Purdue University has made a significant stride in connecting Midwestern innovation with the global venture network by opening the Third Coast Foundry in San Francisco’s South Park neighborhood. This new hub serves as a bridge between startups, researchers, and entrepreneurs affiliated with Purdue and seven other leading Midwestern universities, providing access to investors, industry leaders, and strategic partners.
The grand opening of Third Coast Foundry took place during San Francisco’s Deep Tech Week in 2026, marking a pivotal moment for Midwestern innovation. The 3,500-square-foot space is designed to facilitate the translation of research and innovation into venture-backed growth, creating new opportunities for licensing, commercialization, and venture growth.
Connecting Midwest Innovation with Silicon Valley
Approximately 75 attendees, including Purdue faculty, researchers, and entrepreneurs, toured the new space during an open house. The event provided a platform for networking, exploring opportunities, and engaging with one of the world’s most dynamic technology communities. Brooke Beier senior vice president of Purdue Innovates, emphasized the importance of this new hub in elevating the visibility of Purdue-connected startups and technologies.
The week also featured the Midwest Deep Tech Demo Day showcasing ventures from affiliated universities working across various deep tech sectors, including advanced manufacturing, AI, robotics, quantum, semiconductors, energy, life sciences, diagnostics, materials, and photonics. Companies representing Purdue at Demo Day included AerovyIxanaResolvrRothalion and Vibe Robotics each presenting innovative solutions in their respective fields.
Expanding Access to Venture Capital
Third Coast Foundry is now available for Purdue faculty, researchers, and entrepreneurs to host investor meetings, small events, and other engagements in the Bay Area. The hub aims to deepen engagement with Purdue alumni, strengthen connections between Midwest founders and the region’s innovation ecosystem, and unlock new pathways for investment and partnerships.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie highlighted the importance of universities in bringing new ideas and energy to the city. The Third Coast Foundry initiative is part of his vision to revitalize San Francisco’s downtown, increasing tourism, economic activity, and private investment. The hub brings together students and researchers from eight Midwestern universities, creating a consortium that enrolls more than 300,000 students and invests roughly $10 billion annually in research.
Fostering Innovation and Collaboration
The Third Coast Foundry initiative has been spearheaded by the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Chicago. Since its soft launch in March, the center has worked to connect university startups with alumni founders and investors, opening its doors to more than 1,000 visitors and event attendees. The formal launch on Tuesday night hosted the Midwest Deep Tech Demo Day, providing an opportunity for 40 startups to pitch their businesses to over 200 investors.
Samir Mayekar managing director of the Polsky Center, emphasized the unique advantage of being surrounded by venture capital in the Bay Area. The hub’s location in SoMa places it within a six-minute walk of $100 billion in venture capital, a resource unparalleled anywhere else in the world. This proximity accelerates the translation of groundbreaking research into world-leading companies.
The Third Coast Foundry initiative marks a significant step in fostering innovation and collaboration between Midwestern universities and the Bay Area’s venture capital community. By providing a physical landing place for startups and researchers, the hub creates new pathways for translating research and innovation into venture-backed growth, ultimately driving economic development and technological advancement.
