August 2016There are lots of reasons why start-ups and spin-outs die but one you don’t often hear discussed is “running out of steam”, or “just fizzling out”. But it happens all the time. It’s as if the operational dynamics of a new venture take on the well-known scientific properties of entropy. Want to learn how […]
April 2016How are university spin-outs and other start-ups valued by investors and venture capital firms? On what basis is a price set for the equity an investor receives? Is there some secret formula? Is it a science, an art, or a little bit of both? And why is it so important for university technology officers […]
December 2015What is it that really drives university researchers to want to start a tech based company? What challenges do they face and how do they overcome them? How hard is it to raise funds? What resources are available? What has surprised them about the process? How could their university be more supportive?In this month’s webinar […]
October 2015 One of the biggest concerns for founders and investors in university spin-outs is finding and attracting experienced managers. This is particularly difficult at the very early stages of a new venture. Where do you look for talent? What sort of skills are most important to the success of a new company? How does […]
September 2015 With all the news and commentary around the huge amounts of venture capital being invested in new companies and the massive valuations for some technology start-ups, one might think that seed financing for university spin-outs should be quick and easy. It isn’t. Funding a university technology spin-out takes considerable planning, work, and time. But […]
July 2015 Most universities have star researchers whose unique technology platforms deserve serious consideration as a university spin-out. But creating new companies is so difficult, uncertain and complex that often universities either attempt to license derivative patents to an established company or simply allow opportunities to languish instead of exploiting the entrepreneurial opportunities that the […]