How UW Milwaukee Turns Research Into Startups - Jessica Silvaggi, UWM Research Foundation скачать в хорошем качестве

How UW Milwaukee Turns Research Into Startups - Jessica Silvaggi, UWM Research Foundation

From bacterial genetics to battery technology, this episode explores how university research becomes real-world products and startups. Jessica Silvaggi leads the UW Milwaukee Research Foundation, where her team has supported 27 startups and deployed over $6 million in early-stage catalyst grants. Those grants have generated nearly $8 in follow-on funding for every dollar invested. But Jessica is also candid about the gaps. Wisconsin needs more entrepreneurs willing to commercialize university technologies, more early-stage capital that doesn't wait for traction, and better systems for matching technical founders with business operators. We cover the full journey from invention disclosure to startup launch, including the programs that support founders along the way. Segments: 00:00 Introduction 01:45 What the UW Milwaukee Research Foundation does 04:30 Types of inventions coming from the university 07:15 Reaching students and faculty who don't know they have inventions 09:45 The Catalyst Grant: 18 years of seed funding 13:20 Bridge Grant and Panther Partnering programs 17:00 Express licensing for startups 18:45 The upcoming Panther Leap venture fund 21:30 Jessica's journey from Harvard PhD to tech transfer 26:00 Why inventors become entrepreneurs by default 29:15 Connecting external entrepreneurs with university tech 32:40 Working with corporate innovation teams 35:20 What would make the biggest impact with unlimited resources 39:00 Startup Highlights 43:30 Milwaukee's evolving startup ecosystem 46:15 Gaps that still need attention 49:00 Building stronger founding teams 52:30 The case for fractional executives 55:00 Final startup spotlights and how to connect Funding Questions Discussed How do university startups get their first funding? What is a catalyst grant and how does it work? Why is it so hard to get early-stage funding in Wisconsin? What's the difference between philanthropic and investment funding for startups? How much does it cost to develop a university invention? Founder & Team Questions Discussed Why do professors end up running their own startups? How do I find a business co-founder for my research? What is a fractional executive and should my startup use one? How do I build a founding team investors will trust? Can students commercialize their own inventions? Tech Transfer Questions Discussed What does a tech transfer office actually do? How do I know if my research is patentable? What is express licensing for university startups? How do companies partner with universities on research? What is Panther Partnering? Wisconsin Ecosystem Questions Discussed What's the startup scene like in Milwaukee? Why are Wisconsin investors more conservative? How can I get involved with university startups in Wisconsin? What mentorship programs exist for Wisconsin startups? How can corporations work with UW Milwaukee on innovation? Career & Involvement Questions Discussed How do I become a mentor for university startups? What background do you need for tech transfer? How can entrepreneurs find university technologies to commercialize? How do I connect with the UW Milwaukee Research Foundation? 🔻 Connect With Us 🔻 Subscribe to the Startup Wisconsin Newsletter Events Pitch Contests Accelerator Programs Wisconsin Tech News → https://www.startupwi.org/ Upcoming Events (400+ every year) https://www.startupwi.org/events Follow us on LinkedIn   / startup-wisconsin   Interested in being a guest? Reach out! jacob@startupwi.org Startup Wisconsin is the statewide hub for founders, investors, operators, and innovators. We're on a mission to connect and grow Wisconsin's tech and startup ecosystem. Since 2017, our mission has been to connect, educate, inspire, and grow tech and startup communities across Wisconsin. Helping people find events, resources, capital, and each other. This podcast is part of that vision, creating deeper connections and sharing the knowledge that helps Wisconsin's startup ecosystem thrive.