STARTUP SERIES.

Are you thinking of founding a company based upon that big idea, invention, or discovery?

Have you already started a company, but would like to make certain you are as prepared as you can be.

The Startup Series is for you.

The Startup Series will provide you with a background in and some experience with “the nuts and bolts” of starting, funding, and managing a scalable company.

Sessions will be interactive, grounded in real world scenarios, and cover topics include incorporation, intellectual property, staging risk, fundraising, and more.

When: DATES
Time: TIMES
Where: 434. 225 E Main Street, on the Downtown Mall
Parking: FREE

APPLY HERE

SCHEDULE

Anatomy of a Startup?

What makes a great Startup? Let's consider what the ingredients of a startup pitch tell us about the ingredients of a compelling startup.

PLEASE READ OR WATCH

Chen, J. A warm embrace that saves lives. (video)
http://www.ted.com/talks/jane_chen_a_warm_embrace_that_saves_lives

David Touve, "The Startup Pitch," STRTP.com

Incorporation

C Corporation, LLC, Sole Proprietor, Non Profit versus For Profit — how are these types of incorporation different, and why form a company in the first place? During today's session, we will outline and discuss the different types of incorporation, while our guest attorney will answer your questions along the way.

PLEASE READ OR WATCH

"Choosing a Business Structure," United Stated Small Business Administration.

Starting Up & Staging Risk

How does a company "start" and how does ownership take shape for the founders? How do founders and investors “tease out” the risk/uncertainties along the way, and how do their respective ownership stakes change? The early history of the relationship between Genentech and VC Kleiner Perkins will provide the story supporting our discussion.

PLEASE READ OR WATCH

G. Felda Hardymon & Tom Nicholas, "Kleiner-Perkins and Genentech: When Venture Capital Met Science," Harvard Business School Publishing, 27 October 2012. (provided for you)

Founding Teams and Functioning

Our job for today's discussion is to gain some insight into the challenges that can emerge among founding teams as they attempt to agree—at the birth of the company—upon key issues such as: (1) roles & responsibilities, (2) respective ownership interests in the company, and (3) decision-making if times get tough—such as, if one of the founders leaves the company. Our guest star will be AManda Pollard from Wilson Sonsini.

PLEASE READ OR WATCH

David Touve, "Founders Dilemma," STRTP.com

Intellectual Property Primer

Today we will discuss the key differences among Copyrights, Trademarks, and Patents alongside a deeper dive into what can (or likely cannot) be patented. Our guests from the UVA Licensing and Ventures Group will help us make sense of the issues.

PLEASE READ OR WATCH

"Trademark, Patent, or Copyright," United States Patent and Trademark Office.

"Patent Essentials," United States Patent and Trademark Office.

The Patent Process

So you wanna patent something, do ya! Managing expectations, the patent process can take years to navigate with a range of decision points along the way. Let's discuss, and bring in some experts. Our guest star for the day will be Nathan Evans from Woods Rogers.

PLEASE READ OR WATCH

"Patent Process Overview," United States Patent and Trademark Office.

The Funding Landscape

What are the differences among angel investors, seed funds, venture capitalists? Not to mention, what different types of capital can these individuals and organizations provide? How might the funding landscape for the "Tech" be different from that for other startup companies?

PLEASE READ OR WATCH

"Types of Startup Investors," Carta.com