Whether you are interested in founding a startup or want to learn more about venture, the panel session, Roadmap to Startups and Commercialization, will provide you a taste about how to navigate from Ph.D. to venture at UVA/Charlottesville. On November 1st, we are looking forward to hosting a panel of UVA professors/founders, moderated by Bob Creeden, UVA Seed Fund Manager. During the session, the panelists will discuss the opportunities and challenges to commercialize laboratory-based inventions and technologies. How-to questions related to assembling a management team, patenting, marketing, fundraising, legal issues, and advisory boards will be addressed as well. This event is open to all UVA graduate students and postdocs interested in entrepreneurship/venture. Lunch will be provided.
Panelists and Moderator
Bryan Berger, Ph.D.
Co-founder of Lytos Technologies and Fiacre Enterprises
Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering at UVA
As a protein engineer, entrepreneur, and industrial hemp enthusiast, Professor Berger has started two ventures at UVA. He is the co-founder and chief scientific officer of Lytos Technologies as well as the co-founder, vice president and chief of engineering at Fiacre Enterprises.
Brooks H. Pate, Ph.D.
Co-founder of BrightSpec
William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Chemistry at UVA
As a physical chemist, innovator, and amateur historian of clocks, Professor Pate is a co-founder of BrightSpec. He is the 2017 winner of UVA Licensing and Ventures Group's Edlich-Henderson Innovator of the Year Award. Also, he is a fellow in the MacArthur Fellows Program and the American Physical Society. In addition, he won 2016 William F. Meggers Award in Spectroscopy.
Amrie Grammer, Ph.D.
Co-founder of AMPEL BioSolutions
As a translational immunologist, biochemist, entrepreneur, and art-lover, Dr. Grammer is a co-founder, COO & CSO of AMPEL BioSolutions. She received her Ph.D. in Immunology at UTSW Medical Center at Dallas and was recruited to the NIH to establish the B Cell Biology Group in the Autoimmunity Branch of NIAMS during the human genome sequencing project. Additionally, she served as a Board of Directors of the Virginia Biotechnology Association (VA Bio) as well as a Chair of the UVA Alumni Board of the professional Chemistry Fraternity, Alpha Chi Sigma.
Robert Creeden, M.B.A.
Managing Director, UVA LVG Seed Fund and New Ventures
As a frequent speaker, panelist, and lecturer on issues related to starting and funding a business, Bob is a senior entrepreneurial executive with extensive experience commercializing new technologies, as well as more than 25 years’ experience as an early-stage venture capitalist. He has proven expertise in developing and implementing vision, strategy, and tactics to create, operate, and fund new ventures across multiple industries.