Boston, MA (May 12, 2025) -- Today, the Bayh-Dole Coalition's 2025 "Faces of American Innovation" report features Vinit Nijhawan, Managing Director at MassVentures, for his entrepreneurial leadership and transformative contributions to Massachusetts’ technology transfer ecosystem, particularly through his efforts launching and supporting academic startups.
The Bayh-Dole Coalition is a group of innovation-oriented organizations and individuals committed to celebrating and protecting the 1980 Bayh-Dole Act, as well as informing policymakers and the public of its many benefits. The Coalition’s annual report honors researchers, entrepreneurs, and administrators whose groundbreaking work, made possible by the Bayh-Dole Act, improves millions of lives in the United States and around the world.
On June 4, Nijhawan will receive the 2025 Bayh-Dole Coalition American Innovator Award in Washington, D.C., alongside four other recipients.
"I am deeply honored to receive this award,” said Vinit Nijhawan, Managing Director at MassVentures. “Massachusetts has always been a powerhouse for academic research, and there’s no better place to nurture breakthrough ideas and spin them out into real-world impact. Helping academic startups get off the ground has been one of the most rewarding parts of my work, and I’m excited to keep pushing innovation forward together."
Nijhawan has nearly four decades of experience in the technology startup and transfer space. He previously led Boston University's Office of Technology Development, where he helped launch eight venture-backed spinouts and generated more royalty income than the university had seen in its previous 34 years. In his current position at MassVentures, Nijhawan supports Massachusetts’ venture capital efforts, focusing on supporting non-traditional inventors, academic founders, and emerging companies often overlooked by private investors.
“At MassVentures, we believe academic spinouts are fueling the innovation economy,” said Charlie Hipwood, President and CEO of MassVentures. “Under Vinit’s leadership, our support for tech transfer has grown significantly, helping transform innovations from Massachusetts labs into companies that drive economic growth, create jobs, and tackle global challenges.”
"Vinit Nijhawan represents exactly the kind of entrepreneurial leader the Bayh-Dole Act was designed to empower," said Joseph Allen, Executive Director of the Bayh-Dole Coalition. "His story shows how the law's framework turns federally funded research into real-world innovations -- and why it's vital to preserve this system for the next generation of breakthrough companies and life-saving technologies."
Founded 46 years ago, MassVentures has fueled hundreds of Massachusetts-based startups, helping to attract over $5 billion in follow-on capital. Its "Diverse Teams Outperform" thesis prioritizes support for underrepresented founders and underserved regions, pairing capital with strategic guidance and a powerful partner network to help emerging companies scale and succeed.
About MassVentures
MassVentures, the state’s quasi-public venture capital agency, helps early-stage deep tech companies grow in Massachusetts. Founded in 1978, MassVentures offers capital investments, grants, business guidance, and a network of partners to help businesses succeed. MassVentures has funded more than 400 companies, created over 10,000 jobs, and leveraged over $5 billion in private capital. In addition to financial resources, MassVentures also provides strategic direction, operational support, and enhances the success of their portfolio companies. For more information visit www.mass-ventures.com.
About the Bayh-Dole Coalition
The Bayh-Dole Coalition is a group of innovation-oriented organizations and individuals committed to celebrating and protecting the Bayh-Dole Act, as well as informing policymakers and the public of its many benefits.
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