Category: Startup Licensing

Webinar: Startup Licensing 101 – Licensing Process & Pre-Agreements

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This is part 2 of a 5-part webinar series called Startup Licensing 101: A Resource for Entrepreneurs Working with Companies Originated at Academic Institutions.

For many entrepreneurs, licensing from a university may be a new experience. This series of webinars provides information that will be helpful for academic entrepreneurs contemplating their first (or perhaps subsequent) license from an academic institution. Presented by an attorney who represents many academic startups, including their investors, along with two academic technology transfer veterans, these webinars bring views from both sides of the table and best practices for a fruitful and efficient negotiation.

Webinar: Startup Licensing 101 – The 30,000 Foot View

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This is part 1 of a 5-part webinar series called Startup Licensing 101: A Resource for Entrepreneurs Working with Companies Originated at Academic Institutions.

For many entrepreneurs, licensing from a university may be a new experience. This series of webinars provides information that will be helpful for academic entrepreneurs contemplating their first (or perhaps subsequent) license from an academic institution. Presented by an attorney who represents many academic startups, including their investors, along with two academic technology transfer veterans, these webinars bring views from both sides of the table and best practices for a fruitful and efficient negotiation.

TTO Strategic Communication Tactics with VCs

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As a VC firm partnered with over 100 universities, we get the question from Tech Transfer Offices (TTOs) all the time — how can we best communicate with VCs? While investors have directed more attention to universities for deal flow in recent years (see bar graph below), most VCs don’t have a singular focus on…

2019 Court Decisions: Implications for University Licensing

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On September 2, 2020, Russell E. Levine, JD, Kirkland & Ellis, presented an AUTM webinar entitled “Top 10 Court Decisions of the Year That Affect Licensing.” Russell, a past president of LES USA & Canada, has been doing these “top 10” talks for many years at LES annual meetings. These talks are always a full…

Webinar: Stock Purchase Agreements in University Equity Licenses

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When a university licenses technology to a startup, a grant of equity is a likely consideration offered by the licensee. To receive the equity, the university will review and negotiate a Stock Purchase Agreement – a legal agreement made between the corporation (startup) and the university that governs the transfer and sale of the corporation’s stock to the university and often related financial terms, which can impact the university’s potential returns.

Webinar: Approaches to Software Licensing

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Software-based technologies present challenges to the most experienced university technology managers when it comes to licensing. These technologies are often not patentable, released under an open source license, or the software is frequently rewritten – making the original code less valuable. Therefore, faculty frequently don’t disclose software, and companies commonly avoid licensing software IP from the universities.

Webinar: Best Practices in Licensing International Startups: The UK, China, & Israel

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A discussion on the differences in licensing to startups based out of Israel, China, and the UK by experts who have worked in these regions. David Ai, formerly of City University in Hong Kong, Amir Naiberg, formerly of Yeda Research and Development Co, in Israel, and Teri Willey, formerly of Cambridge Enterprise, will talk about particular variances in license clauses and startup structures that US tech transfer offices may encounter when licensing to entities incorporated in these countries.

Podcast: A Conversation with Nichole Mercier of WUSTL

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Today I’m speaking with Dr. Nichole Mercier, Managing Director for the Office of Technology Management at Washington University in Saint Louis. During her time at Washington University, as well as through her work with AUTM (Association of University Technology Managers), Nichole has been a leader in analyzing the disparities between male and female innovators, and launching programming to help close the gap. In this episode, we’ll focus on her work in those areas.

Webinar: The New CFIUS and CFIUS Pilot Program – Implications for Foreign (and U.S.) Investments in Startups

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Last year, Congress passed the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act (FIRRMA), which significantly expands the authorities of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). In November of 2018, the U.S. Federal Government began a pilot program of these new FIRRMA authorities to review and in some cases restrict investment by non-U.S. sources in “critical technology” areas. Those “critical” areas currently include certain types of software, aerospace products, energy storage products, and many more technologies. In addition, the government is engaged in a proceeding to consider expanding the set of “critical” fields to include biotechnology, artificial intelligence, robotics, quantum computing, and advanced materials, among others.

An interview with Lita Nelsen and Katharine Ku

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Some people had the fortune to fall into technology transfer before it was a known career and helped shape the field to become the vibrant, challenging, and rewarding profession it is today. Two of those players are Lita Nelsen, former Director of MIT’s Technology Licensing Office, and Katharine Ku, former Executive Director of the Office…