Tech Transfer Articles

In this podcast episode, BYU Tech Transfer Director David Brown and patent attorney Adam Stevens explore the top five patent challenges faced by universities and inventors in the tech transfer process. They discuss crucial topics such as:

In this episode, BYU Tech Transfer Director Dave Brown and Office Controller David Campbell discuss the five main accounting challenges faced by university tech transfer offices. They cover essential topics like:

In this episode, BYU Tech Transfer's Bennett Mortensen interviews Kelvin Cullimore, President and CEO of BioUtah, about the vital role BioUtah plays in fostering growth in Utah’s life sciences sector. Kelvin shares insights into Utah’s booming life sciences industry, BioUtah’s advocacy work, and the importance of networking in creating industry-academia-government partnerships. He also offers advice for early-stage life science startups on validating ideas, finding investment, and leveraging BioUtah’s events for networking and capital formation. This episode is essential for entrepreneurs, researchers, and investors interested in the thriving life sciences ecosystem in Utah.

In this episode, BYU Tech Transfer Director Dave Brown speaks with Olin Beck, CEO of Watt Power, a BYU-based startup focused on converting waste sugars into electricity using a unique catalytic process. Olin shares his journey from biotech to the energy sector, discussing the science behind Watt Power’s catalyst and its potential applications in waste management and carbon capture. They cover the challenges of scaling capital-intensive technology, working with BYU’s tech transfer office, and navigating the startup world. This episode is ideal for entrepreneurs, energy innovators, and anyone interested in sustainable technology commercialization.

In this episode, BYU Tech Transfer Director Dave Brown and Licensing Associate Bennett Mortensen discuss the groundbreaking Generative AI Governance Framework report, co-authored by BYU�s Dr. David Wood and industry experts. They delve into the report�s strategic recommendations for companies navigating AI adoption, covering essential issues like data privacy, employee creativity, and operational efficiency. Dave and Bennett explore the balance between empowering employees with AI tools and addressing ethical, regulatory, and security concerns. This episode is essential for business leaders, tech transfer professionals, and innovators interested in leveraging AI responsibly to gain a competitive edge.

In this special episode, BYU Tech Transfer Director Dave Brown hosts a panel discussion featuring top BYU faculty, including Professor Larry Howell and licensing expert Adam Stevens, to explore the critical role of technology transfer in advancing research and innovation. The forum highlights BYU’s unique approach to tech commercialization, aligning it with the university’s mission to bless communities and improve lives. Panelists discuss the journey from research to licensing, emphasizing student involvement, spiritual motivation, and the distinctive opportunities BYU offers for commercialization. This episode is essential for anyone interested in the intersection of faith, innovation, and tech transfer at a leading university.

In this engaging talk at Snow College, Bennett Mortensen, founder of BAM Innovations and licensing specialist at BYU’s Tech Transfer Office, shares insights on product development, licensing, and building successful student startups. With expertise in R&D, manufacturing, and intellectual property, Bennett guides students on how to evaluate ideas, understand IP options, and develop budget-friendly prototypes. He highlights the realities of licensing for underfunded startups, offering unique models that reduce upfront costs and align with long-term revenue goals. This session is ideal for students, aspiring entrepreneurs, and anyone looking to bring ideas to market with limited resources.

In this episode, BYU Tech Transfer Director Dave Brown and Licensing Associate Bennett Mortensen dive into recent articles and studies that reveal surprising insights about entrepreneurship. From cognitive flexibility as a key trait for successful founders to the power of storytelling in business, they discuss how these findings impact aspiring entrepreneurs. They also explore the rise of social entrepreneurship, the role of networking, and why more people are drawn to launching startups today. This episode is packed with valuable perspectives for students, entrepreneurs, and anyone curious about the evolving landscape of innovation.

In this presentation to faculty, BYU Tech Transfer Director Dave Brown provides a comprehensive overview of BYU’s tech transfer mission, emphasizing its unique approach to commercialization, student engagement, and the creation of startup companies. Dave explains BYU’s initiatives in helping students bring innovations to life, from prototyping to licensing support. BYU offers validation and traction grants, a robust mailing list, and hands-on learning experiences. Dave also discusses collaborations with resources like the Utah Innovation Center to help student startups secure SBIR/STTR grants, highlighting a range of BYU-supported entrepreneurial paths. This episode is essential for students, faculty, and anyone interested in university-driven innovation.

In this episode, BYU Tech Transfer Director Dave Brown speaks with Benoy Tamang, a seasoned CEO coach and serial entrepreneur with a background in founding and scaling tech businesses. Benoy shares his journey from tech operations to coaching, emphasizing the critical skills CEOs need as they scale their companies, including delegation, relationship-building, and self-awareness. They discuss the importance of a CEO’s ability to adapt, manage investor relations, and maintain work-life balance. This episode is invaluable for startup founders, tech entrepreneurs, and business leaders seeking insights into the challenges and rewards of effective leadership.

