Practice Areas

University Startups

Practice Description

Obtaining a license from a technology transfer office is often the first step for our clients and we offer the expertise to assist in the technology transfer process. We understand the difference between academic and commercial environments, and can guide the academic entrepreneur through unfamiliar territory.

We have extensive experience in university technology transfer, having represented technology startup companies spun out of university research laboratories, individual scientists/entrepreneurs, outside businesses licensing university patents and companies entering into sponsored research agreements with universities.

In addition to providing top-notch legal services, we provide feedback on business plans and access to an extensive network of investors and other useful contacts.

University Startup Engagements

Caltech

Client Inventor/Technology Comments
AquaNano Mamadou Diallo, Ph.D. (Caltech) / Nanopolymer enhanced water filtration Pilot stage system; received $1.1 million in angel funding; management team with NYSE-listed company experience; awarded first patent August 2008
Fastsoft Prof. Steven Low / Internet transmission acceleration software Rapid internet download software; product on market; Series A funding from angels and Miramar Ventures, venture loan from Silicon Valley Bank
GlassiMetal William Johnson and Marios Demetriou Negotiation of license agreement and strategic partnership
Gevo Prof. Frances Arnold / Genetic engineering of organisms for efficient production of biofuels Series A from Khosla Ventures 2005; Series B from Virgin Fuels 2007; IP licensed from UCLA and University of Illinois in addition to original Caltech license
Phasebridge Ronald T. Logan, Jr., Ph.D. / hybrid fiber optical networking modules Series A and B funding from Clearstone Ventures, Intel Capital, TriQuint Semiconductor; sold to Emcore Corporation in 2005
Prof. Alain Martin / Situs Logic Prof. Alain Martin / asynchronous semiconductor chips World leading academic lab in asynchronous chips and related software tools; financed by Air Force grant
Protabit, LLC Stephen L. Mayo
Barry D. Olafson
Benjamin D. Allen /
Computational protein design software
Monsanto investment; licenses from Caltech and Duke

Harvard University

Client Inventor/Technology Comments
C&C BioPharma Xiojiang Chen Entity Formation, University License and Financing

Princeton Univeristy

Client Inventor/Technology Comments
Sharing Mart Mung Chiang, Harold V. Poor, Hazer Inaltekin / Virtual currency-based content sharing internet marketplace Current version in use at Princeton’s School of Engineering and Applied Science.

UCLA

Client Inventor/Technology Comments
Abraxis Bioscience Various Abraxis BioScience was a fully integrated global biotechnology company that has since been acquired by Celgene Corporation.
Colloidia Prof. Thomas Mason / Colloids Pre-seed stage
George Gruner / Amperics Prof. George Gruner Pre-seed stage
Librede, Inc. Prof. Jacob Schmidt / Bioengineering – storable lipid bilayers for ion channel measurements Pre-seed stage
PolyCera Richard Kaner and Eric Hoek Entity Formation, Series A Financing Negotiations
PhosphoThera-
-Peutics, LLC
Nunzio Bottini / Protein tyrosine phosphatase assays Organization and USC License
Unidym Prof. George Gruner / Transparent conductive materials Acquired by Arrowhead Research Corporation
Water Planet Eric Hoek Entity Formation, UCLA License Option

USC Stevens

Client Inventor/Technology Comments
PhosphoTheraPeutics, LLC Nunzio Bottini / Protein tyrosine phosphatase assays Organization and USC License

Vanderbilt

Client Inventor/Technology Comments
Diatech Oncology Assay for determining effectiveness of cancer drug for a particular patient / cancer Angel funded

For more information, Contact Us at info@rothmanandcompany.com