The process from making an academic discovery to launching a new product involves a diverse range of professionals that share a common, ultimate goal: moving great science into the world. However, that diverse range of professionals have different incentives, different near-term objectives, and different organizational needs. Priorities around timelines, equity, funding strategy, and commercialization pathways can pull stakeholders across the pipeline in different directions, even when everyone’s intentions are good.
In this moderated panel, we’ll bring together tech transfer professionals, SBIR/STTR-funded founders, and angel investors for a candid conversation about where interests align, where they diverge, and what it takes to build a translational pipeline that works for everyone at the table.
Key Discussion Topics:
- Misaligned incentives: Where priorities diverge across the tech transfer lifecycle, and how to close that gap
- Building a commercialization track record: What it takes to develop a strong portfolio of research funding, alongside robust translational and commercialization work
- Faculty time and financial pressure: How a tighter funding environment is reshaping how much time (and support) faculty can realistically dedicate to commercialization efforts
Who Should Watch:
This session is designed for anyone working at the intersection of research and commercialization, including:
- Technology transfer professionals
- Entrepreneurship and startup support professionals
- Academic founders and faculty entrepreneurs
- SBIR/STTR grant recipients and applicants
- Angel investors and early-stage funders active in university spinouts
Whether you’re navigating a licensing negotiation, deciding whether to spin out a company, or evaluating your next investment in early-stage translational research, this panel will offer practical, multi-perspective insight into what alignment really looks like — and how to get there.
