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Natasha Azar

VP of Investor Relations & Marketing,
University Relations

Natasha-Azar

Why OUP?

What attracted me to OUP was the focus on academia, and the long-term societal impact of investing in university-founded technologies. The university research ecosystem is a key driver of the US economy - and OUP plays a key role in supporting it.

Natasha is focused on fundraising, marketing, LP communications and relationship management across the firm. She joined OUP in 2016 as a university relations manager where her main focus has been maintaining and enhancing relationships with academic partners and Limited Partners. Prior to OUP, Natasha was a Communications and Government Affairs Specialist at Siemens Corporate Technology, the company’s central research & development unit. She is an active member of Women in VC, Women’s Association of Venture & Equity, and AUTM, and served as Chair of AUTM’s Volunteerism Committee for several years. She is a frequent speaker at the BAM VC Comms Con and the PEI Investor Relations, Marketing & Communications Forum.

Natasha has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Villanova University, and a Master of Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Exeter. She resides in New Jersey and enjoys playing classical piano, baking, and golf.

Education

  • BA, Villanova University
  • MA, University of Exeter

Insights

University Spinouts, Startup Funding Webinar: Friends & Family Funding for University Startups For startups in their earliest stages, friends & family is one of the common forms of startup funding out there. This is often the best chance to secure money to launch your startup. But what does it really mean to accept capital from friends & family for your startup? How does it impact your cap table, and what are the implications for later rounds raised from VCs and other institutional investors? Read More »
Startup Licensing Webinar: Startup Licensing 101 – Licensing Process & Pre-Agreements 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. Read More »
Startup Licensing, Startup Funding TTO Strategic Communication Tactics with VCs 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… Read More »