August 27, 2025

Dear friends of the Tulane Innovation Institute, 

This year was an epic year of culture building, innovation building, and startup building! The Tulane Innovation Institute, our startup for startups, began in 2022, under the leadership of President Michael A. Fitts, with a lead gift from Robert L. Priddy, and continues its growth while developing a reputation for being the go-to place for innovators and entrepreneurs.

Our year began with inspiration. The team was honored with the 2024 Outstanding Emerging Entrepreneurship Center Award by the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers (GCEC). This award recognizes university-based entrepreneurship centers established within the last five years that demonstrate early success through clear innovation metrics, impact, and community engagement. This peer recognition demonstrates we are on the right path to support the success of local founders and startups. Our 22-member team designed and implemented 14 programs to support and build a strong pipeline of ideas to become partnership opportunities and investment-ready startups.

We also expanded the team to include a business development manager to market Tulane’s technologies to industry partners, and a program director to lead the new Founder Lab, which will connect experienced startup CEOs with faculty researchers to accelerate technology commercialization. These additions to the team both deepen our capabilities and accelerate market access and impact.

As you read the FY25 Impact Report, it is undeniable how much our community accomplished. I am excited for you to see how these entrepreneurs are making their mark. Our Tulane leadership, faculty, students, Council, committees, and our partners are contributing to nurturing an environment that helps us all thrive.

I hope you enjoy our FY25 Impact Report, which highlights exciting accomplishments that took place this year. We look forward to seeing you in FY26!

With gratitude,

Kimberly Gramm, MBA, PhD
David & Marion Mussafer Chief Innovation & Entrepreneurship Officer