A Guide To:
University Spinouts
At Pillar and Petri, half of our investments are in university spinouts. That’s why we created this collection of resources about what to to expect when you’re launching a company as a PhD, MBA or faculty-led startup.













































What should I know before starting a company for the first time?
Spinning out a deep tech company from a university is no walk in the park. Follow these 10 key principles to maximize your chances of success.

Starting a University
Spinout
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How-To's & Guides
If you’re a business person looking to create a university spinout, the first thing you will need is to find technology. We’ve curated our top tips for finding university tech, and how to analyze commercialization potential once you’ve found it.
We’ve collected our lessons learned and created a step-by-step timeline for spinning out university tech. If you are at an academic lab, this will help you know what to expect when you spin out your deep tech.
Protecting intellectual property is a crucial job for any start-up whose competitive edge comes from innovation, particularly those commercializing patentable technical or scientific advances.
Over 700,000 gross square feet to foster and support discovery, innovation, and commerce.
A biotech incubator to help high-potential, early-stage innovators in the life sciences.
Largest cleantech incubator in North America, operating a 100,000 sq. ft.

Starting a biotech spinout?
Petri is a new approach for formation-stage startups at the intersection of biology and engineering.
Starting a tech spinout?
Pillar is a seed-stage VC firm founded by 22 CEOs who have built Boston's biggest companies. We're the first capital in for founders, and enjoy the chance to brainstorm at the earliest stages.
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