UMBC: ACTiVATE

®

What is ACTiVATE®?

ACTiVATE® is a systematic model for increasing the commercialization of technology innovations from research institutions in the State of Maryland by training women entrepreneurs to create technology-based, start-up companies.

Why is the program needed?

The Maryland business community needs more well-trained, experienced entrepreneurs.

Universities in Maryland spend about $1.5 Billion in research annually; and Maryland was ranked 10th in the nation in 2000. However, Maryland ranked 29th nationally in the same year for the number of start-up companies created based on technology innovations arising out of this research.

Universities in Maryland generate an average of 500 invention disclosures each year. From these disclosures, only 12 start-up companies on average are formed per year. To solve this growing problem, ACTiVATE® aims to attract experienced entrepreneurs from other states and develop entrepreneurs from Maryland's talent pool.

What is the training approach?

It is widely known that experience is a critical factor for the success of new ventures. ACTiVATE® will provide the necessary experience in two ways: through an experience-by-doing approach to training, using real technologies from Maryland's research institutions, and by providing experienced entrepreneurs-in-residence and mentors to the trainees as coaches.

What is the program?

Phase I: Opportunity Analysis (Approx. 16-20 weeks)

Two-person, multi-disciplinary (technical/business) teams will be formed and assigned a technology for the purpose of analyzing the potential business opportunity.

Projects will be coupled with a rigid entrepreneurial curriculum and the support of Entrepreneurs in Residence and other mentors.

Each team will complete Phase I by pitching their opportunity to a review committee. The best will be selected for Phase II.

Phase II: Business Development (Approx. 16-20 weeks)

Business plans will be developed for the selected technologies representing the best business opportunities.

Larger teams will be formed around each opportunity and an Entrepreneur in Residence will be assigned to each project team.

Phase II will end with a presentation to a review committee. The best business plans will be selected for Phase III.

Phase III: Commercialization

For selected business plans, proposals will be developed for TEDCO's MTTF program and other funding resources will be sought.

Subject to available funding, a corporation will be formed and the necessary license agreements will be negotiated.

The new company can enter techcenter@UMBC's Affiliates program and Entrepreneurs in Residence will continue to work with the new company.

ACTiVATE® Program Expansion Efforts

In an effort to fulfill the original vision for the ACTiVATE® program, which was to develop a program that could be duplicated in other regions and for other groups (other than women) underrepresented in entrepreneurship, UMBC is undergoing an effort to expand the program. Currently, the following efforts are active:

ACTiVATE® at Austin

ACTiVATE® at Austin will be a program focused on mid-career women in a new region. Austin, Texas is a vibrant area with many opportunities for entrepreneurs and it is an ideal location for an expansion of the ACTiVATE® model. This effort is being led by Terry Hazell, an experienced entrepreneur and a former instructor of the original ACTiVATE® program in Maryland.

Anyone interested in supporting or participating in this program can contact Terry Hazell or Stephen Auvil for more information:

Terry Hazell
Texas State University - San Marcos

Office: 512-245-6038
E-mail: ACTiVATE@txstate.edu

Stephen Auvil
University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Office: 410-455-3481
E-mail: auvil@umbc.edu

ACTiVATE at Texas State Website
ACTiVATE at Texas State Flyer
ACTiVATE at Texas State Postcard

ACTiVATE® at the NIH

An ACTiVATE® at the NIH has been conceived as a program located in Montgomery County, Maryland targeting postdoctoral fellows in their last year at the NIH. A proposal to fund this program has been submitted to the National Science Foundation (NSF) and is currently pending. The proposed program involves a partnership between UMBC, Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School, Montgomery College, Rockville Economic Development (REDI), and Montgomery County Department of Economic Development. The program, if funded, will be useful for postdocs that are interested in commercializing technologies from their laboratories or pursuing industry careers in small businesses.

Anyone interested in supporting or participating in this program can contact Stephen Auvil for more information:

Stephen Auvil
University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)

Office: 410-455-3481
E-mail: auvil@umbc.edu

The efforts to expand the ACTiVATE® program are supported in part by a grant from the Kauffman Foundation.

To learn about ACTiVATE®

Contact Nan Sherman
nan@umbc.edu or (443) 543-5594

Click here for directions to techcenter@UMBC
http://www.bwtechumbc.com/directions.php