Universal Display announced the formation of UDC Ventures, the corporate venture arm of Universal Display. With the establishment of UDC Ventures, Josh Epstein also joins the company as managing partner, where he will be heading the new venture effort and working closely with the Universal Display management team.
 
Epstein joins UDC Ventures from Stifel Financial Corp., where he served as managing director. Epstein’s career spans over two decades as an investment banker, heading global practices focused on electronics, digital media and emerging technologies.
 
UDC Ventures, headquartered in New York City, plans to invest in and partner with entrepreneurs, disruptive start-ups and innovative, emerging companies with an emphasis on technology platforms that have a strong proprietary position and significant growth potential. Strategic sectors of interest include OLED, organic electronics, displays, lighting, materials science and other related areas.
 
Companies can be at any stage, ranging from pre-commercial stage research and development to early prototypes through late stage, established companies. The venture arm seeks to be an impactful strategic investor, with investments ranging from seed funding to later stage growth capital.
 
“We are excited to launch UDC Ventures,” said Steven Abramson, president and CEO of Universal Display. “Since our beginning as a three-person R&D start-up over 20 years ago, the drive for innovation and commitment to excellence has propelled Universal Display into a global leader in the OLED ecosystem. With our rich history, significant expertise and know-how, we believe that we are well positioned to be an important, insightful and invaluable partner to promising companies across a spectrum of emerging and established industries.”