How to Start a Biotech Venture

Biotech companies are revolutionizing the world we live in. However, when starting a biotech venture, innovators face business challenges that go beyond regular business formation–protecting their intellectual property, securing enough financial resources, and attracting key employees and advisors.

By the end of the course, you will have the knowledge and confidence to tackle a plethora of strategic and operational challenges you are going to face as a biotech entrepreneur. To do so the course offers insights into how to build a high-performing team, how to manage the business's finances, how to ensure the venture is aligned with the market you are operating in, how to protect your intellectual property, and how to navigate legal and regulatory challenges. Thus, this course can help you to get your biotech innovation off the ground and helps you to broaden your perspective in terms of what are key business aspects to be mindful of as an early-stage biotech entrepreneur.

The course is brought to you by the Technical University of Munich - one of Europe’s most outstanding universities in research and innovation. It offers academic expertise on biotech entrepreneurship which is expanded by the hands-on expertise of those working in the field such as industry experts, patent attorneys, and entrepreneurs who will share their advice and experiences.

Module 1: Building Your Team

Introduction on what to look out for when building a team, how to grow the team successfully, and how advisors and experts ideally complement your team.

Module 2: Understanding Finance and Accounting

Overview of the basics of finance including cash management, and potential sources of financing, as well as an introduction to the key financial statements you should know.

Module 3: Defining Your Market Strategy

Outline how to ensure your technology targets a relevant market problem, how different marketing challenges should be foreseen early on, and how communication can benefit an early-stage biotech venture.

Module 4: Protecting Your Intellectual Property

Overview of the basics of IP protection, what to be mindful of in the technology transfer process, and how to approach patenting strategically.

Module 5: Navigating the Legal Landscape

Introduction to several key legal aspects when founding a biotech venture—from incorporation and regulatory requirements to compliance considerations.