Enterprise Acceleration

The Enterprise Acceleration team within Intellectual Property and Commercialisation (IPaC) works with academic researchers who want to learn more about commercialising their research or becoming entrepreneurs. 

We provide enterprise skills training and start-up incubation services, manage funds that bridge the gap between research funding and commercial investment, and provide start-up incubation services that are available to both academics and SMEs in the Birmingham area.

We set up spinout companies, and search for the right management talent that will help the company to reach its desired goal – whether that is exit by sale of the company, or long-term growth as an independent commercial entity.

Finally, we manage the University’s shareholdings in spinouts companies, and maintain relationships with external investors.    

Your role in any spinout an be as active or as passive as you desire and we are here to support you all the way. 

Jerel Whittingham
Head of IPaC
Email: info@enterprise.bham.ac.uk. Please put new enquiry in your email header or call +44(0)121 414 5582. 

Enterprise Training

We provide training for academics who are considering commercialisation.  

Medici Enterprise Training Programme

The Medici Enterprise Training Programme is our flagship course and has been training entrepreneurial academics and research staff countrywide for over 15 years. The main aims of the course are to develop the business skills of researchers and to help them progress the commercial potential of their research.

The programme covers:

  • Networking for Success
  • Introduction to Entreprenuership
  • Value Proposition and Business Models
  • Introduction to IP
  • Commercial Strategy
  • Sales and Selling Skills
  • Building a Team
  • Market Research and Identifying USP
  • Introduction to Finance
  • Investment Readiness
  • Business Planning and Raising Finance
  • Expliotation Pitch

    For more information and to apply contact Eleanor Burdis e.g.burdis@bham.ac.uk 

Funding 

Commercial investors interrogate business ideas very thoroughly before they invest.  They normally require both technical proof of concept (research demonstrating that the technology works) and commercial proof of concept (showing that there is a compelling market for the products based on the technology). 

Commercial proof of concept work is not typically covered by research grants.  The Enterprise Acceleration team manages two funds that are designed to help bridge the gap between research funding and the necessary commercial investment required to take products to market.

The Enterprising Birmingham Fund 

The Enterprising Birmingham Fund bridges the commercial proof of concept gap that arises when research funding has ceased.  It enables the University to validate and demonstrate the commercial viability of an idea.  Typically this involves the contracting-in of external expertise to carry out market analysis/testing, and the development of business plans, and is often used to attract potential investors. 

University of Birmingham Spinout Investment fund

The University of Birmingham Spinout Investment fund was created to enable the University to invest in its portfolio of spinout companies (at both seed and later stages). Up to £5m will be co-invested with third party investors over the period 2016-2021, into well validated spinout companies that have been created to commercialise intellectual property invented at the University. 

For further information about funding please contact Steve Ellis, Commercial Intelligence Manager at S.Ellis.1@bham.ac.uk, or call 0121 414 8633.

Through our Business incubation activities, we also help both spinouts and other regional start-ups access finance

Spinouts

A spinout company is a term most often used to describe a company that is formed to commercialise intellectual property, expertise or facilities of the University, and in which it and the academics have an equity stake (shareholding). 

Setting up a spinout company is time-consuming and requires a high level of commitment from the academic or academic team.  The University also commits substantial resource when it sets up a spinout company.  This includes:

  • Protecting intellectual property
  • Advising on proof of concept studies and funding
  • Market evaluation and analysis
  • Shareholder management and negotiation
  • Setting up a management team that can run the company
  • Finding external investors

The process of setting up a spinout company is managed by the Enterprise Acceleration team, who also manage the University’s portfolio of spinouts.  

For more information contact Siobhan Daniels, Spinout Development Manager at S.S.Daniels@bham.ac.uk. 

 

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