Event Archive Summary

Best Practice AreaDescriptionRelated Events

Defining Gap Funding Approaches

  • Models/Structures of COA member programs, evolution from one to multiple fund programs
  • Adopting common community language/definitions for fund types (Translational Research, Proof of Concept, Startup/Seed, etc.)
  • Identifying nuances in approaches, needs and challenges (size/type of institution, location, tech area specific, etc.)
  • Defining Gap Fund Approaches
  • Gap Fund Process Tactics/Approaches
  • Create and Manage a POC Gap Fund
  • Create and Manage a Startup Gap Fund
  • Model Reviews (UI, UM)
  • Model Reviews (UB, UGA, UNE)

Assessing and Reporting Impact and Performance Metrics

  • Effect of gap funding on the technology commercialization process (process metrics, activity, econ dev, etc.)
  • Ability of gap to attract outside commercial and investment interest (leveraged capital, licenses, community involvement, etc.)
  • Quantifying the need for more attention and resources directed at the capital gap
  • Establishing Common Impact Measures and Reporting to Stakeholders
  • Assessing and Reporting Impact and Performance Metrics

Raising and Sustaining Gap Funding Programs (R&S)

  • Tactics to R&S funds from institutional support and coordination (royalties, equity, donor/alumni funds)
  • Tactics to R&S funds from external support (government programs, foundations, co-investment with corporations/investors)
  • Approaches to keep sources of funding engaged throughout the gap funding process
  • Raising and Sustaining Gap Fund Programs
  • Turn Alumni, Foundations, and FOUs into Gap Fund Investors
  • Secure and Sustain Gap Funding Support from Your State and Region
Evaluating Technologies and Startups for Gap Funding Programs
  • Methods to evaluate opportunities for funding (scorecards, rating, outsourcing/insourcing, professional feedback/expertise), etc.)
  • Forming and sustaining advisory groups (in-person, virtual), process structure/management, and setting expectations
  • Setting project targets and delivering feedback on successful/declined projects
  • Evaluating Tech and Startups for Gap Funding
  • Accelerator Support Programs (UC, UMN)

Cultivating Gap Fund Support Programs

  • Attracting and incorporating talent from on-campus experts/programs and from the outside(EIR/mentors/consultants)
  • Use and examples of external support services that have positively impacted in the development of opportunities
  • Partnering with other public/private programs in the innovation ecosystem (accelerators, incubators, etc)
  • Accelerator Support Programs (UC, UMN)
  • Cultivating Gap Fund Support Programs
Attracting and Collaborating with Commercial and Investment Partners
  • Methods to grow network of commercial and investment partners
  • Co-development/feedback/investment approaches with corporations/startups/investors
  • Asset/Startup positioning and communication to generate interest
  • Attracting and Collaborating with Sources of Investment
  • Attract External Investors to Gap Funded Projects and Startups
  • Turn Alumni, Foundations, and FOUs into Gap Fund Investors
  • Correlation Ventures
  • Samsung Innovation
Communicating the Value, Need, and Expectations of Gap Funding Programs
  • General awareness of the innovation process/timeline, the role of university, and the need/positioning of gap funding programs
  • Increasing public/political interest/engagement in high-tech innovation relative to other priorities
  • Managing the expectation of process/program outcomes with internal/external stakeholders
  • Approaches to Marketing and Promoting Gap Fund and Accelerator Programs
Coordinating Gap Funding Programs with Campus Units and Priorities
  • Coordination/collaborating with other offices on campus (Research, Development/Foundations, Alumni, Colleges/RCs, etc.)
  • Aligning gap fund program/multiple campus funds with the tech commercialization process
  • Leveraging the COA resources/activities to support buy-in and engagement across the institution
  • Accelerator Support Programs (UC, UMN)

Implementing Policies and Incentives (P&I) that Support Gap Fund Programs
  • Understanding institutional P&Is for inventors, Conflict of Interest (COI), ownership, tenure, etc.
  • Understanding P&Is to attract/structure outside partnerships/investment like research/tax incentives, collaboration agreements, COI, etc.
  • Expanding on and adopting creative P&I approaches that are demonstrating success
 
Managing Inventor Involvement in the Gap Funding Process
  • Communicating the program to generate quality interest and submissions
  • Leveraging the gap fund program process to educate, develop relationship, and improve the current asset/future submissions
  • Approaches and tactics to set expectations of involvement, ownership, and compensation in the developing asset/startup
  • Accelerator Support Programs (UC, UMN)

 

Structuring the Financing and Ownership of Gap Funded Technologies and Startups

 

  • Form of funding (grant/investment) and funding disbursement approach (milestone, tranche, staged, etc.)
  • Approaches to equity/royalty dispersion
  • Tactics to maintain and manage ownership position through the maturation of the technology/startup
  • Providing Oversight and Maintaining Relationships with Funded Projects/Startups
  • Structuring Investments