LSE's investment complemented its leadership of a group featuring four other UK universities that will partner company builder Zinc to convert research into companies.

London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) backed a £3m ($4m) seed round for UK-based impact company builder Zinc on Wednesday.

The round also featured venture firm LocalGlobe, investment firm Atomico and a range of unspecified angel investors.

Launched in 2017, Zinc scouts potential startup founders for a nine-month training program that prepares them to form new companies. Each initiative is themed by a global societal challenge that is relevant to developed countries.

The initial cohort of 17 startups focused…