About Start-Ups with Tech Transfer
Northwestern is committed to nurture an interactive relationship with entrepreneurs, the investment community, and industry
- Interested in starting a new company? Visit us at Tech Transfer
to initiate a dialogue to:
- Get a clear understanding of the University Policies, issues related to Conflict of Interest and Conflict of Commitment.
- Prepare a detailed and comprehensive plan for developing the technology of interest to you, and outline the extent of University resources, if any, the company might need, such as personnel, services, space and facilities
- Begin discussions to negotiate the license for granting of IP rights from Northwestern to the start-up with a viable commercialization plan
- Business Development services provided by Tech Transfer include:
- Identifying market and business opportunities
- Navigating the patent landscape
- Ascertaining the competitive advantages of the Intellectual Property (IP)
- Formulating Development Plans
- Opportunity to explore financing (federal, angel, venture capital)
- Introduction to Investor network and venture capital funds
- Tech Transfer provides referrals to :
- Legal, business or management consultants for incorporation
- Funding Sources (SBIR & STTR)
- Space
- Start-up Companies must obtain a license.
This Inventor's 5 step process is described here.
The start-up company with an entrepreneur committed to developing a particular technology may be the best licensee, but the start-up company must offer a viable plan to commercialize an invention in order to receive a license.
- Begin License Negotiations
