Over three decades ago, prolific American inventor Jerry Lemelson imagined a different path for inventors.

He believed that if students had the opportunity to engage directly in the invention and innovation process right in their engineering, science, or business classes, the results could ripple far beyond the classroom. It could lead to scientific breakthroughs, venture creation, and indeed, solutions to society’s most pressing problems.

Hampshire College’s early invention and creativity program reflected Lemelson’s deep belief in the power of young inventors. With The Lemelson Foundation’s investment and the vision to create something transformative rather than just another campus program, the initiative was launched as a pilot that aimed to change the field itself.

 I was inspired by Jerry’s vision and eager for my next adventure beyond traditional startups.

In 1995, I stepped forward to lead the effort of bringing this vision to life, aiming to build something that would empower others to dream, create and lead. My goal was to establish an organization that would connect colleges, universities and research institutions to a practical, hands-on approach to invention, creating a space where aspiring scientists and engineers could not only strive to create innovative solutions but also have the tools, mentorship and networks to make their visions a reality.

Building the network

Our mission was not just to produce ideas but translate those ideas into tangible impact—whether through new technologies, startups or solutions that serve communities.

It was an ambitious undertaking, one that required building a network of educators, mentors and partners who shared the belief that invention could—and should—be accessible to all.

I approached this work as an entrepreneur, shaped by my own journey founding a science-based company and experiencing firsthand the challenges inventors face when trying to bring ideas to market.

Time and again, I had seen promising scientific discoveries stall—not because they lacked merit, but because the people behind them lacked the training and funding necessary to navigate the complex path from concept to impact. Many talented innovators were left behind simply because they didn’t know how to take the next step, didn’t have access to guidance on intellectual property, or lacked a supportive community to affirm their potential.

I understood that the traditional academic and research environment often rewarded discovery without teaching the practical skills needed to translate that discovery into a real-world solution.

That gap motivated us to build a structure that could guide inventors through the process, helping them validate their ideas, identify critical steps and gain the confidence to pursue them. The goal was never to shortcut hard work; it was to make the path clearer and more inclusive.

Early on, we faced skepticism. Some questioned whether students could meaningfully engage in entrepreneurship or whether academic institutions were prepared to support such programs.

Yet, for every doubter, there were students and faculty whose excitement and curiosity validated the effort. Their engagement demonstrated that hands-on learning, when paired with mentorship and real-world application, was not just possible—it could unlock human potential.

The E-Team Program

A cornerstone of our approach has been the E-Team Program, an idea rooted in Jerry Lemelson’s vision.

Each E-Team, short for “entrepreneurial team,” brings together emerging inventors, faculty advisers and mentors to develop ideas collaboratively. When we first meet these inventors, their ideas are often just beginning to take shape whether it’s a sketch in a notebook, an idea evolving through hands-on experimentation, or an early prototype in the lab.

That’s the ideal moment for us to engage: to provide the tailored support that helps them push their ideas further. The E-Team model teaches that invention is rarely a solitary act; it thrives in a collaborative environment full of diverse perspectives and access to the right support at the right time, all of which are essential to moving discoveries into the marketplace.

E-Team participants begin by identifying a problem that they feel passionately about—often one they have experienced firsthand. Then, with guidance from mentors and faculty, they iterate, prototype and test potential solutions. They learn to validate demand through customer discovery, refine their designs, and when appropriate, pursue intellectual property protection.

Crucially, the E-Team approach emphasizes execution—the translation of ideas into inventions that can drive change.

We offer early, often first-in-the-door, non-dilutive funding and practical guidance that helps them ask and answer the right questions: Who needs this? What problem does it solve? How could it scale responsibly and sustainably?

The program is not about teaching them how to pitch; it’s about helping them think differently about what they’ve created and what it could become.

Stunning success stories

That’s how we began working with the founders of materials science startup AeroShield, who were then Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduate students developing a transparent aerogel material that could make windows dramatically more energy efficient.

Through their participation in our programming, they learned how to test their assumptions, engage with potential users and plan their path by identifying their target market and developing a business plan. AeroShield was selected in 2020 for the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in energy, received funding from the National Science Foundation, was named grand-prize winner of the American Made Solar Prize, and was selected for a $14.5 million ARPA-E SCALEUP award to manufacture its aerogel material.

Six years after their first engagement with us, AeroShield has raised over $10 million in equity funding and has opened a manufacturing facility outside of Boston, working with industry partners to bring its technology to market. This is proof of what can happen when innovators have the support they need to take those first entrepreneurial steps. 

The founders of Kinnos, a Brooklyn-based medtech startup, participated in the E-Team Program at the earliest stages of their development as undergraduates at Columbia University. As they started their entrepreneurial journey, they were in the process of developing a material that adds a blue color to disinfectant, providing instant visible confirmation of coverage. The color fades to clear automatically with effective wiping technique to confirm sufficient time has passed for disinfection.

Kinnos had to overcome many challenges in order for its product, Highlight®, to see real-life application—especially the major hurdle of breaking into the health care industry. Add to that the rigorous testing and complex validation process needed to prove Highlight was safe and effective, and it is enough to make any new venture balk.

Kinnos persevered. Today, Highlight—a patented, breakthrough technology—is sold directly to hospitals, making it easier to ensure compliance to health standards in the United States and Canada. Kinnos has raised total funding of over $32 million—while disrupting its corner of the health care landscape in the process.

