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• Craig B. Arnold, Princeton University
• Christina Pellicane, Princeton University

What does it take to translate deep tech into business value? Step into the shoes of a serial entrepreneur turned world renowned VC to learn the company building blueprint that takes academia originated tech from emerging to enduring. 

• Carmichael Roberts, Material Impact
• Elyse Winer, Material Impact
   

Fireside chat (begins at 16:10)

One of the key goals of many entrepreneurship centers is to help their faculty and students take their ideas and research and create startups companies in order to maximize the impact to society. This panel will include three of the top entrepreneurship center directors who excel at educating and supporting individuals from their university who have entrepreneurial interests and want to launch companies.

We will look at the processes and programs developed and adopted at these three universities and share ideas that be adapted at other universities to enhance their innovation, commercialization and entrepreneurship programs. We will share not only best practices and lessons learned that have worked for these universities but also discuss the learnings from obstacles that were encountered. The panel will show models for integrating curricular, co-curricular, and experiential programs.

We will also look at outcomes and measurement. What should your objectives be and how should you measure the outcomes? This will be fast-paced discussion to promote ideas that can be used at other campuses and share learnings from how to overcome the challenges along the way.

• Hayes Ferguson, Northwestern University
• Anne Perigo, University of Michigan
• Dave Mawhinney, Carnegie Mellon University

Moderated by Brad Burke, Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers (GCEC)

Panel discussion

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Innovation and related research initiatives will continue to be an important ingredient to the future success of the country as a driver of economic growth, national security, and the health and wellbeing of all citizens. Scientific progress relies on problem solving and collaboration. Groups composed of people with diverse experiences and areas of expertise tend to be more creative and innovative. A robust and flexible innovation and research infrastructure and ecosystem that ensures that all innovators are able to participate can sustain and grow the invention to innovation pipeline. In order to bring new ideas and innovations to the market and fuel economic development, everyone needs to be able to contribute. To achieve these outcomes, intentional increased and targeted outreach to female and minority-researchers, entrepreneurs and communities that have historically had limited participation in the innovation economy is necessary. Join the discussion with thought leaders and champions for innovation to learn about increasing diversity, equity and inclusion in research, innovation and commercialization. This session provides an opportunity to raise awareness and galvanize collective efforts for identifying strategies to improve DEI in the research and innovation process from K-12 through post doc and beyond.

• Latane Brackett, National GEM Consortium
• Arturo Dominguez, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
• Treena Livingston-Arinzeh, Columbia University
• Chad Womack, UNCF

Moderated by Judith Sheft, New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology

Panel discussion

What types of non-dilutive capital are available to finance my research-based startup? How can my startup team sharpen our product design without a costly accelerator program? How can I find government customers for our technologies? This panel will answer these and similar questions regarding multiple federal programs and resources designed to bring startups and technologies to market.

• Kirk J. Macolini, InteliSpark
• Matt Merighi, National Security Innovation Network, U.S. Department of Defense
• Graciela Narcho, National Science Foundation
• Maggie Yancey, National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Moderated by Spencer Reynolds, National Security Innovation Network, U.S. Department of Defense

Panel discussion

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Each of the five presenting founders recently participated in the Northeast I-Corps Hub program. Each realized the benefits of the program and grew their appreciation of testing their technology’s potential in the solving customers’ problems. 

But, that’s the extent of the similarities among the five new startups. The I-Corps Showcase will introduce you to five fabulous founders (or founding teams) with broadly diverse backgrounds and earning degrees and conducting research at five different colleges and universities across the Northeast. Moreover, the presenters will share the vision inspiring them that spans a range of technologies across various sectors, including:

• Allive (Tendie Muzorewa / Drexel University) - digital health solutions for chronic illnesses 
• Elemeat (Skye Chang / Rowan University) - novel bioreactor technology for alternative meat production
• Smart Biopsy (Sharad Acharya, Trevi Galemmo / Temple University) - smart biopsy needles that enhance targeting of tissue to be analyzed
• Sóliome (Micah Nelp / Princeton University) - new, sustainable ingredients for sunscreen-based products
• Zena Therapeutics (Ariane Vasilatis / Rutgers University) - advanced drugs for alcohol/substance abuse and anxiety disorders

A feedback panel of experienced professionals from venture capital and university innovation ecosystems will pose questions of each presenter. At the conclusion, the audience will vote for the startup with the greatest potential for societal impact and market success:

• Shintaro Kaido, Drexel University
• Mark Poag, Fitz Gate Ventures
• Talmesha Richards, The National GEM Consortium

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Universities support dynamic innovation ecosystems. A relatively new ecosystem of entrepreneurial fellowships has sprung up to help people who want to take their academic expertise and leverage it to create scalable and impactful startup companies and non-profits.

