Paul Cheek

The latest UPCEA report, The Future is Now: Essential Conversations for Building Tomorrow’s University Today, captures exactly where higher education is heading — and why our partnerships at Riipen are focused on helping institutions get there faster. UPCEA highlights a few urgent truths: - Students are making choices based on ROI and career outcomes - Credentials need to be stackable and connected to real career progress - Institutions must strengthen collaboration with employers to keep programs relevant - Professional, Continuing, and Online (PCO) units will lead the way in innovation At Riipen, we see this shift every day in our partnerships. Together with universities and colleges, we’re building industry micro-credentials combined with project-based work experiences - helping learners demonstrate skills, helping educators make curriculum more applied, and helping employers find talent ready to contribute on day one. By connecting industry, education, and learners through authentic projects, we’re helping institutions turn these UPCEA insights into scalable, measurable action. You can read the full UPCEA report here: https://lnkd.in/gxw7iSh2

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Glad to finally announce that we're partnered with Amazon on it's Amazon Devices Climate Tech Accelerator. What makes this program unique is the the way it's designed. Participants receive dedicated support from Amazon technical experts to validate real deployment potential that can help reduce the carbon impact of millions of Amazon devices. 👉 If you're an interested startup, learn more and apply to the 2026 cohort here by February 24: https://lnkd.in/g6DZbtVh

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YC’s process is oddly contradictory. They demand an exhaustive amount of information from founders, including a full video pitch, yet provide zero actionable feedback when rejecting teams. For an accelerator that actively encourages re-applications, the absence of even basic guidance feels less like a meritocratic, “open review” model and more like the opaque HR machinery of Big Tech — heavy intake, vague rejections, no insight. Early-stage founders would benefit enormously from transparent critique, but YC seems unwilling to offer the same clarity they expect from applicants!

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🚀 Calling All Energy and Manufacturing Innovators!   The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has opened applications for the 2026 Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Program (LEEP) Cohort — a two-year, funded fellowship that helps entrepreneurs transform breakthrough ideas into real-world impact. Through LEEP, selected fellows: 🔹 Participate in a two-year fellowship with a $115,000 annual stipend, health insurance support, and a professional development allowance for travel, training, and customer discovery. 🔹 Access world-class lab facilities and research funding to collaborate with leading scientists and leverage the tools, equipment, and expertise of U.S. National Laboratories. 🔹 Receive business mentorship and entrepreneurial training, building connections across academia, industry, government, and investors to accelerate commercialization.   Since 2015, LEEP has supported 212 fellows, launched 182 businesses, created 3,840 jobs, and attracted $4.2 billion in follow-on funding.   As alumni and innovators from Innovation Crossroads at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, we’ve seen firsthand how this program can supercharge early-stage technologies and careers. If you’re ready to take your innovation to the next level, now’s your chance!   Applications are open through November 7, 2025.   🔗 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ejv8j5_Z

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Been sensing the drift toward world-first intelligence. LeCun's AMI bet crystallizes what's building beneath the language-first consensus. Hardware catches up 2027, primitives are being mapped now.

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2026 federal funding update for ecosystem builders A week ago I wrote about where federal innovation funding stands for 2026. Here's what's changed in 7 days: What's now signed into law: The Commerce, Justice, and Science bill passed the Senate 82-15 on January 15 and is headed to the president's desk. This locks in: NSF → $8.75 billion (with protection against disproportionate cuts to any directorate) → Regional Innovation Engines: Up to $200 million EDA → Tech Hubs: $41 million → Build to Scale: $50 million → MEP: $175 million What passed the House, awaiting Senate action: The Financial Services bill passed 341-79 on January 14, confirming: SBA → Entrepreneurial development: $330 million (Congress rejected the proposed cut to $150M) → Regional Innovation Clusters: $9M → Federal and State Technology Partnership (FAST): $9M → Growth Accelerator Fund Competition: $9M What's still in flux: Leaders just released a final bipartisan package for Defense, Homeland Security, Labor-HHS-Education, and Transportation-HUD. The House may vote this week, with the January 30, 2026 deadline approaching. SBIR/STTR authorization remains expired. No new solicitations until reauthorization—though there's been some movement here. There's also a bunch of new AI policy I need to dig into still. The bottom line hasn't changed: You cannot build a 10-year innovation ecosystem on annual appropriations battles. The regions that succeed are strengthening their partnership infrastructure now, and leveraging federal funding as a bonus to accelerate outcomes. See the full analysis: https://lnkd.in/euDxDVkZ

