Univ. triples yearly number of startup companies
Hopkins increased the number of licensing people in the Technology Transfer Office by 40 percent.
Kubisen pointed out that the greater number of startup companies is indicative of the University's increased focus in the field.
"What the startups really demonstrate is the entrepreneurial activity of the University: taking stuff that isn't ready for prime-time corporate investment and pulling together a business where one didn't exist before," he stated.
According to Kubisen, having more than 10 startups per year puts the University in the top 10 in the nation.
He noted that at the end of last year, the number of potential companies in the pipeline was 22, though he said that not all of them would become ventures.
Kubisen stated that this year's goal is 10 new startup companies. He also emphasized the large amount of capital raised this past year.
"What's unique about us is we had six of these things that were venture capital or corporate funded and raised over $76 million," he said. "That's probably the strongest portfolio in the nation this year."
The 12 new companies cover a variety of medical technologies: immunomodulatory therapies, infectious diseases and cancer, veterinary medicine, stem cell therapies, cosmetics, bio-based environmental remediation, therapies and diagnostics for neurodegenerative disease, neurological tissue regeneration and knockout animal models.
Since about two thirds of the University's research money is spent at the medical school, most of the companies are geared toward medical or scientific applications.
Thanks to the strength of Hopkins's oncology department, several of the technologies are directed toward improving cancer treatments.
Blakeslee pointed out that the medical focus of the startups was due to the larger proportion of research conducted in that area.
"Roughly 90 percent of our invention disclosures come from the School of Medicine, and so naturally that's where you're going to see most of your startups," he said.
Kubisen pointed out that the greater number of startup companies is indicative of the University's increased focus in the field.
"What the startups really demonstrate is the entrepreneurial activity of the University: taking stuff that isn't ready for prime-time corporate investment and pulling together a business where one didn't exist before," he stated.
According to Kubisen, having more than 10 startups per year puts the University in the top 10 in the nation.
He noted that at the end of last year, the number of potential companies in the pipeline was 22, though he said that not all of them would become ventures.
Kubisen stated that this year's goal is 10 new startup companies. He also emphasized the large amount of capital raised this past year.
"What's unique about us is we had six of these things that were venture capital or corporate funded and raised over $76 million," he said. "That's probably the strongest portfolio in the nation this year."
The 12 new companies cover a variety of medical technologies: immunomodulatory therapies, infectious diseases and cancer, veterinary medicine, stem cell therapies, cosmetics, bio-based environmental remediation, therapies and diagnostics for neurodegenerative disease, neurological tissue regeneration and knockout animal models.
Since about two thirds of the University's research money is spent at the medical school, most of the companies are geared toward medical or scientific applications.
Thanks to the strength of Hopkins's oncology department, several of the technologies are directed toward improving cancer treatments.
Blakeslee pointed out that the medical focus of the startups was due to the larger proportion of research conducted in that area.
"Roughly 90 percent of our invention disclosures come from the School of Medicine, and so naturally that's where you're going to see most of your startups," he said.
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