Technology Commercialization and Entrepreneurship:
Essential Tools for the New Entrepreneur

This course addresses the innovative transformation of knowledge into new commercial products and services. The course begins with a rigorous study of intellectual property, licensing and the core aspects of planning, creating, funding and building new entrepreneurial ventures. Concepts and tools are presented for assessing new technologies and their potential to be the basis for a new entrepreneurial venture.  Comparisons will be made of how technologies can be sourced and commercialized out of three very different environments: universities, national laboratories and corporate laboratories.  Cross-disciplinary teams of students will be formed which will evaluate real technologies and their potential for transformation into a start-up company.  Students may bring their own technology ideas to the class for assessment.  Each class there will be a case study which will discuss examples of both success and failure in technology commercialization.  Many of these case studies examine Boston University spin-out companies, and the founders and CEO's of these ventures will share their experiences with the class.

The course is listed in a number of schools of the University and attracts a diverse mix of students including MBA students, law school students, scientists, engineers and clinicians.  This diversity of interest adds significantly to the learning experience.

NOTE: This course meets at the School of Management and will be treated as a non-law course on the law transcript. The course and grade will appear on the transcript, however the grade is not factored into the law g.p.a.