Hoskinson's Retirement Prompts Changes at TLA

Just like the talented inventors, innovative technologies and startup companies it serves, Tech Launch Arizona itself is constantly adapting to leverage its resources to maximize its impact in providing services to help the UA community commercialize the inventions stemming from the innovative work of our faculty and staff.

The office, which answers directly to the Office of the President of the UA, consists of three distinct, collaborative units that work seamlessly together:

• Technology Transfer, which focuses on discovering and protecting University of Arizona intellectual property (IP) stemming from research;
• Business Development, which facilitates the creation of successful startup companies founded on UA intellectual property; and
• Tech Parks (which goes by “Tech Parks Arizona”), which strategically manages and leverages the assets of the University’s tech parks to build connections between the world of high-tech business and the research and educational enterprises of the University.

This month, TLA said farewell to Sherry Hoskinson who is retiring from her position as director of business development. She was hired in 2013 to build the unit, and has been instrumental in developing and shaping the organization and its strategies and services offerings, especially in the areas of network building and startup creation. Prior to that, she served as the director of the McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship at the Eller College of Management. All told, Hoskinson served the UA for 23 years.

“We’re very excited for Sherry and look forward to seeing great things from her next move,” says TLA Vice President David Allen. “She has helped us create a great foundation, and now we’re tasked with building on her many accomplishments.”

Moving ahead, Joann MacMaster is stepping in as the new director for business development. She joined TLA in 2013 to lead venture development activities and has brought a wealth of experience and success to the TLA mission. MacMaster’s resume includes serving as director of the Arizona Center for Innovation as well as program director for the McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship. She also has an extensive background as a technology entrepreneur, and served as a senior executive for three multinational companies.

In brief, look for the following changes in these specific TLA business development programs, which MacMaster will be leading:

Commercialization Partners

TLA has engaged a team of 25 volunteer Entrepreneurs- and Executives-in-Residents (EIRs and XIRs) – what it calls “commercialization partners” – to help startups with activities like leadership team formation, business and funding planning, licensing UA intellectual property and more.

TLA will transition to having a few part-time in-house mentors who will be integral members of the TLA professional team. Additional volunteer EIRs and XIRs will support this team with their experience, advice and coaching. A new role will also be introduced: the Mentor-in-Residence or MIR. MIRs will be experts in specific areas of technology; initially, TLA will engage one focused on biotechnology, one on biomedical devices, and one on engineering and physical sciences.

The Ecosystem Network

During its early stages, TLA and the Business Development unit engaged in a public-private partnership with the City of Tucson and local technology company Aztera to develop an extended network of industry and subject matter domain experts to help advise UA staff and faculty on the best commercial pathways for emerging UA technologies. As a result of this work, TLA today has a network of over 1,300 experts, the majority of whom are UA alumni.

In 2016, TLA will refresh and expand this network to address a pipeline that has more than doubled in a few short years. To facilitate this process and grow its capabilities, TLA will hire a full-time Commercialization Network Manager.

As students represent an essential part of the ecosystem, this new Network Manager, in close partnership with TLA’s Marketing and Communications Manager, will take on the task of engaging with students and student organizations across campus.

SBIR/STTR Tech House

In 2014 TLA launched SBIR/STTR Tech House, an initiative focused on increasing the activity and effectiveness of new and small businesses applying for SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) and STTR (Small Business Technology Transfer) funding. Through Tech House, TLA helps to connect UA researchers with small businesses, prime contractors and supportive resources to build strategic teams that can respond to SBIR and STTR solicitations put forth by federal agencies such as the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense and others.

These awards represent a great opportunity of funding for Southern Arizona companies, and TLA has engaged community partners such as the Arizona Commerce Authority in the work of helping all of these different entities connect with one another. With its community partners now facilitating these connections, TLA is refocusing the Tech House resources on directly supporting UA researchers and their direct partners in the community in their pursuit of SBIR/STTR funding opportunities.

Looking Ahead to FY2017

TLA is positioned to deliver exceptional results against its Roadmap, keeping in line with the Never Settle strategic and academic plan. Next steps for the Business Development unit include management of the recently awarded UA NSF I-Corps Site designation, and further integration with the Tech Parks Arizona incubator, the Arizona Center for Innovation.

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Pictured Above: Joann MacMaster discusses opportunities at a meetup connecting small businesses with the UA faculty and researchers. (Photo credit: Tech Launch Arizona)