Spin-out Questionnaire

Company / Project Name:
Researchers and Departments involved:
Isis File Number:
Isis Project Manager:
Document Date:
Target Investment Date:

The Proposed Business

• Product / Service Offering
  - What Product / Services will the company sell in the short, medium and long term?
  
  
• Source of Products/Services
  - Where will the company get the products / services it sells (develop them, manufacture in house, buy in, already has them etc.)?
  
  
• Target Market(s)
  - Estimate of market(s) size; whether they are growing, static or declining; potential competitors.
  
  
• Route to Market
  - How will the goods/services be sold?
  
  
• Business Projection
  - What are expected sales, margin, overheads and cash requirement for the first few years? (We could provide pro forma spreadsheets if required)
  
  
• Who will Work in the Business?
  - Give the names of the individuals if known and state whether full or part time (quantify part time). State specifically who will be responsible for the following key functions:
  
  
  • Product Development (R&D) / Procurement
  • Sales and Marketing
  • Finance / Accounting
  • Leadership / General Management
  
  
• Who are the proposed Directors and Company Secretary?
  
  
• Who are the proposed Lawyers, Accountants and Bankers?

Investment

• What existing University Intellectual Property will be needed by the company?
  
  
• What cash evaluation is placed on this IP?
  
  
• What is the total cash investment by external investors?
  
  
• Who are the external investors?
  
  
• What equity is offered to the University and the investors?

Risks

What are the major sources of risk / uncertainty in this proposal?
(Technical risks, academic competition, commercial competition, management risks)

 

The Science and Intellectual Property

The purpose of these sections is to enable Isis and the University to understand and evaluate both the quality and the security of the science, in order to form an opinion of its potential value.

Please add a section, which will describe, to a suitably qualified person, the basis of the science, the relevant experience of the scientists involved, and likely developments in the field.

Also describe both the intellectual property and the know-how which will be going into the company (including patents, both filed and potential).

Ongoing Research

Will the company place research contracts with the University? If so, enclose details of the duration and magnitude of the proposed projects. