Georgia Tech faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to engage in commercialization efforts, with one pathway being a startup venture. OTL understands that navigating your startup journey can be overwhelming. While every entrepreneur’s path is different, we are here to help you navigate your path from lab to market.
- Explore & connect Search our technology database and meet with a Licensing Associate to discuss fit, markets, and pathways.
- Evaluate feasibility Align on customer need, competitive edge, and team plan. We’ll cover conflict of interest considerations early.
- Choose a license path Many startups begin with an Option Agreement to evaluate and fundraise, followed by a full License with diligence milestones.
- Form the company Incorporate, define founder roles, assign IP appropriately, and establish governance.
- Build & fund Advance prototypes, secure early customers/pilots, and pursue nondilutive and investor funding.
- Launch & grow Execute against milestones, report progress per your agreement, and keep scaling with our network.
Timelines vary by technology and market. Many teams move from first conversations to an option or license within a few weeks to a few months depending on readiness.
Entrepreneurial Ecosystem and Resources
Many resources locally, statewide, and nationally are available to help innovators build successful startups. Programs provide information on funding opportunities, market research databases, and lab facilities. Below is a list of organizations internal and external to Georgia Tech that can help entrepreneurs.
Startup Resources at Georgia Tech
Quadrant-i
Supports Georgia Tech faculty, researchers, and graduate students to explore entrepreneurship and build a startup.
VentureLab
Supports Georgia Tech faculty, researchers and students to create startups based on Georgia Tech research.
Biolocity
Program that supports the commercialization of early-stage medical innovations developed at Emory University and/or Georgia Tech
Velocity Startups
A startup accelerator that propels deep-tech innovation – provides the resources and infrastructure needed for you to take your innovation to market.
Georgia Tech Patents and Trademarks Resource Center (PTRC)
Connects people to patent-related training and research consultation for students, faculty, and staff inventors and entrepreneurs.
CREATE-X
Gives Georgia Tech students, faculty, researchers, and alumni every advantage it can to help support them in launching their products.
Additional Startup Resources
- United States Patent and Trademark Office United States Patent and Trademark Office
- Osage University Partners Osage University Partners | Venture Capital Fund for University Startups
- Engage VC (link to: https://engage.vc/team/)
- Innovation Access
- Technology Licensing - Welcome | Office of Technology Licensing
- Intellectual Property Strategy & Diligence Georgia Tech Intellectual Property
- Company formation support Corporate Engagement | Corporate Engagement
- Commercialization coaching Georgia Tech Research - Your Path to Commercialization | Commercialization
- Funding navigation - Find Funding | Office of Sponsored Programs
- Corporate & clinical pathways
Entrepreneur FAQs
Can non-Georgia Tech founders license technologies?
Yes. We regularly work with external entrepreneurs who wish to license Georgia Tech IP and collaborate with inventors.
Do I need a full business plan to start?
No. A concise venture brief and a clear plan for near-term milestones are sufficient to begin.
What does a license typically cost?
Terms vary by sector and stage. We balance fees, milestones, royalties, and/or equity to support sustainable growth.
How do conflicts of interest work for faculty or students?
We’ll guide you through disclosures and management plans so you can build compliantly.
Can I talk to founders who have been through this?
Yes. Ask us to connect you with alumni founders and mentors in our network.