Congratulations on taking this exciting step!  UConn fully supports faculty members, students, and graduate students who want to commercialize technology and start companies. While it is not easy to be successful in these endeavors, UConn provides resources that can help.  For example, we evaluate all faculty invention disclosures and invest in patents, research the market opportunity, seek to identify business partners and investors, among many other things. 

If you want to start a company, you will most likely need to obtain approvals for certain activities.  Here are the key approvals (not all of which apply in every case):

Licensing UConn Technology

Many start-up companies will seek to license intellectual property controlled by the University that was invented in a faculty member’s lab.  Ideally, each start-up company will have a CEO, business advisor, or lawyer who can negotiate this license on behalf of the company.  Your company will generally work with one of our Directors to negotiate this license.

Consulting

If you will be working on your company, either as a paid consultant or an unpaid advisor, you must seek prior approval.  You will be asked to describe the work and the time commitment.  Click here for more information.

Owning Equity

Faculty members and graduate students are allowed to own equity in start-up companies.  Ownership should be disclosed when seeking consulting approval and when filing any financial conflict of interest documents.  Financial conflict of interest policies can be found here.

Hiring Students or Graduate Students

If you intend to hire UConn students or graduate students to work at the company, you will need to get approval from your department chair and enter into an agreement with the student setting forth the role, hours, salary and any other key terms.  International students on a visa must consult with the International Students Office, and may not be able to work at the company.  The relevant UConn policy can be found here.

Use of UConn Facilities and Research

If your company wishes to use UConn facilities or conduct research in your UConn lab, you must first enter into an agreement with UConn and pay for the use of such facilities or such research.  A faculty member may not use UConn facilities to benefit the start-up company without such an agreement.

Acquiring Incubator Space and Services

Some faculty members may wish to rent lab and office space, at TCS’ incubator and take advantage of business services and University facilities. Companies apply to join the incubator as part of a competitive process.  Learn more about our incubator services and facilities.

Competing with UConn

Faculty members are reminded that a start-up company should not compete with UConn for sponsored research projects. For example, a faculty start-up should not apply for basic research funding if the faculty member would normally conduct such research in her lab at UConn.

 

This is a summary of our key policies and requirements.  We recommend that you schedule a time with a representative of the Technology Commercialization Services (Gloria Kolb) to discuss your particular situation. Gloria can offer practical advice and engage with our Legal Counsel should any legal issues relating to the above requirements be a concern.