How to license technology as a biotech startup

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, an experienced panel with different perspectives will discuss how the license itself and the various terms of a license agreement can affect the path of the company.

About the speakers

Kanad Das, PhD, Executive Director, Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund USA Inc

Kanad will share his insights on university interactions at his current position and his previous experience in business development at Merck and advising for the Stanford University SPARK program.

Michael Hostetler, Partner, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

Michael "Mike" Hostetler has had extensive experience representing clients on both sell-side and buy-side M&A’s with over five over $1B. In addition, he has supported more than 100 clients undergoing IP diligence for a venture round of investment.

Katharine Ku, Chief Licensing Advisor, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

Katharine "Kathy" Ku is the Chief Licensing Advisor at 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.

Kirsten Leute, Partner, University Relations, Osage University Partners

Osage University Partners ("OUP") has partnerships with 105 academic institutions and has over 100 university startup portfolio companies across their three funds. Kirsten will discuss her experience with deal structures and trends in startup licenses with universities.

About the organizers

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