Helge Seetzen – Page 5 – Helge Seetzen

IP & Tech Transfer

Why ‘First-to-File’ works for University Inventors

There have been mixed reactions to the new America Invents Act. While the bill may be far from perfect, some of the concerns U.S. universities have had over the change to a First-to-File system are overstated in my opinion. Some are claiming that the conversion from First-to-Invent to First-to-File...

October 12, 2011July 7, 2017

Entrepreneurship

Five Essential Courses for Technology Entrepreneurs

Five Essential Courses for Technology Entrepreneurs Students who are interested in technology entrepreneurship are likely taking plenty of engineering, physical sciences, or computer science courses. But there are a few non-technical courses that I would strongly recommend to anybody aspiring to be an entrepreneur. Even as a technical founder,...

September 27, 2011July 7, 2017

Entrepreneurship

Setting a Meeting on Fire

A few years ago, during my first start-up adventures at Sunnybrook Technologies, a prototype fire taught me two important tech entrepreneur lessons: 1. Good entrepreneurs don’t panic. 2. Adversity is an opportunity, not a problem. We had just finished the first prototype of what would become the world’s first...

September 14, 2011July 4, 2017

Entrepreneurship

5 Guidelines to Evaluate Accelerator Programs

For the last month I had three people independently ask me for advice on selecting (Web2.0) Accelerators. Two of them were student entrepreneurs contemplating their first venture. All where attracted by the Accelerators promise to kick-start their business but a bit confused by the choices between different Accelerator programs. Students, inventors...

September 6, 2011July 4, 2017

Venture Capital

5 Tips for Venture Investing in University Inventions

Investing in university ventures is difficult but worthwhile. The following are a few things to consider when you are negotiating investment deals with universities. All of this comes from my own experience and might not reflect the engagement with your particular university. 1. Know who you are engaging University...

August 25, 2011June 27, 2017

IP & Tech Transfer

Disrupting the University Tech Transfer Space

At TandemLaunch, we invest in multi-media concepts but ultimately we are trying to disrupt the university technology transfer space. I wrote about the benefits of improving this highly inefficient $50billion+ market earlier. It’s big; it’s inefficient; and we believe that it is ripe for disruption. Technology transfer is a...

August 17, 2011July 7, 2017

Diversity , People

Why and How to Introduce Diversity into your Start-up

A few days ago I was at a “high society” party amongst captains of industry, political leaders and artists of renown from around the world (clearly as a “+1” to my spouse…). The crowd had two things in common: cowboy outfits (it was on a ranch), and pale...

August 11, 2011July 7, 2017

Entrepreneurship

MBA or PhD – Picking the right degree as a University Entrepreneur

A lot of undergraduate students ask me whether they should pursue an MBA or a technical PhD as a foundation of their entrepreneurial career. I have pursued both at some point, and frequently meet (and invest in) entrepreneurs with both degrees. Each has advantages but overall I’d recommend a...

August 1, 2011July 13, 2017

Entrepreneurship

5 Strategies for a Successful Entrepreneurial Life

There are many ways to define success. I didn’t start in a mud hut and I am not Bill Gates. Still, the first decade of my entrepreneurial career can, I think, be described as going from a fairly basic start* to success as a technology entrepreneur**. The following five...

July 27, 2011July 13, 2017

Entrepreneurship

Tell Me What You Are Going to Do Tomorrow!

Entrepreneurship has never been easier: Buy Steve Blank’s book on Customer Development; read all of Eric Ries’ posts; reduce your fundraising presentation to the Business Model Canvas; wear a hoodie and pivot like a lean ninja. Success is guaranteed. Not… Creating value from nothing is just as hard as...

June 29, 2011July 10, 2017

Author: Helge Seetzen