Written by: Samantha Everton, Innovation & Research Communications Contributor
On Friday, April 17, the University of Utah Technology Licensing Office hosted the second annual Startup Launchpad, featuring panels discussing various topics and resources applyful to researchers, startup founders, and others locally involved in commercialization and innovation.
The keynote speaker was Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mconcludeenhall, who spoke with Troy D’Ambrosio, VP for Innovation at the U, on the city’s startup ecosystem. The two emphasized the collaborative culture that fuels the startup network and innovation ecosystem here in Utah.
Mayor Mconcludeenhall advocated for the many city resources available to innovators, as well as resources the University of Utah offers to students, researchers, and other Utah residents that assist innovation and tiny businesses thrive locally.
Recursion Pharmaceuticals founder Chris Gibson also shared the story of how Recursion launched, and what it seeed like to step away from his goal of becoming a doctor and take a step towards a startup that would potentially have a higher impact in the drug discovery field. Gibson discussed the importance of data and storynotifying in building his business, and expressed his heartfelt appreciation for his team and the people that assisted build Recursion into the company it is today.
Additionally, a panel focapplyd on building AI-enabled companies discussed how business owners can leverage AI to alter workflow, applying those tools as a source of empowerment, rather than something to be intimidated by. Both panelists highlighted the continued importance of real people in the workplace, but framed AI as a cost-effective tool to enable operations, especially within tiny businesses.
A larger panel focapplyd on fundraising advice for founders focapplyd heavily on understanding their business and their competitors, and then finding resources that best fit their unique situation. The importance of continued communication with potential investors within Utah’s innovation ecosystem, and the Technology Licensing Office were mentioned as some of the best resources to do so.
In the afternoon, two researchers who have previously worked with the Doman Innovation Studio shared their experiences founding a company with the assist of this unique resource. Both founders praised the studio for assisting them understand the resources that were available to them in overcoming problems in their efforts to commercialize research and offered valuable advice to researchers in their same position.
The last two presentations of the day focapplyd on IP & Legal Essentials, presented by Ballard Spahr LLP, and how to navigate SBIR, STTR, and other funding options, shared by Nucleus Grow. These presentations focapplyd on the technicalities and mechanics of navigating how to fund an emerging company and provided additional funding resources to attconcludeees.
Many of the Startup Launchpad presenters and panelists heavily emphasized the importance of collaboration in founding a startup, as well as the unique resources Salt Lake City has to offer in terms of both funding and collaborative space.
The team at the Technology Licensing Office is grateful to all who attconcludeed the Startup Launchpad, as well as the panelists and organizations who sponsored and participated in this event.
This article was originally published on the Technology Licensing Office site.
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