These competitive fellowships bring money, education and mentorship to help founders take their idea and expertise to start a successful venture.

Panelists will share the details of their programs which support innovators across the academic spectrum, as well as their advice for people who want to explore entrepreneurship as a career path.

• Meghan Bader, Breakthrough Energy Fellows
• Andrew Chang, Activate
• Leslie Rowley, Princeton University
• Susan Schofer, HAX

Moderated by Lauren Bender, Princeton University

Panel discussion

State and municipal governments can be key catalysts in the support and buildout of entrepreneurial ecosystems. Join leaders from states around the country to discuss their efforts and successes in supporting startup communities.

• Stephen Auvil, Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO)
• Lindsey Cox, LaunchTN
• Matthew McCooe, Connecticut Innovations
• Neela Mollgaard, Launch Minnesota, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development

Moderated by Noah Olson, Delaware Prosperity Partnership

Panel discussion

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The Gitai lab has developed approaches that enable discovery of new drugs with novel mechanisms of action and are using these methods to discover new antibiotics that our society desperately needs.

• Zemer Gitai, Princeton University

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This lightning talk will provide an overview of the challenges facing Black-owned businesses and the ways in which entrepreneurs and investors are overcoming those challenges through various means.

• Garry Johnson III, Bison Venture Partners

Lightning talk

This lightning talk will address some of the legal challenges entrepreneurs and innovators face when starting a company, and discuss ways to navigate the “legal landmines.”

• Jared Sorin, Brown Rudnick LLP

Lightning talk

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As faculty and students become more inspired to spin companies out of university laboratories, Technology Transfer Offices have been tasked with adapting to support their evolving needs. Through an insightful discussion, this panel will explore the challenges TTOs have faced, and the innovative methods they have implemented, in working towards this goal.

• Almesha Campbell, Jackson State University
• Orin Herskowitz, Columbia University
• Bhavana Mohanraj, University of Pennsylvania

Moderated by Cortney Cavanaugh, Princeton University

Panel discussion

This session will cover: 1) recurring startup failure patterns and how to avoid them; and 2) how entrepreneurs can fail in ways that facilitate learning and leave their relationships and integrity intact.

• Tom Eisenmann, Harvard Business School

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Academic scientists play a central role in the production and translation of breakthrough scientific inventions through the formation of university spin-offs. Well-endowed science-based ventures, attracting resources and advancing novel capabilities, can rapidly respond to pressing global health, climate, and humanitarian crises. Academic scientists who develop entrepreneurial capabilities can make early, strategic, path dependent decisions to create well-endowed science-based ventures. Join this talk to learn about five entrepreneurial capabilities you can develop which will increase the likelihood of successful commercialization of your research:

• technology-market matching
• claiming and protecting your invention
• attracting and mentoring your founding team
• strategic timing
• changing traditional risk-reward patterns

• Elicia Maine, Simon Fraser University

Lightning talk

While the tech sector has witnessed a drastic pullback in venture funding, climatetech is a different story. Early stage investment across the clean energy ecosystem remains incredibly active with a record $26.8B in venture funding for the first half of 2022 through 968+ deals. As the Inflation Reduction Act moves towards implementation, what are investors looking for? As a Founder, how should you be thinking about unit economics, customer traction, and measuring your environmental impact?

• Micah Kotch, Blackhorn Ventures

Lightning talk

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This will be a broad-based discussion about mentoring, including what it takes to be a great mentor, how to find yourself great mentors and how to set up strong mentoring programs.

• Dahlia Joseph, Village Capital
• Banu Ozkazanc-Pan, Brown University
• Donald Shobrys, MIT
• Nancy Wolff, Techstars

Moderated by Anne-Marie Maman, Princeton University

Panel discussion

Taking an idea (or research) and transforming it into a disruptive solution on the market is a challenging task. The panelists will share their personal journeys and the lessons learned in customer discovery, fundraising, and building successful companies.

• Timothy Grotjohn, Great Lakes Crystal Technologies
• Ben Sorkin, Flux Marine
• Emily Stern, Ceretype Neuromedicine

Moderated by Robert Wolk, Catalytic Impact Foundation

Panel discussion

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Prof. Craig Arnold will share his vision for Princeton Innovation.

• Craig B. Arnold, Princeton University
• Christian Theriault, Material Impact

• Christina Pellicane, Princeton University