Startups
Translating incredible ideas into high-potential new ventures
What startup teams gain working with us
- Business skills and practical knowledge
- Structured company roles and activities
- Confidence when launching
- Access to our Commercialization Partners and our network
- Continued support from our professional team
We provide the people and resources to ensure that every startup is properly equipped with the connections, tools, and expertise to launch a successful company.
The startup process is broken into three phases: intake, venture development, and getting to license. Each project is unique, and activities may overlap across phases. Depending on the nature of the opportunity, the entire process could take between 30 days and a year, or potentially longer. But in the end, the inventor drives the pace and motion of the project.
Intake
First we host an initial meeting with the inventing team to explore the team’s intentions and determine the unique needs for their startup.
Outcomes:
- Assignment of a TLA Mentor-in-Residence, licensing manager, and external business advisor
- Create an initial plan to license
- Establish a timeline for future meetings
Venture Development
During this phase, we dig into the details to help form the company structure. Depending on the needs of the startup, some or all these topics may be addressed.
Outcomes:
- Team formation
- Business case development
- Funding strategy
- Capitalization table
- Governance plan
- Asset development
License
With your TLA Licensing Manager’s help and leadership, licensing occurs concurrently with venture development. This phase addresses required steps for attaining a license.
Outcomes:
- Assistance in going through U of A compliance processes (Learn more about Conflict of Interest and Conflict of Commitment on the Research & Partnerships website at Principles for Managing Competing Interests Between UArizona and Startup Companies, latter link requires UA NetID)
- Formulating the license agreement
- Agreeing on the license terms
How does TLA support U of A startup teams?
We offer a full suite of services, resources and support, including:
- Early-stage assessments
- Resources to advance early-stage inventions closer to readiness for license, from market research to IP protection to Asset Development funds
- Conflict-of-Interest process support, get details on the COI website
- Commercialization plan development, from business planning to financing and more
- Customer discovery through the I-Corps program
- Leadership team development to identify and engage expert business leadership and a capable management team
- Ownership agreement development
- SBIR/STTR and other grant support
- Introductions to the venture capital community
- Incubation for post-license startups to help them grow and scale
Commercialization Resources
Learn more about Asset Development, SBIR/STTR funding, TLA’s Commercialization Network and other programs.
Commercialization Network
From Mentors-in-Residence to Commercialization Partners, we have teams of experts ready to help your startup team succeed.
Incubation
Once a startup has licensed technologies from the University of Arizona, Tech Launch Arizona offers an integrated incubation programs to help them grow, scale and prepare for the future.
StartupHub
Check out TLA's web-based resource to connect high-tech entrepreneurs with promising inventions and startups.
Whether you already know you want to pursue a startup or just have questions about the process, TLA is here to help.
Drawing on our team of experienced mentors and entrepreneurs, we support entrepreneurial inventors through the phases leading to the launch of a startup. The innovations of the University of Arizona have significantly changed our world, becoming the foundation for successful companies like Cancer Prevention Pharmaceuticals, Neuro-ID, Aqualung Therapeutics and FreeFall.
We’re looking for the next discoveries that will make a better world. For more information on U of A startups and our process for launching new ventures, please contact us.
For more information about new venture services at Tech Launch Arizona, contact:
Bruce Burgess
Director of New Ventures
bruceb@tla.arizona.edu