Quality Alchemist (品質煉金術師): PolyVentures Seminar Research-based Startup Series

2021年6月30日星期三

PolyVentures Seminar Research-based Startup Series – Professor in Startup: Why and How?

PolyVentures Seminar Research-based Startup Series named “Professor in Startup: Why and How?” was held by Institute for Entrepreneurship on 30^th Jun 2021. PolyVentures Seminars: Research-based Startup Series is specially designed for PolyU academics to guide them through their entrepreneurial journey.

Prof. Philip Chan (Senior Advisor to the President, Emeritus Professor (Electronic and Information Engineering, PolyU) was the first speaker and his topic entitled “From academic research to a sustainable technology company – a personal experience”. Firstly, Prof. Chan briefed how he started from ITF project to develop a flip-chip technology and obtained 4 patents.

Then he briefed their Flip-chip LED technology and its advantages included easier to scale to higher power light, brighter, better heat dissipation and more compatible.

In early days, he joined the university’s entrepreneurship program and licensed the patents from university for equity in the company. His PhD student became the full time CEO and he was the director. And then he shared their early difficulties included lack of manufacturing capability, sales person, convincing business plan and fundraising.

After that he shared prime start the manufacturing and said “Strategic investor brining complementary know-how is more important than just cash!” Their company then moved to Nansha towards sustainability that they established foothold in the GBA. The CEO and a few technical people learned how to sell because their product is highly technical! They grow with large customers that high quality demands and lower the cost. The company today was briefed.

Finally, Prof. Chan concluded that Deep Tech is most difficult to establish and to sustain. Key partnership (included customer and supplier) are significant. Succeed in the market-place is the key for survival and sustainable.

Mr. Kelvin Wong (Deputy Director, Institute for Entrepreneurship, PolyU) was second speaker and his presentation named “Resources and Support at PolyU”.

In the beginning, Mr. Wong explained Why and Why Not about technology venturing through academic-led Startups. We do it because of impact, control, ownership and funding. We didn’t try because of lacking such knowledge, risk, not enough funding and time to market.

Then Mr. Wong briefed their Knowledge Transfer at PolyU from Basic/exploratory research to technology transfer to commercialization (Market). In technology transfer, it included “Collaborative Research”, “IP Licensing / Assignment”, “Consultancy” and “Spin-off/Startup”.

Some key considerations in Market, Technology, IP Management, Support/Funding and Partnership were discussed. There are four critical factors to success and they are “Competitive edge of Technology”, “Advantage in Channel / Customer relationship”, “Distribution Network” and “Manufacturing Resource”. Key components such as business model, offering and team/company establishment, as well as, startup cycle were also mentioned.

After that Academic-led Startups Policy and Support in PolyU were introduced.

Finally, Mr. Kelvin Wong briefed different programs and funds in PolyU to assist startups such as Market Pathway Programme (Lean Launchpad Programme), Fundings (e.g. Micro Fund, Maker Fund, Tech Launchpad Fund & Entrepreneurship Investment Fund), PolyU InnoHub (HK & SZ), GBA Startup Postdoc Programme. The whole process was described as following diagram.