Description
In such a brief data with regards to technology commercialization services office of the vice president for research.
Office of the Vice President for Research
438 WHITNEY ROAD EXTENSION, UNIT 1006
STORRS, CT 06269-1006
PHONE 860.486.3619
FAX 860.486.5381
research.uconn.edu
An Equal Opportunity Employer
Director of Venture Development (Management Exempt)
Technology Commercialization Services
Office of the Vice President for Research
The University of Connecticut (UConn) is committed to advancing its capacity for
entrepreneurship and new venture creation as part of its role in promoting economic
growth and development for the state of Connecticut, the region, and the nation. This new
position in Technology Commercialization Services (TCS), Office of the Vice President for
Research (OVPR), represents a critical and central part of this initiative. Reporting directly
to the Vice President for Research, the new Director will be responsible for identifying,
building, and expanding entrepreneurial opportunities for UConn faculty and students,
including the development of entrepreneurial talent and the creation of startup companies.
The Director of Venture Development will work directly with faculty and students on all
UConn campuses, including UConn Health, to form new ventures and support existing
startups based on UConn technologies in the physical sciences, life sciences, and
engineering, across a broad variety of business sectors such as biotech, pharmaceuticals,
medical devices, diagnostics, aerospace, cleantech, and software, among others. In order to
ensure the overall success of TCS within the OVPR and UConn, the Director of Venture
Development will work closely with the Director of Technology Transfer and will have the
opportunity to build and lead a team to address the primary responsibilities of the position.
CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Build and lead a team to educate, recruit and support faculty and student entrepreneurs
to launch new technology?based ventures; facilitate business planning, development,
and connections; coach teams to develop investable business plans and identify funding
opportunities.
2. Work closely with the TCS Director of Technology Transfer and various deans across
UConn to educate faculty and students on entrepreneurship. In particular, the new
Director will conduct efforts to instruct faculty on the alignment of NIH and other
federal agency goals with commercialization, and to understand business and financial
models necessary to attract partners and investment.
3. In conjunction with the Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CCEI)
and other university initiatives, provide educational and advising services prior to
company formation to help startup teams research market opportunities among a
broad range of industries; develop educational programming and curriculum
addressing a variety of business topics to inform and support new and existing venture
development and growth; collaborate with entrepreneurial programs university?wide,
Office of the Vice President for Research
438 WHITNEY ROAD EXTENSION, UNIT 1006
STORRS, CT 06269-1006
PHONE 860.486.3619
FAX 860.486.5381
research.uconn.edu
An Equal Opportunity Employer
including those within academic departments and schools/colleges, to establish,
operate, and support a portfolio of UConn programs such that they are well?coordinated
and highly effective.
4. Work with new venture teams to identify and meet specific business and scientific
milestones critical to commercial success; help them utilize strategies to de?risk
technologies and acquire funding throughout the innovation continuum – from proof of
concept to initial public offering or sale, and including funds able to support lead
optimization, pre?clinical proof of concept and Investigational New Drug (IND)
approvals.
5. Continuously evaluate and identify funding options for a portfolio of startups, and
prepare companies to attract funds from public investment programs such as those
offered by Connecticut Innovations, CT Department of Economic and Community
Development, and federal SBIR/STTR programs, as well as angel and venture capital
organizations.
6. Partner within UConn and beyond to develop substantial sources of capital for
University startups. Cultivate strong relationships within the CT, NY, and MA
investment communities, including leading VCs, angel investors, and corporate funding
partners. Lead efforts to develop and execute investor and partnering forums at UConn
including a signature event such as an annual symposium with the expressed purpose
of aligning investors with faculty/student entrepreneurs.
7. Identify and attract experienced entrepreneurs to lead, advise, mentor, and potentially
invest in startups.
8. Develop a dedicated pool of subject matter experts to mentor, advise, and/or manage
teams on technical, regulatory, legal and business topics.
9. Coordinate with the UConn Technology Incubation Program (TIP) to transition
ventures into TIP as they develop from virtual to physical operations.
10. Review and assess technologies disclosed to Technology Commercialization Services to
determine the optimum pathway for commercialization; and promote those that are
startup opportunities among entrepreneurial communities at UConn and throughout
Connecticut.
11. Work closely with the TCS Director of Technology Transfer and Licensing Directors to
facilitate tech transfer and negotiate technology licenses for new UConn technology
companies.
Office of the Vice President for Research
438 WHITNEY ROAD EXTENSION, UNIT 1006
STORRS, CT 06269-1006
PHONE 860.486.3619
FAX 860.486.5381
research.uconn.edu
An Equal Opportunity Employer
MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE QUALIFICATIONS
1. Undergraduate degree in an area of relevance to the position.
2. At least five years of significant experience working in a leadership position in (1) a
technology startup environment, (2) a growing technology company or (3) university
technology commercialization program, or some combination of the three.
3. Demonstrated ability to act as an integrated team member, communicating openly with
internal and external stakeholders to focus on technology venture opportunities.
4. Demonstrated ability to forge mutually beneficial partnerships with industry,
nonprofits, and government agencies.
5. Understanding of issues and challenges associated with research and development in a
university setting.
6. Excellent organizational and administrative skills.
7. Willingness to carry out job responsibilities both in Storrs and Farmington.
8. Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
1. Undergraduate degree in science, engineering, or business.
2. MBA, JD, PhD, or MD.
3. All three components of #2 in Minimum Acceptable Qualifications.
4. Experience with academic startup company formation.
5. Proven track record for raising capital for early stage companies.
6. Successful exit(s) from startup or technology companies including IPO or acquisition.
7. Experience with successful IND submission.
(9/11/15)
doc_323989703.pdf
In such a brief data with regards to technology commercialization services office of the vice president for research.
