Sign
up to Be a Mentor for Science2008!
October 2, 2008
5 pm to 7 pm
Be
a mentor for an inventing scientist! If you don't know about the "First
Look" Technology Showcase at Science2008, basically, it goes something like
this:
What's the Deal?
The Office of Enterprise Development works with scientists who have invented a technology (most are medical) for which the University has filed for a patent. The scientists have agreed to prepare and present a traditional "poster session" at Science2008's opening night event reception, which is called the "First Look" Technology Showcase, but there's a twist!
Each participant is assigned to work with a business-savvy mentor who will help the scientist develop a verbal description of the invention that presents the invention as a solution to a problem. The team of inventor and mentor will appear live at the event, in front of their poster, to meet and greet potential investors and other scientists, and be ready to answer the following questions:
1. What is your product (or service)? (not your
technology, but the product you will produce with your technology)
2. What
is the application for your product? (what problem does it solve?)
3. Who should
buy your product? Why will they buy it?
4. What is the compelling advantage
over the status quo solution to the problem?
5. What is the size of the potential
market for your product and how competitive is it?
What are the obligations
of a volunteer mentor?
1. Meet with the inventing scientist: Together, you must develop answers to the five questions! You must be able to answer these questions when asked by attendees of the event, who are people interested in evaluating early stage technologies. It is recommended to have a brief 2 or 3 sentence statement that answers the question, "What is your invention?" (The "Elevator pitch")
2. Attend the event: Thursday October 2, 2008 at 5 pm to 7 pm. Light dinner fare and cocktails will be served at the reception.
3. Be ready to schmooze with the crowd! This event consists only of one-on-one interactions. YOU WILL NOT HAVE TO PRESENT AT A PODIUM, just stand by your poster and your scientist and interact with the many attendees.
4. That's it ! BUT, of course, if you want to do more - go right ahead! Some folks have gotten very creative in years past with some great results!
HOW DO I SIGN UP?
Just reply to Paul Petrovich at petrovic@pitt.edu with the subject line, "COUNT ME IN!" and we'll do the rest! In early September, we will be matching mentors with inventing scientists. We always get more volunteers than we have inventors, so if you don't get chosen this time, don't get discouraged!
It would help us to do the matching if you can submit your CV (if it's handy). If not, don't worry!