Invention to Venture
workshops in technology entrepreneurship Sponsorship Proposal
Overview
Invention to Venture UMass Amherst – is being developed by the University of Massachusetts Amherst and others leading regional organizations in partnership with the National Collegiate Inventors & Innovators Alliance – The event will be held Friday, April 1, 2005 Invention to Venture is: – a national series of day-long workshops focused on technology commercialization and entrepreneurship for students and faculty. – intended as the premier technology entrepreneurship event at upwards of 30 university locations annually. – a program of the National Collegiate Inventors & Innovators Alliance (NCIIA), a grant-making organization for entrepreneurship faculty and students engaged in entrepreneurship and invention. – being developed with support from the Lemelson and Kauffmann Foundations Invention to Venture UMass Amherst sponsorship: – will provide visibility at the Invention to Venture UMass Amherst workshop at the Massachusetts Room, Mullins Center, UMass Amherst on Friday, April 1, 2005 and access to university decision makers, alumni, entrepreneurs, investors. Sponsorship at the Gold level of $5,000 ensures the highest level of visibility. Detailed information about sponsorship levels is included in this packet.
Sponsorship Information Invention to Venture
workshops in technology entrepreneurship
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The Program
Invention to Venture UMass Amherst provides sponsors a way to efficiently target key regional educational institutions and their affiliated students, faculty, and alumni.
Invention to Venture workshops . . .
– – – – are designed for sophisticated, technology-oriented undergrad and graduate students and interested faculty and alumni looking to develop technology-based products and businesses. serve as a guide to tech business plan development and a vehicle for tech entrepreneurs to identify resources to start their ventures. complement the extensive grant program that the NCIIA already provides for student inventors and faculty developing courses in innovation and entrepreneurship. provide an opportunity for regional and national business to engage with technology entrepreneurs at top colleges and universities
Speakers at Invention to Venture are drawn from the academic and business communities and include experts with national stature as well as regional leaders and entrepreneurs. Invention to Venture has been conducted at University of Maryland, College Park; University of Central Florida; University of Florida; Illinois Institute of Technology; University of California San Diego; Worcester Polytechnic Institute; and University of Southern Mississippi.
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Program Agenda
The following is the agenda Invention to Venture UMass Amherst will use: 8:00 8:45 9:15 10:00 10:45 11:00 11:45 12:30 1:30 2:15 3:00 3:15 4:15 4:30 Continental breakfast and registration Welcome: Workshop Host and “Gold Sponsor” Is Technology entrepreneurship for you? Idea validation and opportunity assessment Break Marketing and sales for early stage companies Building the team Lunch & networking Issues in intellectual property licensing The perfect business plan, slide show, & “elevator speech” Break Finding the money (panel) Ending remarks Adjourn
The agenda is designed to allow time for networking between sponsors, participants, speakers, university faculty, alumni, investors and decision makers. The specific agenda for Invention to Venture UMass Amherst is still in development.
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workshops in technology entrepreneurship
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Sponsorship
UMass Amherst, as host of Invention to Venture UMass Amherst, is offering three levels of sponsorship for its event on April 1, 2005: – – – Gold Sponsor $5,000 Silver Sponsor $2,500 Supporting Sponsor $1,000
Benefits of Sponsorship – – Access . . . to participating institutions Exposure . . . to an expected ~150 participants including entrepreneurial faculty, students and alumni Visibility . . . at the April 1 workshop Leadership . . . An opportunity to be identified with this national program in technology entrepreneurship
– –
Note that a $25 discount off the $75 registration fee will be made
available to Regional Technology Corporation member companies. Marketing and Advertising – – – Campus: Faculty direct emails (technology departments and ISOM), In the loop, Student Cable TV, Engineering News, Listserves, Postdoc and Grad Student direct emails, EntreClub Regional: Regional Technology Corporation, Hidden TEC, Newspapers, Chambers of Commerce, Five College departments, Higher Education (STCC, WNEC, etc). External: Alumni newsletter, Advocacy E-newsletter, College Advisory Councils.
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workshops in technology entrepreneurship
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Sponsorship Details
Sponsorship Level: Annual Funding Level: Sponsor Be ne fits Exclusivity in industry category Opportunity to introduce keynote speaker Speaking opportunity at workshop Highlight in promotional e-mails Reference in all promotional e-mails for the workshop and follow-up e-mails Company listed on workshop banner Logo listed on workshop website Opportunity to display promotional materials Link from workshop website to corporate website Company listed on printed materials (posters, handbook) ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ (logo, name) ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ (logo, name) ¥ (4 tickets) ¥ ¥ ¥ (name) ¥ (3 tickets) Gold $5,000 Silv e r Supporting 2,000 $ 1,000
$
Opportunity to attend and network at the workshop¥ (5 tickets)
* Note that the NCIIA may have national and/or state sponsors of the Invention to Venture program in the
same industry category as the local workshop sponsors. These sponsors may be also acknowledged at the local events.
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workshops in technology entrepreneurship
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Initial Sponsors
Initial Founding Sponsors of the National Invention to Venture program The workshop series has been developed through funds from the Lemelson Foundation that support the NCIIA as well as a grant from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. The Lemelson Foundation, a private philanthropic organization founded by inventor Jerome Lemelson and his wife Dorothy Lemelson, recognizes the relationship between the educational system and a strong economy. It seeks to promote invention and entrepreneurship among college students, fostering a generation of innovators who will create new businesses and employment opportunities throughout the United States. The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation works with partners to encourage entrepreneurship across America and improve the education of children and youth. It strives to foster an environment nationwide in which entrepreneurs have the information and tools they need to succeed. The Kauffman Foundation promotes entrepreneurial success at all levels.
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About UMass Amherst
A leading center for public higher education in the Northeast, the University of Massachusetts Amherst has gained a reputation for excellence in a growing number of fields, for its wide and varied academic offerings, and for its expanding historic roles in education, research, and public service. The flagship campus of the Commonwealth’s University system, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a major research university enrolling 24,000 students, from all 50 United States and over 100 countries. Its 10 schools and colleges offer 88 undergraduate majors, 68 master’s and 48 doctoral programs. Sponsored research activities total more than $100 million a year. Located on 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, the campus provides a rich cultural environment in a rural setting close to major urban centers. As a member of the Five College consortium, the university shares a mutually rewarding relationship with students from Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, and Smith colleges.
About NCIIA
The NCIIA is a grant-making organization that fosters and promotes the teaching of invention, innovation, and entrepreneurship at colleges and universities around the country. The NCIIA works on a national basis from offices in Massachusetts. NCIIA is an initiative of The Lemelson Foundation.
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workshops in technology entrepreneurship
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Contact Information
For information about sponsorship of Invention to Venture UMass Amherst contact:
UMass Amherst
Marla Michel, Director Office of Industry Liaison and Economic Development P: (413)545-2706 | marla@research.umass.edu
NCIIA Joseph Steig, Business Development Consultant to the NCIIA P: (413)587-2172 | jsteig@nciia.org
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