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This module aims to provide students with an understanding of what defines and shapes a start-up, appraising the academic perspective (how, when and why should one form a start-up), how to protect and develop intellectual property, different routes of intellectual property development, differences between ‘know-how’ and intellectual property, how to value your asset(s), and will place this analysis in the contexts of the investor perspective and financial management.

Students will consider sources of investment such as venture capital, how a start-up is structured with regard to shareholders, directors and employees, and the various responsibilities of each, how successive rounds of investment work, and impact on control of the company and decision-making, and the inevitability of dilution of equity. We will look at key inflexion points, what these mean and their impact on company value, decisions to go to initial public offering, or possible sale to a big pharma/biotech, with a basic understanding of the processes involved.

The module will be based on a mixture of traditional lectures, seminars, and tutorials; and will maximise access to diverse guest speakers drawn both from academics who have created start-ups, professionals supporting and intellectual property protection and development, as well as lecturers from the investment community.

This module aims to provide students with the opportunity:

To develop an understanding of commercial development pathways in biomedical sciences, protection of intellectual property, mechanics of company formation, processes of finance and investment, and the developmental journey of start-ups

To acquire the knowledge of the stakeholder relationships within the process and the determinants of success and failure

To develop analytical skills in respect of identifying and appraising assets, to market decision making and key inflection points in the process

To develop evaluative and critical skills in respect of the existing markets and offerings

To generate and communicate evidence-based evaluations and conclusions

On completion of the module, students should expect to demonstrate the following outcomes:

Knowledge and understanding of

1) the protection and development of intellectual property

2) Ìýthe definition, purpose, formation, and structures of start-ups

3) the financial and legal stakeholders, responsibilities and frameworks which impact on start-ups

4) the processes and key inflexion points which impact on and shape decision making through the life cycle of a start-up

5) the determinants which measure and inform asset value, to market decisions, and success and failure

And will demonstrate the skills and abilities to

6) Interpret and evaluate start-up case study samples to identify drivers and contexts which shape the process and outcomes