Comments on: How Seattle VCs Are Adapting to the UW TechTransfer Revolution http://www.xconomy.com/seattle/2009/04/15/how-seattle-vcs-are-adapting-to-the-uw-techtransfer-revolution/ Business + Technology in the Exponential Economy Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:25:59 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Ed Lazowska http://www.xconomy.com/seattle/2009/04/15/how-seattle-vcs-are-adapting-to-the-uw-techtransfer-revolution/comment-page-1/#comment-53762 Ed Lazowska Thu, 16 Apr 2009 04:28:48 +0000 http://www.xconomy.com/?p=20399#comment-53762 As someone who was instrumental in brokering the marriage between Linden Rhoads and the University of Washington, I'm particularly thrilled at the changes she's making, and at the positive reaction to them. However, at the risk of sounding a bit defensive: - Yes, UW can and should do better at tech transfer. - However, it's important to remember that UW consistently ranks among the top dozen universities in the nation in a number of key measures related to tech transfer. - It's also worth knowing that under Linden's predecessor's predecessor (got that?), Bob Miller, UW developed what was widely regarded as the most innovative and effective software tech transfer practice in the nation. - It's important to remember that the vast majority of university entrepreneurship takes place not through "traditional" tech transfer - licensing - but rather through alumni, who throughout their careers create new companies and transform existing ones. - Finally, the reason that Madrona gets so many UW deals is that THEY WORK THEIR TAILS OFF. They're here all the time - walking the halls, talking to faculty, talking to students, visiting labs, offering advice, awarding prizes, helping with courses, mining the research for commercializable ideas. That's the same way that Kleiner established its relationship with Stanford in the 1980's - John Doerr walked the halls. I've noticed, over the years, that the less engaged specific VC's are, the more they tend to complain. As someone who was instrumental in brokering the marriage between Linden Rhoads and the University of Washington, I’m particularly thrilled at the changes she’s making, and at the positive reaction to them.

However, at the risk of sounding a bit defensive:

- Yes, UW can and should do better at tech transfer.

- However, it’s important to remember that UW consistently ranks among the top dozen universities in the nation in a number of key measures related to tech transfer.

- It’s also worth knowing that under Linden’s predecessor’s predecessor (got that?), Bob Miller, UW developed what was widely regarded as the most innovative and effective software tech transfer practice in the nation.

- It’s important to remember that the vast majority of university entrepreneurship takes place not through “traditional” tech transfer – licensing – but rather through alumni, who throughout their careers create new companies and transform existing ones.

- Finally, the reason that Madrona gets so many UW deals is that THEY WORK THEIR TAILS OFF. They’re here all the time – walking the halls, talking to faculty, talking to students, visiting labs, offering advice, awarding prizes, helping with courses, mining the research for commercializable ideas. That’s the same way that Kleiner established its relationship with Stanford in the 1980’s – John Doerr walked the halls. I’ve noticed, over the years, that the less engaged specific VC’s are, the more they tend to complain.

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