One of the first challenges any biotech startup faces is licensing key technology from universities. These transactions can be complex technically and politically, even for experienced executives.

But it is critical to get them right. Negotiating good agreements is essential for future fundraising and partnering transactions. And if you can’t license the technology, you don’t have a business.

In this Biotech Startup School event, Katharine "Kathy" Ku, Chief Licensing Advisor at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (Wilson Sonsini) and former head of Stanford’s Office of Technology Licensing, will share her advice regarding licensing technology from universities.

During her nearly 27-year tenure as head of Stanford’s Office of Technology and Licensing, Kathy oversaw licensing transactions of over $1.8B. Kathy is one of the most influential leaders in the field of technology transfer worldwide.

About the speaker

Katharine "Kathy" Ku is the chief licensing advisor in the Palo Alto office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. She is also a member of the technology transactions and the patents and innovations practice groups.

Kathy is an internationally recognized leader in the field of technology transfer. She served as the Executive Director of Stanford University's Office of Technology Licensing (OTL) for 27 years. During that period, OTL licensed hundreds of new technologies, bringing in $1.8 billion, most of which went back to support research and education at Stanford.

Kathy also spearheaded the development and implementation of nine principles related to university technology licensing. The principles are set forth in document entitled "In the Public Interest: Nine Points to Consider in Licensing University Technology." More than 120 institutions have adopted the principles since they were published in 2007.

About Wilson Sonsini

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati is the premier legal advisor to technology, life sciences, and growth enterprises worldwide, as well as the venture firms, private equity firms, and investment banks that finance them.

We represent companies from entrepreneurial start-ups to multibillion-dollar global corporations at every stage of development. The firm's attorneys collaborate across a comprehensive range of practice areas and industry groups to help the management, boards of directors, shareholders, and in-house counsel of our clients address their most pressing challenges and pursue their most promising opportunities.

The firm is nationally recognized for providing high-quality services to address the legal solutions required by its enterprise and financial institution clients. Our services include corporate law and governance, public and private offerings of equity and debt securities, mergers and acquisitions, securities class action litigation, intellectual property litigation, antitrust counseling and litigation, joint ventures and strategic alliances, technology licensing and other intellectual property transactions, tax, and employee benefits and employment law, among other areas.

To learn more about Wilson Sonsini, please refer to the firm's website.

About Biotech Startup School

Biotech Startup School is a free 10 week course on how to start a biotech company, with speakers who have built and funded successful biotech companies. Learn more about Biotech Startup School here: https://www.baybridgebio.com/biotech-startup-school.html

Event Logistics

Date: February 27, 2020

Time: 5:30-8:00 pm

Location: One Market Plaza, Spear Tower, Suite 1900, San Francisco, CA 94105

Please enter using the Spear St entrance. Check in at the security desk in the lobby (bring your ID) and take the elevator to the 19th floor.

How to get here:

The building is very close to Muni and BART stops (one block from Embarcadero station)

There is a parking garage in the building (listed below as One Market Garage) however we do not validate parking. Additional parking options are listed below:

One Market Garage:

415-777-2292

One Market Plaza is directly underneath our building. (Enter on 55 Spear Street)

Opens M-F: 6:00 am -7:00pm.

Rincon Center Garage:

121 Spear St. 415-882-9468 (Enter on Spear St.) One block from our building.

Weekday: 6:00am-8:30pm

50 California Parking: (a few blocks from our building)

129 Sacramento St, San Francisco, CA 94111

Embarcadero Center Parking garage—four blocks from our building

3 Embarcadero center #A

415-772-0670