Are scientific/marketing references included at the initial proposal stage (it is technology-based)?
Not initially, but as we move thru the different stages, the documentation becomes more demanding. For example, for a technology venture, the ownership of the IP must be clearly established; i.e. who holds the patent? Is a licensing arrangement envisioned or signed? For Rutgers technology, we need clearance from OCLTT. In my experience the biggest challenge of ventures is putting together a management team (including the lead technologist) who can get things going. In your particular case, since I assume you will be the lead technologist, the management team gap you are more likely to face is in marketing and operations. You can always hire accounting, legal and other services. However, it helps if someone in the team has startup experience and knows how to negotiate with service providers, including the investors. Again, in my experience, it takes one, two, or even three years to assemble all the pieces investors want to see before they tell you they are going to write a check, and th
