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Ultimately, the success of the venture depends on the enthusiasm of the inventor. However, the tech transfer office plays a big role; a skilled, hard-working expert can be a huge advantage.

Never let an opportunity to talk to a potential investor go by.

The majority of those working in academic tech transfer have come from a background in scientific research, so there is a need for professional training in technology transfer.

My academic CV, which went on and on about kinetics, fluorescence, and other things that would have sent someone outside my field running, was thrown in the fire, and I started thinking hard about what transferable skills I had gained during my time in academia.

"I used this event to get an idea of how academics should present their ideas to business groups--for example, the need to provide an exit strategy for investors so they can see where and when they will get their money back," says Jonathan Styles.