Technology Entrepreneurship Program
Business, law, and graduate students interested in technology and entrepreneurship evaluate, develop, and launch hi-tech start-up businesses.
The Technology Entrepreneurship program is a collaborative effort between the University of Oregon business and law schools, the UO Office of Technology Transfer and Pacific Northwest National Laboratories of Richland, Washington, operated by Battelle for the U.S. Department of Energy. Law Professor Barbara Aldave and Small Business Clinic Director Katherine Moyer lead the law school contingent.
TEP Fellows are supported financially over the summer, receiving a total stipend comparable to internships offered by major corporate employers. Compensation is project based with milestone and project deliverable timetables. In order to gain the full value of TEP, Fellows are strongly encouraged to consider following up the summer program with New Venture Planning (MGMT 625) in the Fall Term and Venture Launch Pathway (MGMT 610) in the Winter/Spring Terms.
Applying for the TEP team
In February, first and second-year law students, UO and Oregon State University MBA and graduate students apply for interdisciplinary TEP teams. Five or six law students are selected in March for the paid fellowship.
Law students contribute a legal approach to problem solving to the team plus intellectual property and business law expertise.
They are chosen for their enthusiasm and commitment as shown during an interview with the director of the Center for Law and Entrepreneurship. A science or technology background is also a plus.
Email for informationClick here for application information
Working with the team
Supported by advisers with experience in technology commercialization, each four-member student team screens patented technologies invented by top research scientists from UO, OSU, PSU, OHSU, and Battelle.
Between June and September, the teams explore these issues:
- market opportunity
- competitor analysis
- marketing and sales strategies
- business models
- intellectual property evaluation and protection
- value proposition
- financial models
- exit strategies
At the end of the summer, each team gives an oral and written assessment of their technology's potential to an audience of venture capitalists, corporate leaders, academics, and economic development agencies.
Students are highly encouraged to enroll in the business school's New Venture Planning class during fall term. Teams with promising technologies go on to present business plans at "Venture Quest," the Lundquist Center for Entrepreneurship's internal business plan competition.
The most successful teams continue onto Venture Launch (MGMT 610), External Business Plan Competitions in the spring. These highly developed TEP teams present their business plans to bona fide venture capitalists, investors, and entrepreneurs. TEP fellows have participated in competitions throughout the United States, Canada, and Asia.
