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

Meeting Notes:

This group will serve primarily as a forum to alert each other of our successes and struggles. The success of our group is dependent on the strength of our network.

'The format of our communications will be written updates online supplemented by informal presentations in a WebEx when necessary.  'During this time, students can offer up advice, highlight struggles, and identify obstacles in an interactive environment to which every student can relate and apply their needs.

The exact topic of our talks will vary, but we discussed focusing on: IP policy changes, curriculum changes, incubator spaces, and general visibility.

Lastly, we said that special guests/speakers could include former/current UI Fellows with relevant experience, I&E team members from on campus, Tech Office employees, etc. We would love to use Humera as a resource on a case-by-case basis, as we don't want to take too much of her time.

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