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Overlooked/Underrepresented Startups and Founders I hope apply to the Convoi Accelerator: Vertical Industry: Deep/Hard Tech 🤖 Hardware (robotics!) 🔨 Advanced manufacturing 🚀 Defense 🏔️ Climate Tech (someone fix the inversion!) 🔋 Energy (nuclear!) 💻 Cybersecurity 🧬 BioTech/Life Sciences 🏥 HealthTech 👵🏻 Elder/Aging Tech 🤳 Consumer AI "Wicked Problems" in society including: 🏠 Housing affordability ⛺️ Homelessness 🤑 Income inequality 🍎 Food supply/AgTech 💧 Water 🩺 Health care/health insurance ��� Education 🧘‍♀️ Mental Health/Loneliness epidemic 🚗 Mobility (automobiles, public transit) Demographics: 👨🏻‍💻 Developer led startups 🙋🏻‍♀️ Female Founders Immigrant founders (I don't know what emoji I could possibly use here) 🎖️ Veterans 👨🏻‍⚕️ PhDs Zoom AMA sessions today, Monday and Weds. Link in comments!

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Most early-stage founders in Israel know the struggle of applying for the Israel Innovation Authority’s Pre-Seed Grant. Applications often get stuck on the requirement to first show matching investment. We designed the EXPAND III program to remove that barrier. This cohort focuses on Physical AI, robotics, and simulation, areas where early development is expensive and time-sensitive. We’ve secured $300K in investment from Creations VC for each startup accepted into the program. If you’re selected, that investment can serve as your matching capital, helping secure an additional ≈$350K in non-dilutive IIA funding. Instead of chasing investors to qualify for a grant, you can focus on building your company. That’s what makes EXPAND III different. We built a structure that helps founders move fast, meet the IIA’s matching requirement, and gain real funding momentum from the start. (link to apply in comments)

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Open Sesame! 🔓 Excited to share that Sesame One is being featured in a new (Open!) MITx course launching today! Systems Thinking in Energy: Navigating Costs, Emissions, and Impact – ENE.002x https://lnkd.in/es_Cq7iC Our decision-support platform is being used for hands-on learning in this course, helping students apply systems thinking to real-world energy and emissions modeling. The course covers everything from energy system fundamentals and sustainability principles to decarbonization pathways across power, transport, and industry—with Sesame One serving as the practical tool to bridge theory and application. It's incredibly rewarding to see our platform supporting the next generation of energy professionals, students, and policymakers as they develop the skills to navigate the transition to a low-carbon future. If you're interested in energy systems, climate technology, or sustainability—check it out and share with your network! Sesame Sustainability Emre Gençer Paul Sizaire

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Blue Sky Capital 🌟 Early-stage VC for semiconductor, photonics, and materials unlocking $1B+ potential 📍 Based in: New Albany, Louisville 💡 Investing in: DeepTech Companies, Semiconductor, Photonics, Materials Science 📊 Stage: Seed, Series A 🗓️ Since 2017 https://blueskycapital.vc/

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🚀 Universities -- are you ready to unlock the true potential of your campus innovation ecosystem? The venture studio model is rapidly transforming how universities turn research, talent, and IP into real-world impact-but it’s not for the faint of heart. 🔍 Venture studios go beyond accelerators and incubators. They act as company creators-systematically building, validating, and launching startups. But here’s the truth: 👉 The studio model is powerful-but also complex. 👉 It demands clarity of vision, deep integration with university assets, and rigorous execution. The stakes are high, and the path is tricky. 📄 If you’re considering a venture studio, start with the right questions. Our latest guide “37 Essential Questions to Assess Your University Venture Studio,” is a practical framework to help you: 1️⃣ Evaluate alignment with your university’s mission and strategic goals 2️⃣ Design sustainable funding and governance structures 3️⃣ Build processes for idea sourcing, validation, and spinout 4️⃣ Attract and incentivize top entrepreneurial talent 5️⃣ Establish robust metrics and accountability for long-term success Studios are not “one size fits all.” Customization to your institution’s unique strengths and context is critical. And disciplined, data-driven design beats hype. The most successful studios are built on rigorous planning, transparent KPIs, and a willingness to learn and adapt. Ready to explore what a university venture studio could look like for your institution? 👇 Comment for the guide and let’s start a conversation. #VentureStudios #UniversityInnovation #Entrepreneurship #TechTransfer #StartupEcosystem #Commercialization

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At the Humanoids Summit, Ian Khan speaks with David Zhang, Founder & CEO at HighTorque Robotics, about the innovations and leadership driving the next generation of humanoid robotics. David shares insights into entrepreneurial strategy, scaling advanced robotics technologies, and bridging the gap between research and real-world applications. The conversation highlights how visionary founders are shaping robotics innovation and preparing the next generation of industry leaders. 🎥 Watch the full conversation here 👇 https://bit.ly/4sbc5Tx #HumanoidsSummit #HighTorqueRobotics #HumanoidRobots #RoboticsInnovation #AI #TechLeadership #FutureOfRobotics #Founders #EmbodiedAI

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If you are building in Climate, definitely join this session with Yvonne Chen to learn more about non-dilutive funding opportunities!

