Webinar Series

Join the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship as we share the various paths innovators can take their technology towards commercialization and implications of each approach, including benefits/challenges and potential outcomes. Innovators will leave the session with a better sense of which path would be more suitable for them based on their needs and their technology.

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Join us for an insightful session on Protecting Your Invention: Invention Disclosure & Intellectual Property. This webinar, hosted by the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, will cover the must-know, introductory details around Invention Disclosure and Intellectual Property, ensuring you have the foundational knowledge to protect your innovative work.

What You’ll Learn:

• When to Submit an Invention Disclosure (ID): Understand the optimal timing for submitting an ID to protect your innovation.
• Why Submit an ID: Learn the critical reasons behind submitting an ID and how it benefits your invention.
• What Can Be Covered by an ID: Discover the types of innovations and intellectual property that can be protected through an ID.

Intellectual Property Considerations: Gain insights into patents, copyrights, and other IP aspects crucial for

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The federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs are a critical source of non-dilutive funding for early-stage companies. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) SBIR and STTR programs provide approximately $200 million annually to U.S. small businesses for developing and commercializing novel cancer technologies. Besides funding, the NCI SBIR Development Center offers various commercialization resources to support small businesses in bringing their products to market.

Join this webinar to learn about:

• An overview of federal SBIR/STTR programs at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) with specifics relating to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the largest NIH Institute.
• Funding opportunities for startups, academic spinout companies, and early-stage academic entrepreneurs (e.g., postdoctoral fellows), such as the NCI SBIR Innovative Concept Award and the Small Business Transition Grant for New Entrepreneurs.
• Tips for writing competitive SBIR/STTR grant proposals.

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As the research landscape continues to evolve, exploring diverse funding avenues is more important than ever. Join us to learn how Pitt’s Office of Industry & Economic Partnerships can help researchers navigate industry-sponsored opportunities as a valuable complement to federally-funded research.

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Join the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship as LaMonica Wiggins, Entrepreneurship Librarian within Pitt’s University Library System, shares an overview of market research databases and tools available at Pitt to gain a better understanding of market trends and the competitive landscape surrounding one’s innovation and how to draw insights from your findings.

The learnings gleaned from market research will help inform innovators on how their technology can address customer needs and differentiate their innovation from existing solutions.

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Not only do innovators need to believe in their idea and receive validation from the market that there is a need for their technology, but it is also equally as important for them to communicate their technology’s impact and surrounding business model effectively to receive buy-in from investors and partners.

Money is the lifeline to all businesses. With a compelling pitch, innovators may increase their odds of securing funds when competing for investors’ attention and resources.

In this session, you’ll learn:

• What investors and partners generally look for in a pitch deck
• Real-life pitching scenarios and lessons learned from Pitt startup founders
• Guidelines and key elements for different types of pitches (elevator, short-form, long-form)
• How to create a compelling and eye-catching presentation using stories, statistics, data visualization, media, and more
• How to handle Q&A
• Considerations for following up with investors and partners

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