Page 67 - fall2017
P. 67

TLA NETWORK










          MAKES IT                            Tstartup each month to the world. To make it happen, TLA depends on a network
                                                 ech Launch Arizona brings about 100 inventions a year and more than one

                                              of over 1,400 volunteers who play an important role in helping UA researchers take
                                              discoveries to market as successful products and services.
          HAPPEN                              About 50 percent of network members are UA alumni. All have an affinity for the


                                              UA and a curiosity about early-stage technologies coming from the university.
                                              Those elements are at the core of their motivation to volunteer for TLA.
                                              Within the network, 25 highly qualified technology experts, business leaders and
                                              entrepreneurs offer their time and expertise to help refine UA inventions, develop
                                              startup strategies and teams, and maximize the impact of UA inventions.


             Meet these UA alumni whose expertise is an integral part of TLA’s success

             Brian Ellerman                                                             Trina Callie-Dixon


             Digital Initiative Lead, Sanofi                                            Business Operations Manager, Raytheon
             “I’m convinced that startups are the                                       “As a two-time alumna of the UA, I
             true engine of economic growth, and                                        have always been a strong believer
             universities play a pivotal role in this.                                  in its strength and innovation.
             TLA offers an opportunity for me to                                        Involvement with TLA allows me to
             share my passion and experience      Ted Kraus                             stay engaged and
             while tackling the                                                         to bring my business
             challenging                          Investment Director, Techcode AI      experience to
             task of finding                      Accelerator                           bear in helping
             real-world,                                                                commercialize
             commercial use                       “TLA provides students and researchers   world-class
             for the incredible                   at the university with access to the   technology.
             research being                       human, intellectual and financial capital   A win-win!”
             done.”                               they need to bring their technologies to
                                                  market. TLA’s management team is top
                                                  tier, and its commercialization partners
              Crystal Taggart                     and mentors have the experience and   Mark Baker
                                                  network to help entrepreneurs spin-out
                                                  and scale their startups.”
              Author, Technologist, Consultant                                          Principal, CheckMark Consulting, Inc.
              “The inventions coming out of the                                         “When I met with TLA, I hoped that
              UA are impressive – everything                                            my business experiences might help
              from solving organizational process                                         others shortcut the path from
              inefficiencies to helping find a cure                                         concept to commercialization.
              for cancer. As an entrepreneur                                                  It has been gratifying to have
              and technology consultant, I am                                                 had two teams that I mentored
              always looking for cutting-edge                                                 through TLA’s program
              technology that can solve major                                                 establish businesses that are
              business challenges. Through                                                    rapidly progressing towards
              TLA, we can effectively tap the UA’s                                           commercializing their products.”
              inventive power.”

                                                                                                                FALL 2017  65
   62   63   64   65   66   67   68   69