Get Familiar with the Process
The UGA Startup program can help you develop your idea into a business. Here’s an overview of what the UGA Startup process looks like.
Startup Commercialization process
Sign up for I-Corps
UGA I-Corps offers a variety of resources to support teams accepted into the program, including an intensive, eight-week Accelerator to help teams make sure their business model actually meets the needs of customers, access to a co-working space, access to a product development and prototyping lab, and up to six months of business and product mentoring.
Sign up for Innovation Bootcamp
Innovation Bootcamp has been developed to deliver tailored training in order to equip attendees with the key skills needed for success in an innovative, entrepreneurial environment.
For more information visit the Innovation Bootcamp website or contact Allyson Hester.
Here are some external local resources that can help your startup.
Legal
The UGA Startup program can assist in the formation of single-member LLC.
For a multi-member LLC or a C-Corp, these local law firms have experience in business formation:
University Related IP
UGA’s Innovation Gateway is a one-stop shop for any UGA-related IP. Please contact them if you are:
- UGA faculty/staff looking to commercialize a product of your research/work
- Planning on working with UGA IP in your startup and need a licensing agreement
- Are an undergraduate student who would like to assign your IP to UGA
Learn more about Innovation Gateway and its services here.
External IP
Below are some law firms that specialize in IP prosecution:
Apply for pro-bono patent services (READ QUALIFICATIONS):
Regulatory
GA CTSA: RegRoadmap
The RegRoadmap service, provided by the Georgia CTSA, offers Georgia faculty investigators expert advice on designing a strategic plan that effectively navigates the FDA regulatory requirements and launches an innovation to market. The RegRoadmap initiative aims to provide investigators with the knowledge and tools necessary to reduce friction with the FDA and increase speed to market.
Developing an effective regulatory strategy is a complex process. To address varying levels of investigator regulatory fluency, the RegRoadmap service offers three-tier regulatory strategy support:
Tier 1: CTSA website page with links to presentations provides general one-size-fits-all info for novice faculty members.
Tier 2: Conversation and several hours of guidance with a regulatory expert who vets projects to determine regulatory “readiness.”
Tier 3: Projects that have been pre-vetted through Tier 2 are eligible for in-depth one-on-one guidance and scholarship to pay for a formal written one-page “Regulatory Assessment.”
To schedule a RegRoadmap consultation, please contact: Maren.Parsell@emory.edu.
Financial
Below are accounting services that have experience working with startups:
Below are banking services that have services geared toward startup companies:
The BizGrants service, provided by the Georgia CTSA, offers Georgia faculty investigators expert peer advice on how to effectively write applications for two types of specialized small business grants offered through the federal government: the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR).
This service is intended to help entrepreneurial investigators who seek advice from fellow faculty who have successfully secured SBIR/STTR funding as they navigate the commercialization path to market.
In addition to expert advice, BizGrants holds an annual RFA to fund two pilot grant awards each worth $20,000. Awardees are required to submit a follow-on SBIR and/or STTR application within one year of receipt of the pilot grant.
Prototyping
Design & Engineering
Below are product development firms that will work with startups, from coming up with a design and creating prototypes to scaling and sourcing for manufacture:
- Slingshot PDG
- Kickr Design
- GCMI – D2 Labs (medical devices)