Sentis

University of Texas at Austin

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Dr. Joydeep Biswas

University of Texas at Austin

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Dr. Justin Hart

University of Texas at Austin

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Dr. Christopher Heckman

University of Colorado Boulder

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Dr. Junfeng Jiao

University of Texas at Austin

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Dr. Sk Gupta

University of Southern Cal

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Dr. Brian Korgel

University of Texas at Austin

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Dr. Mitch Pryor

University of Texas at Austin

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Dr. Matt Johnson-Roberson

Carnegie Mellon University

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Dr. Sonia Chernova

Georgia Institute of Technology

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Dr. Javad Mohammadi

University of Texas at Austin

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University Partners

University Fellows

University Fellows

Grit’s University Fellows Program is a diversity-driven initiative focused on elevating university talent into venture capital, STEM, AI, Robotics and Energy. Grit is an ardent advocate of equal opportunity.  

We believe that by rooting the socioeconomic networks resulting from deep technology in diversity, we have a special opportunity to change the world for the better.

The program includes a lecture series on entrepreneurship and venture capital, a focused research initiative, and connection to the Grit Labs strategic community.

EDUCATION
EXPLORATION
ECOSYSTEM

UNIVERSITY SUMMITs

ENERGY TRANSISTION


Energy Transition Summit at UT Austin
The Energy Transition has just begun and will require trillions in investment in the coming decades. Industry university collaboration will be at the heart of this effort and Texas will have a special role to play. Grit Summit included panels, research presentations, startup showcase, lab tours and industry meetings.

The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX

INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION


Industrial Automation Summit at Carnegie Mellon
The Clean Machine revolution is here to solve challenging opportunities in industrial Automation. Innovation in Industrial Automation will increase efficiency and productivity and will be a big driver of GDP in the next decade. Pittsburgh is the hub of robotics innovation in the US. Summit included panels, research presentations, startup showcase, lab tours and industry meetings.

‍Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA

PHYSICAL AI


Texas Robotics Industry Day at UT Austin
Generative AI applied to the physical world is accelerating robotics innovation. Grit is sponsoring the First Annual Texas Robotics Industry Day taking place on the University of Texas at Austin campus in April 2024.  Event showcases Texas Robotics industry sponsors, faculty leaders, and CEOs of Austin based robotics startups who have emerged from Texas Robotics labs in numerous application areas including surgical, manufacturing, energy, and mobility.  

The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX

SUSTAINABILITY (Coming Soon)

INDUSTRY PARTNERS

Grit Labs is actively enrolling strategically focused industry partners who are seeking a
bridge to technology and talent in the labs.

The Grit Labs platform brings innovators in the university and government labs together with industry partners, entrepreneurial talent and investors to build impactful solutions to the world’s biggest challenges and to explore market opportunity and commercialization. We connect early-stage technologies and startups to these important industry partners through Grit Labs strategic initiatives including our Startup Studio Accelerator Program and our Membership Program.

Grit Labs Startup Studio Sponsorship:
 a bi-annual three month accelerator with multiple tracks that encompasses strategic themes agreed upon by Grit Labs and the Industry Sponsors. 

Grit Labs membership
: an annual membership which includes not only two curated Startup Showcases, but also establishing investment objectives, providing curated deal flow on a quarterly basis and two University Days.

STARTUP STUDIO

Grit Labs is helping startups emerge from the labs.

Grit Labs Startup Studio Accelerator Program is designed to accelerate the Go-to-Market transition of deep tech startups emerging from the nation’s top labs. Grit Ventures makes initial investments in each startup and delivers in-kind services in exchange for common equity. The Startup Studio is supported by the Grit Labs community which includes industry partners, other venture funds, government agencies, experienced entrepreneurs, academics and graduate students. This hyper-resourced environment will provide Startup Studio companies the resources they need to commercialize breakthrough technologies.  Grit’s network is purpose built for the special connections and knowledge required to scale deep tech companies from the earliest stages through liquidity.

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Academic Council

Matt Travers, PhD.
Christoffer Heckman, PhD.
Justin Hart, PhD.
Joydeep Biswas, PhD.
Changliu Liu, PhD.
Dorsa Sadigh, PhD.
Monroe Kennedy, PhD.
Khurram Khan Afridi, PhD.
Howie Choset, PhD.
Luis Sentis, PhD.
Junfeng Jiao, PhD.

University Fellows

Diversity of perspective is a key to the future.

Grit University Fellows is a university-talent program focused on deep technology exploration and entrepreneurship.

2022 Applications due February 2022

Apply Now

University Fellows

Gilberto Briscoe-Martinez
Corinne Alini
Waku Ken
Ramon Williams
Isaiah Scott