Organization:Team Venture Forth

Overview

Team Venture Forth works on strategies to support teams to advance a specific opportunity acheive commercial success. Resources serving such university-based ventures incubate, accelerate and bootcamps. Seed funding sources and grant-writing resources, as well as pro-active and helpful technology transfer offices support venture teams seeking to gain marketplace traction and spin out of a University setting. Linkages to regional and statewide industry resources provide pathways to growth and scale.

Standing Meeting Time

Bi-weekly meetings, likely Wednesday after noon EST.  Still waiting to confirm time with rest of group. 

Team Members

Team Leaders:

To Be Determined, after we have a few weeks of work under our belt. 

Team Members:

• Breanne Przestrzelski, Clemson University
• Brittany Wouden, Washington State University Vancouver
• Andrew Dalman, North Dakota State University
• Mary Wilcox, Arizona State University Tempe
• Nathan Smialek, University of Pittsburgh
• Brian Rhindress, University of Pittsburgh
• Derek Dashti, Tulane University
• Katelyn Stenger, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
• Terrence Agbi, Polytechnic Institute of New York University
• Yifan Ge, Bucknell University

Topics

• Incubators, accelerators and bootcamps
• Infrastructure (startup space)
• Seed funding sources
• Technology transfer resources
• Grant-writing, legal and other venture assistance
• Off-campus space
• Regional sources of capital
• Mentoring, business and/or advisory networks

Meeting Notes and Shared Resources

Strengths &Weaknesses:

Derek Dashti- Tulane University

Strengths:

''- Good sources for incubator startups locally (i.e. NOBIC, Propellor)

''- Tech transfer office is easily accessible

''Weaknesses:

''- Need more incubator spaces on campus (Flower Hall only)

''- Need more seed funding sources both locally and on campus
Brian Rhindress- University of Pittsburgh
Strengths:

-Active and thriving Office of Technology Management/Enterprise Realization

-Seed Funding Availability (especially in medical- Coulter, CMI)

-City of Pittsburgh startup culture
Weaknesses:

-Mobilization/awareness at Undergraduate level

-No design space

-Little collaboration across departments/schools