In this episode, BYU Tech Transfer Director Dave Brown and Licensing Associate Bennett Mortensen discuss the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in university tech transfer. From generating marketing content to identifying potential commercialization partners, they explore how AI tools streamline busywork, improve market targeting, and enhance outreach efforts. They share specific AI applications like automated cell sheet creation, AI-assisted patent reviews, and Opus Clip for video marketing. This episode offers essential insights for tech transfer professionals, university administrators, and entrepreneurs interested in integrating AI to maximize tech commercialization efforts.

In this episode, BYU Tech Transfer Director Dave Brown interviews Joon Beh, CEO and founder of Hallo.ai, a unique AI-driven language learning platform. Hallo.ai allows users to engage in real-time conversations with AI tutors, making language practice accessible and immersive. Joon shares his entrepreneurial journey, from his early challenges as a non-technical founder to building a scalable, subscription-based model focused on AI tutoring. He discusses overcoming obstacles, like visa issues and finding a technical co-founder, and the business pivots that led to Hallo.ai�s current success. This episode is a must-listen for language learners, AI enthusiasts, and aspiring entrepreneurs interested in scaling AI applications.

In this episode, BYU Tech Transfer Director Dave Brown talks with Dr. John Cox, a BYU inventor and therapist, about Cosmic Battle Training (CBT), a therapeutic card game designed to teach children and adolescents Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) skills. Dr. Cox explains how the game’s space battle theme engages players as they learn to counter “attack cards” representing cognitive errors, like catastrophizing and negative labeling, with “defense cards” that introduce positive CBT concepts. The game promotes self-awareness and emotional resilience, making it a valuable tool for therapists, parents, and educators who want to help kids develop mental health skills in a fun, interactive way.

In this episode, BYU Tech Transfer Director Dave Brown interviews Jerry Hancock, the co-founder of Sub Zero Ice Cream, who shares how his chemistry background inspired him to create a unique, customizable ice cream experience. Starting from a simple idea to eliminate freezers, Jerry explains how he leveraged chemistry to make fresh ice cream using liquid nitrogen, allowing customers to tailor flavors and textures. He delves into the science behind freezing methods and discusses his journey from BYU student to successful entrepreneur, offering valuable insights for aspiring food tech entrepreneurs and scientists interested in product innovation.

In this episode, BYU Tech Transfer Director Dave Brown sits down with Andrew Krauss, co-founder of InventRight, to discuss how inventors can bring their ideas to market through licensing. With over 25 years of experience, Andrew shares InventRight’s approach to helping creators evaluate product potential, file provisional patents strategically, and build strong licensing relationships. They cover the value of licensing over venturing, the importance of conducting market research, and the critical role of creating effective sell sheets. This episode is a must-listen for inventors, entrepreneurs, and tech transfer professionals seeking practical advice on commercializing new products.

In this episode, BYU Tech Transfer Director Dave Brown sits down with Randy Davies, a professor of instructional psychology, and Michael Murff, a PhD student in measurement and evaluation, to discuss WriteGrader, a revolutionary AI grading tool designed to alleviate the workload of teachers. Built by Gen AI Learning Solutions, WriteGrader uses advanced AI to provide consistent, rubric-based grading and real-time feedback for essays, saving teachers hours of work. The discussion covers how the tool was designed for ease of use, integrates customizable rubrics, and delivers feedback that helps both students and teachers improve. This episode is perfect for educators, tech innovators, and anyone interested in AI’s potential to enhance education.

In this episode, BYU Tech Transfer Director Dave Brown and Adam Stevens, a patent attorney with nearly two decades of experience, discuss the intricate details of patent drafting, particularly the concept of enablement. Adam explains the importance of ensuring that patent applications include sufficient detail to allow others skilled in the art to reproduce the invention, highlighting cases where applications fail due to broad claims with insufficient examples. They also explore the latest changes in patent law, such as double patenting and terminal disclaimers, and how these impact tech entrepreneurs and licensing strategies. Essential for inventors and entrepreneurs, this episode provides guidance on strengthening patent applications from the start.

In this episode, BYU Tech Transfer Director Dave Brown speaks with Taylor Bench from Summit Venture Studio, a unique venture studio focused on transforming university-based ideas into viable businesses. Taylor explains the venture studio model, specifically how Summit differs by focusing on idea-driven projects rather than founder-led startups. They dive into the process of working with tech transfer offices to identify promising technologies and create companies around them, leveraging intellectual property and research-backed innovations. This conversation is essential for university entrepreneurs, tech transfer professionals, and anyone interested in the growing role of venture studios in tech commercialization.