Lasting community impacts

These experiences illustrate the transformative power of the model: Students move beyond theoretical exercises to hands-on invention, learning how to create as well as how to navigate the challenges of scaling an idea.

The E-Team methodology is not just about building products. It’s about cultivating inventors who understand the link between their ideas and their positive potential impact in the world.

Our partnership with The Lemelson Foundation enabled us to provide grants to these emerging inventors and extend funding to universities to develop new courses and programs. We worked closely with faculty and administrators to align institutional resources with the needs of students eager to invent.

When we examined the long-term impact of our funding on over 50 past grantees, we discovered that our programming had a large impact on about 70 percent of the faculty. The vast majority of respondents—80 percent—indicated that their grant-funded courses or programs continued to be sustained past the duration of their grant. In particular, the majority of faculty were able to improve their innovation and entrepreneurship programs and expand students’ experiential learning opportunities, a testament to the grant’s lasting value and relevance.

Equally important has been the community we’ve built.

From our first national convening to ongoing workshops and conferences, we’ve connected people in the field with the purpose of sharing strategies, tradecraft and best practices. This exchange has accelerated adoption, creating a network effect where innovations in teaching and program design spread rapidly across institutions.

As our reach grew, so did the scale of impact. Programs initially focused on students have expanded to include faculty innovators, researchers and interdisciplinary teams tackling pressing societal challenges. Across hundreds of institutions, these initiatives have created a national infrastructure to support invention, innovation and entrepreneurship.

The social difference

The goal has been consistent: ensure that ideas don’t stall due to lack of training and needed resources like funding and networks, and that every emerging inventor has a clear path to drive positive change.

Central to our work is the recognition that, at their core, invention and entrepreneurship are social activities. It’s rare for these disciplines to succeed in isolation, and the networks an innovator can access often make the difference between a promising idea and an idea that reaches the world.

Beyond the technical skills and knowledge, we emphasize building social capital—connections with mentors, advisors, peers and potential investors. These relationships provide guidance and open doors, creating a pathway to success that is accessible regardless of background or prior experience.

Inclusion is not a side benefit. It is fundamental to our mission. By fostering environments where all participants feel welcomed, valued and empowered, we expand the pool of potential innovators and increase the likelihood that impactful solutions will emerge.

The results are transformative. Inventors gain needed confidence and learn to navigate challenges collaboratively.

Even for those who do not go on to launch companies, the experience is life changing and instills entrepreneurial thinking. It has the potential to shape their careers. Through these efforts, we aim not only to cultivate inventors but to shift the culture of innovation itself—making it more inclusive, collaborative and oriented toward meaningful outcomes.

That understanding shaped the structured framework we developed to guide venture teams. The Venture Development Framework helps entrepreneurship support organizations, program partners, and entrepreneurs understand the steps required for early-stage science- and technology-based ventures to move toward commercialization.

Expanding beyond students

Over the past three decades, I’ve witnessed firsthand the growth and scale of our work. What began as a student-focused initiative has expanded to a nationwide ecosystem supporting innovators at every stage of their journey. We have partnered with hundreds of colleges, universities and research institutions, alongside philanthropic and government partners, to create an infrastructure that enables emerging inventors to transform ideas into tangible innovations.

The numbers are compelling. We’ve supported over 20,000 individual innovators, resulting in the launch of over 6,000 startups, and contributed to the commercialization of numerous licensed products.

Across these efforts, the capital raised by the ventures we support has exceeded $7 billion, driving economic growth and social impact. Equally important are the innovations that may never appear in financial reports but have dramatically improved lives, from new medical devices and digital health solutions to sustainable technologies addressing environmental challenges.

Consider a student team that developed a portable solar water purification system for communities without reliable access to clean water. With guidance from faculty and mentors, they refined their design, secured a patent and partnered with a nonprofit to scale distribution in developing regions.

Or a research team that created a behavioral health intervention now being adopted across multiple clinics to improve patient outcomes. These are the stories that illustrate our model in action—taking a seed of an idea and developing it into an invention that improves the lives of people and  the health of the planet.

Tech-expanding horizons

The scale and diversity of our outcomes reflect the core philosophy of VentureWell: support innovators as they move from discovery to invention to execution, providing the resources needed to succeed.

It is not simply about producing products. It is about producing inventors who are empowered to change the world.

And perhaps most enduring of all is the transformation within those who innovate. Once they see the possibilities of what they can create, they are forever changed, carrying forward the power to turn ideas into action and action into meaningful change.

Looking ahead, our mission remains as clear and vital as it was three decades ago: to expand access to invention pathways so that anyone with an idea and the drive to solve problems can make a positive difference through invention.

Today, innovation is no longer confined to research-intensive universities or major tech hubs. Inventors can emerge from anywhere. Our goal is to make sure they have the critical early support and funding they need to realize their potential.

At the same time, the landscape of innovation is evolving rapidly. Emerging technologies ranging from AI and digital platforms to advanced materials are reshaping what is possible, and new approaches in entrepreneurship education give learners unprecedented opportunities to accelerate the development of and scale solutions quickly.

As we enter the next chapter, I am energized by the possibilities. Countless ideas are waiting to be discovered and brought to life.

Our vision is bold, but the framework, partnerships and experience we’ve built over the past 30 years give us confidence that we can support inventors everywhere, enabling them to turn ideas into innovations that have lasting social and economic impact.

The next 30 years will be defined by broader access and the relentless pursuit of turning promising ideas into real-world solutions. We’re just getting started.

See more at venturewell.org.