Princeton-Jumpstart Lecture Series on Technology Entrepreneurship
The Keller Center works in partnership with Jumpstart New Jersey Angel Network—a private, member-led group that makes "angel" investments in early-stage technology companies in the Mid-Atlantic region—to share knowledge on technology entrepreneurship.
Through the partnership, distinguished business leaders are invited to speak to the Princeton and local business communities. The lectures and forums are tailored to help an audience of new, potential, and seasoned entrepreneurs create and nurture new ventures. Events are followed by a reception where students, faculty, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and angel investors meet informally to discuss ideas and exchange knowledge and advice.
Innovation Forum
The annual Innovation Forum showcases emerging technologies ranging from a novel laser eye surgery technique to a new way to improve security on the Internet.
Photo: From left, Jumpstart member Ken Kay meets with engineering dean Vince Poor and entrepreneur-in-residence Greg Olsen at an Innovation Forum. (Photo: Frank Wojciechowski)
At the 2007 event, eleven University researchers each delivered a three-minute "pitch" to a near-capacity crowd of investors, students, and community members. After the formal presentations, researchers discussed their innovations at a reception, with posters explaining their research.
"It's all about cross-pollination," said Bill Martin of Jumpstart New Jersey, which invested $4 million last year in early-stage entrepreneurial endeavors. The Innovation Forum was co-sponsored by Jumpstart, the Keller Center, the University’s Office of Technology Licensing, and the law firm of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius.
"I have seen an enormous growth in these types of activities at the University," said John Ritter, director of the Office of Technology Licensing. Ritter said that every year his office receives 85 to 100 disclosures of inventions from University researchers and executes 15 to 25 licensing agreements.