Part 3 of 6 · The Entrepreneur’s Guide to University Tech Transfer
The first couple of weeks after engaging a university tech transfer office (TTO) can feel like stepping into a new world. The beginning of the process can determine whether you ever see promising technologies or get left waiting.
(If you’re new to this space, start with How to Find and Approach a Tech Transfer Office, which covers the first step of reaching out. This post picks up from there: the first weeks of the process.)
The Summit Venture Studio team has worked within and with dozens of TTOs, and we’ve learned the patterns and ins and outs. The tech transfer office process has a rhythm: intro calls, NDAs, and the first wave of project recommendations. Understanding what happens in these early days can help founders move faster and build credibility from the start.
Uncertainty in the First Weeks
(We’ve already talked about clarity, credibility, and persistence in outreach in Working with a University Tech Transfer Office as a Founder. Once you’ve broken through that first stage, here’s what happens next.)
Entrepreneurs often approach a TTO without knowing what to expect. They send a note or email, get a reply, and then wonder: What happens next?
Some of the most common tripping points:
- No clear understanding of the timeline
- Surprise at being asked for an NDA early on
- Confusion when the office shares either one obscure project (or hundreds of abstracts)
The problem isn’t that TTOs are disorganized. It’s that founders don’t realize what the process looks like in the first two weeks.
“As soon as they respond, the best practice is to usually send them a short introduction slide… The next step would be to schedule a call and have that conversation… and then an NDA in place.”
– Crisman Armenta, Summit Venture Studio
Lost Time and Missed Opportunities
When founders are unprepared or uninformed about the steps in the university tech transfer office process, the first two weeks often drag into months:
- Waiting weeks to sign an NDA
- Fumbling through calls without a clear intro deck
- Failing to give feedback on projects, which discourages the TTO from sending more
“After (the NDA is in place), we usually expect the technology transfer offices to be sending us a couple of project recommendations… it can be as little as one, it can be as many as a list of 600.”
-Crisman, SVS
Without a plan, you risk:
- Losing momentum while competitors review the same opportunities.
- Getting buried in a pile of projects without a way to filter them.
- Leaving TTO staff uncertain about your seriousness.
The early days set the tone. If you waste them, it’s much harder to recover your credibility and momentum.
A Playbook for the First Two Weeks
Here’s how founders can handle the tech transfer office process with confidence:
1. Prepare Your Introduction Deck
Keep it short: 3-5 slides
Cover who you are, your background, your startup interests, and proof points (like prior ventures or sector expertise)
Send this as soon as a TTO responds. It saves you from repeating yourself on calls.
2. Expect an NDA Early
TTOs often require an NDA before sharing detailed information.
It might be project-specific or a blanket NDA. Either way, sign quickly to keep momentum.
Treat it as a standard step, not a red flag.
3. Anticipate Project Recommendations
Be ready for either a handful of technologies or an overwhelming list.
Have a framework in place to evaluate opportunities quickly.
At SVS, we’ve seen lists of 600+ projects. Without tools or filters, you’ll get lost.
4. Always Provide Feedback
Even if you’re not interested, respond with a short note: “Not a fit for us because of [reason].”
TTOs share that feedback with inventors, which improves future projects.
It also shows you’re engaged and encourages them to keep sending opportunities.
Sample Two-Week Timeline
Day 1-2
- Respond to TTO reply
- Send intro deck
- Schedule intro call
Day 3-5
- Intro call with TTO
- NDA signed
Day 5-10
- Receive first batch of project recommendations
- Begin initial review
Day 10-14
- Provide feedback on first batch
- Request more details on promising technologies
Recap
The tech transfer office process isn’t mysterious if you understand it follows a rhythm. In the first two weeks, you’ll:
1. Share your introduction deck.
2. Sign an NDA.
3. Receive project recommendations.
4. Provide feedback.
Approach these steps with preparation, and you’ll set yourself up for a productive relationship with the TTO.
FAQ
The process includes initial outreach, an introduction call, signing an NDA, receiving project recommendations, and providing feedback.
Most do. It may be project-specific or a blanket NDA, but either way it’s a normal part of the process.
It varies widely – sometimes just one or two, sometimes hundreds. Founders should have a way to filter and evaluate quickly.
Feedback helps TTO staff and inventors improve technologies for commercialization, and it encourages more deal flow to you.
Keep it to 3-5 slides. Focus on who you are, your track record, and what types of technologies you’re looking for.
Ready to go deeper in the tech transfer office process? At Summit Venture Studio, we’ve built TechTXR, our proprietary AI tool that helps us filter and prioritize hundreds of university projects so we can focus on the best 10%. As a co-founder working with SVS, that edge becomes part of your toolkit.
Work With Us to explore opportunities at Summit Venture Studio.
