Highland Capital Partners announces ten collegiate start-up teams participating in 2011 'Summer@Highland' program

By Scott Kirsner, Globe Columnist

Back in February, I let you know that Highland Capital Partners was reviving its annual "Summer@Highland" program after a brief hiatus. The 10-week program provides office space, mentorship, and a $15,000 stipend to a select group of university-affiliated start-ups; Highland doesn't take any equity in return, nor does the venture capital firm demand a right-of-first-refusal on funding.

This afternoon, Highland is revealing the ten start-ups that were accepted into this summer's program. (More than 225 applied for admission.) Six teams are based in California, and four in what will soon be Highland's new headquarters in Kendall Square.

The descriptions below were provided by Highland; I've listed the four Cambridge teams first, and added their university affiliations.

Cambridge teams:

- additup – an advertising platform designed to increase attention and drive engagement [Boston College; start-up tied for first place in the most recent BC Venture Competition]

- ByteLight – secure wireless communications through energy efficient LED lighting [Boston University]

- Tivli – building a platform to deliver TV, DVR and VOD cable services to any device over the Internet [Harvard and University of Michigan]

- Type-U – a vibrant, invitation-only health and wellness platform that helps people with diabetes live healthier and happier lives [Babson]

California teams (Highland offers space in San Francisco and Menlo Park):

- 27Bards – a site where people create, offer and go on unique tours

- AdRaid – enabling brands to reach a captive audience through innovative product placement

- Clinkle – software-based mobile payment platform

- Imprint Energy – redefining the limits of energy storage with entirely printed, rechargeable batteries

- Lemonwi.se – online product review and social media solutions for consumer facing brands

- Waddle – mobile photo-journal for groups of friends

From Highland's press release:

For 2011, teams benefit from over 40 forums and events involving top serial & young entrepreneurs and thought leaders in business, design, legal, product, talent and technology. Speakers in this year’s program include founders and CEOs from Airbnb, Dropbox, Gemvara, Quattro Wireless, RentJuice, SCVNGR, session M and WePay. Also lending their expertise are serial entrepreneurs/founders Steve Blank (“Four Steps to the Epiphany”), Desh Deshpande, Naval Ravikant (founder of AngelList) and Bill Warner, along with business & technology experts from Amazon, Engine Yard, Google, HumanLogic, IDEO, KAYAK, Russell Reynolds and WilmerHale.