Building Global Micro-Multinationals

“Born Global Entrepreneurs” reach across geographies, industries, markets and disciplines; breaking through social, and cultural barriers to launch new businesses on new platforms on a global scale. While every successful enterprise still begins with a single thought in someone’s mind; today, that visionary can be anyone, anywhere.”

Never before have the challenges entrepreneurs face been so complex, requiring new thinking skills and ways of operating in every aspect of the business. Today, it is not enough to simply “do good science”.  New ventures must create and manage a global network of collaborative academic, public and private sector partnerships to accelerate research, development and delivery of new and innovative products.  This effort requires new skills in entrepreneurship and technology commercialization, along with an understanding of international intellectual property law and management, regulatory compliance and capital formation and an appreciation for the context of equity and ethics.

Key issues for entrepreneurs are establishing intellectual property and enterprise valuations, communicating the business case, to and negotiating strategic alliances and investment terms. The “born global” entrepreneur appreciates and embraces the value added by international collaborations in accelerating the pace of innovation in today’s global economy. Cities, states, regions, and countries around the world recognize the critical role that entrepreneurship and new venture formation play in economic development planning.

Likewise, angels and institutional investors in early stage, startups must become increasingly sophisticated in their approach to investing in these globally-oriented startups. To deal with the complexity, early stage equity investors need to develop new approaches for evaluation intellectual property, new evaluation criteria for investment opportunities, a global perspective on deal structure and terms and an understanding of how to govern and add value in the globalized context.  The international program at ITEC offers a unique opportunity to explore the world of entrepreneurship without borders and provides a portal to access the United States as a market for your products.

Award Winning International Programs

softLanding_smallestIn 2008, the National Business Incubation Association awarded a Soft Landings designation to the Boston University Business Incubators at BioSquare on the Medical Campus and the Charles River Campus, and ITEC.  ITEC provides a comprehensive portfolio of customized facilities, services, and educational opportunities designed to prepare global entrepreneurs and their companies for rapid, efficient, and target market entry. ITEC helps you create a sustainable new venture in the heart of the vibrant Boston community, which is one of the world’s biomedical hubs.

Working with companies, science parks, universities, foundations, and government agencies, the ITEC team provides full range of on-site, on-line, and on-campus workshops, seminars, courses, and certification programs dedicated to the specific needs of global companies, including intellectual property creation and management, technology transfer, regulatory approvals, new venture formation, and alternative funding sources.

The Boston University International Incubator Program, blending academics with business development, won the National Business Incubation Association’s Soft Landings designation in 2008. The 2-year NBIA Soft Landings International Incubator designation recognizes those especially capable at helping overseas companies enter the domestic market. BU was selected because of its business services and academic offerings, and proven success in helping firms enter the U.S. market.

ITEC is the education and training arm of the BU soft landings program and provides the following services to international companies:

  • Assist early stage and established international technology companies in preparing for a successful launch of their products and services in the United States.
  • Create educational and training opportunities on an international scale for a new generation of entrepreneurs to develop the mindset and skills that will help them succeed in the global market place.
  • Assist companies who have a well-developed business plan and the necessary resources to expand beyond their own market through the creation of affiliate and subsidiary companies in the University’s incubator system.
  • Facilitate strong interactions between international companies and Boston’s extraordinary business and research community, entrepreneurial ecosystem and its investment and financial institutions.

The Boston University incubator system has provided facilities and support for new ventures for more than a decade and has welcomed international entrepreneurs and enterprises since its inception. The Boston University Business Incubator at the Charles River Campus has over 20,000 square feet of office and laboratory space, and the BioSquare Discovery and Innovation Center has over 12,500 square feet of office and laboratory space.