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Three Gangwon startups won CES 2026 Innovation Awards for water quality, touch control, and AI inspection tech. This marks global recognition for the region's tech ecosystem. https://lnkd.in/euYiA3Xx

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Great to see Carnegie Mellon University Mellon alumni - both Bhangra team dancers❗behind the launch of Boost Robotics, part of the latest Y Combinator batch! As hyperscale data centers multiply worldwide, the need for safer, more efficient infrastructure management is urgent. Boost is addressing this with autonomous robots🤖 for inspection and maintenance, helping operators reduce downtime and improve reliability. I’ve seen more and more CMU students and alumni turning to Y Combinator to bring bold ideas to life — and it’s inspiring to watch them lead in spaces like robotics, AI, and infrastructure. Boost Robotics is a fantastic example of CMU’s deep tech talent making a real-world impact 🌎 . Looking forward to what comes next! #CMUAlumni #YCombinator #Robotics #DataCenters #TartanPride Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eKHcXUah

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Ecosystem support can accelerate a climate startup by years. Being selected for Google’s AI for Startups program and receiving an ACT Grant provided RenewCred with more than capital—it provided validation, mentorship, and technical resources. The ACT Grant specifically enabled us to build our DMRV (Digital Measurement, Reporting, Verification) platform for four key use cases: EV fleets, solar energy, biochar, and compressed biogas. From August to December, we’re launching one DMRV per month—momentum made possible by strategic ecosystem partnerships. For founders: seek programs that align with your mission and stage. The right support unlocks velocity. Listen to the full conversation on Breakout Podcast: https://lnkd.in/ef7ivfTx

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Understanding the Impacts of Generative AI Use on Children | WP1 Surveys | prepared by: The Alan Turing Institute The mission of this report is to critically examine the transformative role of generative artificial intelligence on children’s cognitive, social, and educational development, providing evidence-based guidance for policymakers, educators, and caregivers. It seeks to illuminate both the unprecedented opportunities for personalized learning and the emergent risks associated with unregulated exposure, establishing a framework for responsible governance of AI technologies in formative contexts. This investigation is positioned at the intersection of behavioral economics, developmental psychology, and digital ethics, emphasizing strategic foresight in AI integration. The survey findings reveal that children interacting with generative AI exhibit a 14–18% acceleration in problem-solving efficiency and a 12–15% increase in adaptive learning retention relative to traditional learning environments. Notably, structured parental and educational supervision increases cognitive ROI by approximately 16%, while unsupervised exposure correlates with a 9% rise in risk of attention and behavioral disruption. The data further demonstrate that equity in access to AI-enhanced learning tools improves educational resilience by 22% across socio-economic cohorts, signaling critical implications for inclusive policy design. Analysis of these outcomes underscores a nuanced risk-reward calculus. Institutions implementing guided AI usage report ROE improvements of up to 11% in educational outcomes per unit of investment, reflecting both direct learning gains and longer-term socio-emotional benefits. Conversely, unregulated adoption presents measurable downside exposure, including reduced attention spans and early digital dependency, which may depress long-term efficiency by 7–9%. These insights demonstrate that strategic governance, rather than wholesale avoidance, maximizes the net social and financial return of AI interventions for child development. In conclusion, the integration of generative AI in children's learning environments represents a high-stakes frontier of human capital development, where careful calibration of access, supervision, and ethical frameworks can materially enhance cognitive ROI, equity, and systemic resilience. Policymakers and educators are thus tasked with orchestrating AI adoption not merely as a technological upgrade, but as a strategic investment in the next generation, with measurable returns in both individual capability and societal welfare. #GenerativeAI #ChildDevelopment #CognitiveROI #AIethics #EducationalResilience #DigitalGovernance #PolicyInnovation #ResponsibleAI #AIinEducation

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AI isn’t magic — it’s a set of choices. For nonprofits, that means we need more than tools. We need: ✨ Clear policies ✨ Human judgment on every decision ✨ A governance framework tied to mission ✨ Continuous review and adaptation Ethical AI isn’t the future — it’s the foundation of sustainable, trustworthy innovation. If your team is exploring AI, start with your values and let them guide every technology decision.

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