The process involved in growing a successful start-up can seem daunting, but the Tulane OTT is available to guide you through each step along the way.

1. Contact the Tulane OTT: If you have an idea for a new company, contact Greg Stein or Shafin Khan to discuss your invention, protect the technology, and learn about resources available to you to help start your company.
    
2. Protect your invention: At this stage, the core of your company’s success is the novel idea/technology. The Tulane OTT can guide you through the process of obtaining exclusive rights to your technology. It is important to engage with the OTT to file a patent application before publicly disclosing your invention.
    
3. Build your network: The Tulane OTT can connect you with an abundance of resources to help grow your start-up. This includes assistance in writing a business plan or model, researching your market, connecting you to other local and national entrepreneurs, and securing funding.
    
4. Make a business plan/model: A company description, market analysis, funding requests, and financial projections are all components of a successful business plan.  You may also choose to focus on your customer by developing a business model and conducting customer discovery interviews.
    
5. Fundraising: If your company is capital intensive, external funding may be a prerequisite to company growth. Funding can come through personal savings, venture capital, or angel investors. Many Tulane-affiliated innovators participate in start-up (business) pitch competitions to secure funding sources for their company.

When and Why

A start-up isn’t a goal – it’s a vehicle to get to your goal. The early stages of forming a start-up include raising funds, forming a team, and collecting resources. Local resources include:

• The New Orleans Bioinnovation Center (for biotechnology and clean tech)
• The Shop (for co-working space and events)
• Propeller (for health, education, urban infrastructure, water, and non-profit startups)
• The Idea Village (for all other start-up companies)

For more information, contact Greg Stein or Shafin Khan.

Grant Opportunities

Many Tulane-affiliated start-up companies have secured funding through both local and international business pitch competitions, as well as governmental grants. A few examples include:

• BioChallenge pitch competition
• LA Board of Regents under the ITRS, “Industrial Ties Research Subprogram”
• Tulane Novel Tech Challenge
• Rice Business Plan Competition
• Get Started Louisiana
• NSF iCorps
• International Business Model Competition
• NIH SBIR/STTR and NSF SBIR/STTR

External Partners

• New Orleans BioInnovation Center
• Idea Village