Office of the Vice President for Research
438 WHITNEY ROAD EXTENSION, UNIT 1006
STORRS, CT 06269-1006
PHONE 860.486.3619
FAX 860.486.5381
research.uconn.edu
An Equal Opportunity Employer
Director of Venture Development (Management Exempt)
Technology Commercialization Services
Office of the Vice President for Research
The University of Connecticut (UConn) is committed to advancing its capacity for
entrepreneurship and new venture creation as part of its role in promoting economic
growth and development for the state of Connecticut, the region, and the nation. This new
position in Technology Commercialization Services (TCS), Office of the Vice President for
Research (OVPR), represents a critical and central part of this initiative. Reporting directly
to the Vice President for Research, the new Director will be responsible for identifying,
building, and expanding entrepreneurial opportunities for UConn faculty and students,
including the development of entrepreneurial talent and the creation of startup companies.
The Director of Venture Development will work directly with faculty and students on all
UConn campuses, including UConn Health, to form new ventures and support existing
startups based on UConn technologies in the physical sciences, life sciences, and
engineering, across a broad variety of business sectors such as biotech, pharmaceuticals,
medical devices, diagnostics, aerospace, cleantech, and software, among others. In order to
ensure the overall success of TCS within the OVPR and UConn, the Director of Venture
Development will work closely with the Director of Technology Transfer and will have the
opportunity to build and lead a team to address the primary responsibilities of the position.
CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Build and lead a team to educate, recruit and support faculty and student entrepreneurs
to launch new technology?based ventures; facilitate business planning, development,
and connections; coach teams to develop investable business plans and identify funding
opportunities.
2. Work closely with the TCS Director of Technology Transfer and various deans across
UConn to educate faculty and students on entrepreneurship. In particular, the new
Director will conduct efforts to instruct faculty on the alignment of NIH and other
federal agency goals with commercialization, and to understand business and financial
models necessary to attract partners and investment.
3. In conjunction with the Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CCEI)
and other university initiatives, provide educational and advising services prior to
company formation to help startup teams research market opportunities among a
broad range of industries; develop educational programming and curriculum
addressing a variety of business topics to inform and support new and existing venture
development and growth; collaborate with entrepreneurial programs university?wide,
Office of the Vice President for Research
438 WHITNEY ROAD EXTENSION, UNIT 1006
STORRS, CT 06269-1006
PHONE 860.486.3619
FAX 860.486.5381
research.uconn.edu
An Equal Opportunity Employer
including those within academic departments and schools/colleges, to establish,
operate, and support a portfolio of UConn programs such that they are well?coordinated
and highly effective.
4. Work with new venture teams to identify and meet specific business and scientific
milestones critical to commercial success; help them utilize strategies to de?risk
technologies and acquire funding throughout the innovation continuum – from proof of
concept to initial public offering or sale, and including funds able to support lead
optimization, pre?clinical proof of concept and Investigational New Drug (IND)
approvals.
5. Continuously evaluate and identify funding options for a portfolio of startups, and
prepare companies to attract funds from public investment programs such as those
offered by Connecticut Innovations, CT Department of Economic and Community
Development, and federal SBIR/STTR programs, as well as angel and venture capital
organizations.
6. Partner within UConn and beyond to develop substantial sources of capital for
University startups. Cultivate strong relationships within the CT, NY, and MA
investment communities, including leading VCs, angel investors, and corporate funding
partners. Lead efforts to develop and execute investor and partnering forums at UConn
including a signature event such as an annual symposium with the expressed purpose
of aligning investors with faculty/student entrepreneurs.
7. Identify and attract experienced entrepreneurs to lead, advise, mentor, and potentially
invest in startups.
8. Develop a dedicated pool of subject matter experts to mentor, advise, and/or manage
teams on technical, regulatory, legal and business topics.
9. Coordinate with the UConn Technology Incubation Program (TIP) to transition
ventures into TIP as they develop from virtual to physical operations.
10. Review and assess technologies disclosed to Technology Commercialization Services to
determine the optimum pathway for commercialization; and promote those that are
startup opportunities among entrepreneurial communities at UConn and throughout
Connecticut.
11. Work closely with the TCS Director of Technology Transfer and Licensing Directors to
facilitate tech transfer and negotiate technology licenses for new UConn technology
companies.
Office of the Vice President for Research
438 WHITNEY ROAD EXTENSION, UNIT 1006
STORRS, CT 06269-1006
PHONE 860.486.3619
FAX 860.486.5381
research.uconn.edu
An Equal Opportunity Employer
MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE QUALIFICATIONS
1. Undergraduate degree in an area of relevance to the position.
2. At least five years of significant experience working in a leadership position in (1) a
technology startup environment, (2) a growing technology company or (3) university
technology commercialization program, or some combination of the three.
3. Demonstrated ability to act as an integrated team member, communicating openly with
internal and external stakeholders to focus on technology venture opportunities.
4. Demonstrated ability to forge mutually beneficial partnerships with industry,
nonprofits, and government agencies.
5. Understanding of issues and challenges associated with research and development in a
university setting.
6. Excellent organizational and administrative skills.
7. Willingness to carry out job responsibilities both in Storrs and Farmington.
8. Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
1. Undergraduate degree in science, engineering, or business.
2. MBA, JD, PhD, or MD.
3. All three components of #2 in Minimum Acceptable Qualifications.
4. Experience with academic startup company formation.
5. Proven track record for raising capital for early stage companies.
6. Successful exit(s) from startup or technology companies including IPO or acquisition.
7. Experience with successful IND submission.
(9/11/15)
doc_323989703.pdf