Tag: Entrepreneurship

Blog

From Disclosure to Market: How the BioVentures Process Works 

Curious how an idea becomes a protected invention at UAMS?  At BioVentures, we guide innovators through every step, from disclosure to patent decisions and market strategy. Here’s how the process works, what to expect, and how we support you along the way. 1) Submit Your Invention Disclosure  The first step is fully and adequately disclosing your invention to BioVentures by submitting an invention disclosure. Even if you’ve already reached out to schedule a meeting, we require a disclosure to initiate the process. It allows us to review the technology in advance, and gather essential information on compliance, funding, and inventorship.  We’ve recently adopted a new AI-powered disclosure platform to simplify the process. You can upload relevant documents—papers, figures, posters, presentations—and the system will generate a draft disclosure for you to review and edit before submission:  👉 Submit your disclosure  The form captures a complete overview of your invention, its potential applications, and any existing data or prototypes. Once submitted, BioVentures typically reviews the disclosure within 1–2 weeks before scheduling a meeting with you.  Typical timing: BioVentures review in 1–2 weeks.  2) Meeting with the Technology Manager  We meet with the inventor to clarify the technology, confirm federal compliance needs, capture inventor and funding information, and discuss long‑term goals and commercialization paths.  Typical timing: Scheduled within 1–2 weeks after disclosure review.  3) P&CC Decision (Patent & Copyright Committee)  The inventor presents at the P&CC. This committee reviews the presented technology and makes a determination on how the technology should be protected. Outcomes can include:  Typical timing: P&CC is usually scheduled 1–2 months after acceptance of the disclosure.  4) Protection Strategy Based on P&CC Outcome  The legal protection route follows the P&CC decision. If a provisional patent filing is recommended, we move quickly to secure a priority date and a 12‑month window to strengthen data and assess market potential. This is because in the United States is a first to file country which means that the right to a patent generally belongs to whichever inventor files an application with the USPTO first, not to whoever first conceives the idea. As such, protecting your invention in a timely manner is important to us.   Typical timing: Provisional filing is typically completed within a few weeks of the P&CC meeting.  5) Marketing and Commercial Pathways  If the inventor agrees, we begin targeted outreach. Options include:  Why Early Disclosure Matters  Submitting your invention disclosure early is essential. It helps preserve your patent rights before any public disclosure or publication, ensuring your ability to pursue protection. Early disclosure also allows BioVentures to align your IP strategy with funding sources and compliance requirements, and accelerates our ability to evaluate the market potential and identify relevant partners.  This overview is for general information and does not constitute legal advice. Specific strategies and timelines may vary by technology.  Have an invention to disclose? Submit your disclosure now!

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Blog

BioVentures Supports UAMS M1 Students in PCAR Summer Program

BioVentures supported University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) first-year medical students this summer through the Partnership in Cancer Research (PCAR) program. Over eight weeks, participants worked in multidisciplinary teams to address real-world challenges in cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, or survivorship. The program culminated in entrepreneurial pitch presentations to a panel of judges. Three BioVentures team members served as mentors, advising students on refining problem statements, assessing market opportunities, and developing business models. Another team member participated as a judge, providing feedback from a commercialization perspective. The collaboration aimed to foster entrepreneurial thinking, highlight the role of innovation in cancer care, and encourage future clinician-innovators at UAMS. This initiative reflects BioVentures’ ongoing commitment to advancing healthcare entrepreneurship and translating research into real-world impact.

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Events

BioVentures Innovation Week to Celebrate Innovation & Entrepreneurship at UAMS 

BioVentures invites the UAMS community to Innovation Week, May 12-15, 2025.  Designed to showcase innovation, foster industry connections and highlight the pathway from research to commercialization, Innovation Week offers opportunities for everyone from seasoned inventors and those just starting out.  Whether you’re an entrepreneur, inventor, researcher or industry partner, Innovation Week is your chance to engage with the thriving healthcare innovation ecosystem at UAMS and beyond.  Innovation Week Highlights  Join us to learn, connect and take your ideas to the next level.   Learn more & register.

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ACTIVE

Learn About ACTIVE at Virtual Open House 

The Arkansas Collaborative for Technological and Innovative Venture Equality (ACTIVE) is hosting two online information session events. Interact live with leadership to learn more about ACTIVE and find out if you are a good candidate for the program.

