KU News Release

KU faculty members to give presentations at upcoming technology workshop

LAWRENCE — A one-day workshop will give university students and faculty the tools to become technology entrepreneurs.

“Invention to Venture” is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, 4801 Rockhill Rd., Kansas City, Mo.

“It’s designed to educate students and faculty about the technology commercialization process,” said Jim Baxendale, director of technology transfer and intellectual property at the University of Kansas. “Our panelists have experience identifying technologies with commercial potential. They also have experience assisting and growing early-stage companies. This workshop presents a great opportunity for students and faculty members to learn from the pros.”

The workshop fee is $10 for students, $25 for faculty members and $75 for the business community. Lunch and a continental breakfast are provided, and registration scholarships for students are available. For more information and a full agenda or to register, go to www.invention2venture.org.

Presentations will focus on venture capital, marketing, intellectual property, business plans and related topics. Presenters include:

— Bo Fishback, director of advancing innovation at the Kauffman Foundation
— Patrick Woolley, chair of the Science and Technology and Life Sciences Practice Group with the law firm of Polsinelli Shalton Flanigan Suelthaus in Kansas City
— Frank Kruse, chief operating officer of Matrix Medical in Kansas City
— KU faculty members Val Stella, Lisa Friis and Wally Meyer
— University of Missouri-Kansas City faculty members Walt Rychlewski and Mark Parry
— Michael Peck, general partner in the Kansas City office of Open Prairie Ventures

Invention to Venture is sponsored by the Office of Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property at KU and the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at UMKC, in cooperation with the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance and the Lemelson Foundation. Additional funding is provided by the Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation and the Polsinelli law firm.

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The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. University Relations is the central public relations office for KU's Lawrence campus.