What does it take to spin-out an innovation from the university lab into a successful business?

In this episode, Sarah Allison, Senior Consultant at Oxentia, interviews Robert Brüll, the CEO and Co-founder of FibreCoat. Robert shares his experiences from the university spin-out process, from filing patents to pivoting during the shocks of the COVID pandemic. He emphasises the importance of having broad protection initially and building a positive relationship with the university. They also talk about the significance of starting the discussion early and allowing ample time for negotiation.

Timestamps

The negotiation with the university [00:08:13] 

Robert discusses the challenges and process of negotiating with the university for intellectual property rights.

The challenges faced during growth [00:04:37] 

Robert talks about the challenges faced during the growth phase of the company, including scaling, supply chain issues, and the energy crisis.

Setting up the company and pivoting [00:01:18] 

Robert shares the story of how Fiber Coat was created, including its spinoff from the university, initial development, and the pivot to metal fibers.

The importance of broad protection in IP [00:12:47] 

Robert discusses the need for a patent that accounts for potential applications and pivots to provide broad protection.

Advice for founders engaging in spin out formation [00:14:15] 

Robert emphasises the importance of starting early and working on the relationship with the university.

The benefits of a win-win approach [00:15:41] 

Robert highlights the benefits of finding common ground and working together with the university for a successful outcome.

Robert Brüll, CEO of FibreCoat, and Sarah Allison, Senior Consultant at Oxentia.

Contact us with any questions at [email protected]

Episode transcript

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