I recently spoke in Paris about university start-ups and how to optimize university intellectual property at the Licensing Executives Society International Annual Conference. My remarks focused on the ancillary assets and resources beyond the patents and licenses that are available to start-up teams and small businesses and how they can be leveraged for success.

1. Accelerating Innovation
How university IP and university partnerships can add value to a commercial launch
Is IP a crucial leverage for start-ups? | LESI 2017 | Paris, France | April 24, 2017
Jim Bratton
University of Oklahoma

2. Personal
Experience
• 15 years a Venture Capitalist
• Invested $62MM in 25 University Start-ups
• Results:
• 17 successful exits/ 8 (miserable) failures
• 26% IRR to investors
• Deep Emotional Scars

3. Commercialization Path
Disclosure
IP Protection Strategy Licensee/
New VentureProduct-Market Fit Viability
Multi-Step Evaluation of IP

4. Deep Technical Expertise
• Principal Investigators
• Graduate Students
• Technicians
University Assets
• Laboratories
• Equipment
• Materials
Matching Funds
• University Tech Development Funds
• State/ Foundation Matching Funds
• Grants and Other Funding Sources
Accelerator Programs
• Incubator Space
• Networking Resources
• Business Model Development
Value-Add of Partnering with a University

5. • “Try before you buy”
• SMEs can participate in the “Mentor” role
• National Science Foundation and
National Institutes of Health Programs
• $50,000 grant for Inventor and Graduate
Student
• 7 week program
• “Lean Launch” and “Business Model
Canvas” platforms
I-Corps

6. Navigating the System
License Sponsored
Research
Export
Controls
Conflicts
of Interest
Technology
Transfer Office
Research Services
Office
Office of the
Provost
Office of Legal
Counsel

7. Court Decision Influences University IP
• Covidien LP v. University of Florida
Research Foundation Incorporated
• PTAB Decision January 25, 2017
• Sovereign Immunity invoked against IPR
• Potential Implications
• Exclusive Licensees of State University IP
will benefit from ruling
• Alleged infringers will be forced into district
court, not PTAB

8. Thank You
Questions