Job Opportunity: New Ventures Officer, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
The New Ventures Officer is part of the Center for Technology Transfer and Commercialization (CTTC) at Vanderbilt University and is a key individual contributor responsible for working closely with and in support of the Director, Economic and New Venture Development, and other center employees in their efforts to develop and implement commercialization strategies involving company formation for promising technologies, as well as research and development relationships with the local business community and with industry sectors internationally. Such efforts may include developing commercial and research relationships with existing companies as well as with start-up and young companies.
The Vanderbilt Center for Technology Transfer and Commercialization’s mission is to provide professional commercialization services to the Vanderbilt community, thus optimizing the flow of innovation to the marketplace and generating revenue that supports future research activities, while having a positive impact on society.
We accomplish this by serving as an efficient and effective conduit for the transfer of promising intellectual property to industry; contributing to regional economic development by licensing locally and supporting new venture creation; and encouraging greater translational research collaborations between academia and industry.
Duties and Responsibilities
Project Management
- Participate in the planning and initiation of industry engagement activities in support of the overall mission to promote more industry interaction and funding of Vanderbilt research programs and startups.
- Track progress of start-up companies and young companies developing Vanderbilt technologies, from pre-formation to scale up.
- Work with startup companies to promote their growth and success by helping them to develop business plans, pitch decks, and financial models, and connect with appropriate investors and establish collaborative relationship with research funders.
- Help maintain and grow database of regional and national capital investment network partners.
- Partner with other Vanderbilt units to leverage alumni networks for support of Vanderbilt new venture activities.
- Support development of commercialization grant applications and Small Business Innovation Research grants.
- Assist with management of Vanderbilt’s translational research fund.
Evaluation of Business Concepts
- Perform market assessments of new technologies to determine potential size of commercial impact, competing products, business models, types and names of potential licensees, suitability for a startup company, strategic partners and investors, and contacts within such partners in preparation for active marketing and development of the technology.
- Perform due diligence on promising technologies and business concepts.
- Prepare summaries and marketing materials for each new technology and start-up opportunity, as appropriate; develop pitch decks and financial models; post marketing materials to CTTC website; update and maintain such marketing materials.
- Active marketing – actively reach out to potential strategic partners to establish contacts and initiate discussions regarding Vanderbilt technology, IP, and research collaboration opportunities; record interactions with industry and with investors; continue to update list of potential industry partners and investor contacts.
- Assist Vanderbilt-affiliated start-up and early-stage companies in seeking and securing capital investment.
- Negotiate equity-related documents related to Vanderbilt equity ownership in licensees and other Vanderbilt-affiliated companies (including stock agreements, warrant agreements, convertible notes, SAFEs, investor term sheets, and liquidation agreements).
Education and Outreach/Inreach
- Inreach to Vanderbilt faculty, staff, and students to raise awareness of CTTC’s functions and services, particularly as relates to entrepreneurship and new venture support. Support innovation and entrepreneurship on campus and in the local community.
- Outreach to industry, TTO colleagues and the general public to raise awareness of CTTC’s accomplishments, practices, technologies available for licensing and venture investment and other communications and written materials.
- Participate in educational activities on campus, including departmental talks; provide guidance and education to inventors, sponsored research administration, upper administration; host talks by external subject matter experts; educate Vanderbilt constituents on issues related to IP, innovation management and entrepreneurship.
- Participate in various university, regional and national groups promoting economic and community development, new venture creation and industry engagement.
- Assist in the preparation of reports for Vanderbilt leadership and for regional and state economic development stakeholders summarizing Vanderbilt efforts in support for entrepreneurship and new venture activities.
Support of Other Transactions
- Become familiar with research contracting documents and procedures and support CTTC licensing officers’ and directors’ efforts to review intellectual property and other terms as requested by internal research support groups and provide timely responses.
Qualifications
- A Master’s degree in science or engineering from an accredited institution of higher education is necessary.
- A Ph.D. in science or engineering from an accredited institution of higher education or equivalent work experience is preferred.
- An MBA from an accredited institution of higher education or equivalent work experience is preferred.
- At least two years of experience working (i) with a new or early-stage company and/or (ii) in a new venture development support position in a university, a national lab, or in industry, whether through internship, training program, or otherwise is preferred.
- Familiarity with US Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Commission and their entrepreneurship grant programs is preferred.
- Experience with various capital investment vehicles used with academic-related start-up companies is preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to review and discern scientific literature and be conversant with research programs and research efforts of faculty are necessary.
- Excellent writing and verbal communication, project management, conceptual, and analytical skills are necessary.
- An ability to work effectively and productively as a member of a team and with senior management is necessary.
- Ability to promote a positive culture of support and compliance with internal and external regulatory requirements is necessary.
- Ability to prioritize and multi-task in a collaborative, fast-paced environment is necessary.
Significant experience working with not-for-profit postsecondary institutions is preferred.