Page 33 - Gates-AnnualReport-2017

GATES CENTER ADVISORY MEMBER
ANN SPERLING ESTABLISHES “START-UP TOOLBOX”
Thanks to the creativity and thoughtful generosity of Gates Center Advisory Board member Ann Sperling, Gates Center members will have assistance in moving ideas from bench to bedside through Startup Toolbox. A partnership with CU Innovations, Startup Toolbox will provide Gates Center members with a novel platform containing the services and resources required to move discoveries from the lab into products and services that will impact patients. Resources will include corporate/legal, product development, regulatory, Small Business Innovation Resources (SBIR) consultants, as well as business plan and financial modeling support. As a member of the Gates Grubstake Fund’s Scientific Investment Advisory Committee, Ann has reviewed and recommended awards for
promising regenerative medicine opportunities. Nonetheless, she also recognizes the need to help researchers when they need help outside of the science to build a business plan, or access IP, legal/regulatory help, pricing etc. In describing the novel platform, Ann said, “It attracts me because as a business person I see the need to get these great scientific ideas into action through financial and organizational transformation, too, and access to this platform of services addresses this essential, non- scientific part.” The goal of the program is to lower the barrier to commercialization in advancing more regenerative medicine opportunities, and to allow Gates Center members to focus more of their time in the lab developing the science.
Ann hopes that this platform will be evergreen and grow, attracting other donations as well as her ongoing support. “As the Gates Center grows,” she says, “this can, too.”
Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine 33