How it will work:
After listening to the online pitches during the week of September 25, you will complete THIS FORM indicating which projects interest you most. Organizers will work with the researchers and clinicians to find the best matches.
Students matched with a project requesting business development help will be required to register for the Life Sciences Practicum course MGMT6511 (Spring 2024) at RPI where you will work on the project in an incubator-like setting with key deliverables, mentorship and lectures from essential industry professionals, and strategic guidance to address the business hypotheses surrounding the research/tech/idea. This novel course -- first offered last Spring -- follows entrepreneurial biodesign models to ensure a hands-on, experiential opportunity to develop an invention's business foundation. Details will be made available soon, including course number.
Students matched with a project requesting technical development must be registered for BMED4260 (Fall 2023) and BMED 4600 (Spring 2024) at RPI where you will be introduced to the major biomedical industries, markets, and stakeholders, with an emphasis on biomedical devices. Market drivers and consideration for public health, safety, and economic factors are covered including those of regulatory, intellectual property, and reimbursement, including global considerations. The process of product development in biomedical markets is presented. Students select topic areas for design projects in preparation toward the goal of developing functional design solutions to practical biomedical problems.
Students matched with a project requesting marketing/communications development must be registered for Marketing High-Tech Products MGMT 6580 (Spring 2024) or Marketing Communication & Promotion Strategy MGMT6540 (Spring 2024) where you will be introduced to the strategies and practices involved in marketing technologically oriented products and services. Students will learn where these strategies differ from marketing of non-technical products/services, and appreciate how and why they vary. (Note: Course decision will be finalized before Spring 2024 course registration.)
- Always work with your team in a professional manner.
- Meet with the team lead regularly to share progress and address any questions.
- Actively participate in the course where you will work on this project while meeting course deadlines and expectations.
- Alert course instructors if you are unhappy with the progress being made.
In total, this opportunity could be the experience that will land you a fantastic job or even start you on a road to becoming an entrepreneur. Either route will be what you make of it.
September 25-29: Live online pitches (student do not need to preregister)
September 25: Project request submission form opens for students
October 17: Project request submission deadline for students
October 23: Matches communicated to students and faculty
November 6: Early course registration opens for Spring 2024 courses
December 14: Course registration re-opens
January 8: Spring semester 2024 courses begin and you start working on this project.
It is also key to know:
- We don’t force anyone together as the clinician/research/project lead must approve interested parties to join their team. You will review the list of students who expressed interest in working with you and a timeline for selection turnaround so the matches can be communicated.
- The relationships formed in this program are non-binding. The intent is to get the brightest minds working together, and the goal is to facilitate the introduction of potential co-founders.
- There is a beginning and end to the process.
- Outcomes are not guaranteed but will be a step forward for interdisciplinary teams to bring an idea or technology to market and mirror the true entrepreneurial innovation process.
Campus contacts
Albany College of Pharmacy - Michelle Lewis michelle.lewis@acphs.edu
Albany Medical College - Stephanie Dosiek dosieks@amc.edu
Center for Disabilities - Eric Ledet eric.ledet@cfdsny.org
Mount Sinai - Brian Nickerson Brian.Nickerson@mssm.edu
RPI - Brett Orzechowski orzecb@rpi.edu