New Ventures Mentors
Posted on June 27, 2013
The mission of the New Ventures Mentors program is to prepare potential start-ups based on University of Washington technologies for eventual spin out.
Experienced professionals interested in mentoring early stage projects based on UW technologies are invited to apply. Mentors volunteer their time based on their availability and project needs. It is not uncommon to work 1-3 hours per week with a project team. Mentors help identify and support technologies with commercial promise. Mentors provide UW researchers with real-world insights about the commercialization process and expertise in target markets, product development, and fundraising strategies.
The C4C New Ventures team has created a vibrant volunteer network of mentors that support C4C activities and the efforts of the other mentors. It is a collaborative environment that includes entrepreneurs, business executives, angel and venture capital investors, attorneys, and others. This network is an invaluable resource for UW researchers as they develop their business ideas.
Expectations of the New Ventures Mentor:
- Meet with C4C and teams to identify and evaluate opportunities.
- Develop commercialization strategy for teams:
- Meet regularly with teams (inventors, Technology Manager, Patent Agent, intern and others).
- Help develop business plan, commercialization and go-to-market strategies.
- Identify appropriate commercialization milestones to guide teams.
- Provide marketability/commercialization recommendations.
- Connect team with management, industry, legal and financing contacts.
- Work with C4C team to evaluate opportunity and coordinate the allocation of other resources.
- Refer other candidates and consultants.
- Attend monthly New Ventures Mentors meetings.
- Support the C4C mission and work closely with C4C team members.
Support for Mentor-Led Start-ups:
- New Ventures will provide support to the project when the mentor and New Ventures agree on what is needed. Examples:
- Marketing reports
- Targeted marketing studies or customer validation studies
- Regulatory studies
- Industrial design of products
- The Mentor will have access to free parking, work space at C4C and at the New Ventures Facility at Fluke Hall, UW libraries and market research databases, and office supplies, and support from MBA interns.
To Apply: If you are looking for a mentoring opportunity, please submit a resume and letter of interest to Patrick Shelby, Director of New Ventures and Merina Bigley, Manager of Operations, New Ventures Facility.