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ACTIVE

ACTIVE Program Accepting Applications for 2025 Cohort 

The Arkansas Collaborative for Technological and Innovative Venture Equality (ACTIVE) is accepting applications for its 2025 cohort. This unique initiative is aimed at Arkansans who have faced social and economic barriers to entrepreneurship, providing them with the tools, mentorship and resources needed to advance health care and health technology innovations.  Applications are welcome from UAMS faculty, trainees, students and staff, as well as members of the public.  The supports early-stage startups and individuals with innovative health-related ideas, including a 10-week training series, mentorship, individualized resources, and access to valuable consultations and networking events. Be part of a community of visionaries working to shape the future of health care in Arkansas.  The deadline to apply is Friday, Nov. 22. The 2025 cohort will begin in January 2025.  ACTIVE is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency’s Capital Readiness Program and is administered by BioVentures LLC.  To apply, complete the application form. For more information, visit the ACTIVE website or email ACTIVE@UAMS.edu. 

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ACTIVE

ACTIVE Spotlight: Jamie Johnson, Founder of empowerHERjourney 

Jamie Johnson wants to empower women by providing confidential, customized support during pregnancy, connecting them with the right resources when they need them the most.  But first she realized she needed to empower herself to make her ideas a reality: by gaining entrepreneurial skills backed up by the confidence to forge ahead. Johnson is part of the Arkansas Collaborative for Technological and Innovative Venture Equality (ACTIVE), a supportive accelerator program for Arkansas entrepreneurs in healthcare or health tech who come from groups with historically limited access to business capital. ACTIVE is funded by the Capital Readiness Program from the Minority Business Development Agency. “Business ideas have crossed my mind, but I’ve always believed you have to come from a business background to do something like that,” Johnson said. “I know I want to make a difference in our state and the world someday, helping other women, and my eyes have been opened to new ways for me to do that.”  empowerHERjourney: Providing women with anonymous, interactive resources  Johnson is a licensed associate counselor with a Master of Science in marriage and family therapy. She has been a therapist since 2021 in a variety of settings and is transitioning to private practice to lean into her goal of working with the perinatal population.  Her business venture, which she has named empowerHERjourney, is a web-based and mobile-friendly platform offering anonymous and interactive resources to equip women to make informed decisions about their pregnancy, healthcare, mental health and support networks.  “I want women to have the resources they need at their fingertips for whatever issues or questions they have during pregnancy,” Johnson said. “And I want them to feel secure that the help they’re getting will be confidential and judgment-free.”  ACTIVE: Supporting entrepreneurs with resources, networks and training  Johnson is one of 25 members of the inaugural ACTIVE cohort. Since spring 2024, they have been learning business fundamentals through a bootcamp series hosted by ACTIVE partner, The Venture Center, while expanding their networks in the healthcare industry.   Next, ACTIVE programming will shift to focus on one-on-one support through customized mentorship and services. Each participant will receive about $4,500 worth of individualized assistance, such as help with marketing, market research, technology, cybersecurity, accounting and more.  The goal is for each cohort member to take their early-stage business to the next level, whether that’s just starting out, like Johnson, or ventures that are ready to raise funding and look for partners.  For Johnson, her current focus is her brand story. Inspired by the bootcamp’s core curriculum, she is finetuning her pitch and messaging. The process has really made her think about just how much her personal story is the fuel behind her drive.  Finding like-minded problem-solvers at the Maternal Health Hackathon  Johnson found out about ACTIVE by participating in another BioVentures project, the Maternal Health Hackathon in April 2024. Once there, she found herself surrounded by passionate people like her from all types of backgrounds and expertise with interest in solving the tough issues confronting maternal health. (Arkansas has one of the highest maternal mortality rates and the third-highest infant mortality rate in the nation.)  Although Johnson didn’t go to the event with a business idea in mind, when the round-robin brainstorming circle got to her, she spoke from the heart. She had faced her own challenges during the postpartum period and wants to make sure women facing any issue during pregnancy know where to turn.  Taking empowerHERjourney to the next level  The ideas flowed that night and continued to in the weeks that followed. Johnson decided to apply for ACTIVE, knowing she would need support to turn her idea into a business.  “Honestly, one of the biggest benefits of the program has been the ongoing individual meetings with staff from ACTIVE or The Venture Center,” Johnson said about the program’s monthly individual mentoring check-ins.  “For me, because I’m literally starting from scratch and because the business idea is so close to my heart, it’s so personal, I have had to learn not only the basic skills – how to market yourself, how to put your ideas out there on social media – but I’ve also had to learn that entrepreneurial mindset to put myself out there and not be afraid of rejection,” Johnson said. “That talking about your business and then receiving feedback, even if it’s critical – that’s actually a good thing.”  Johnson will continue to work on her marketing in the months ahead, complimented by networking events and pitch-refining opportunities hosted by ACTIVE. Meanwhile, she is also looking for technical partners to help build the site and conducting research on the full scope of support she can provide.  “I’m collecting data to find out more about where the need is. What are women wanting? What would be helpful? What do they wish they had more of?” Johnson said. “I can speak for myself, but everyone’s journey is different, and empowerHERjourney will be a resource for all women.” 

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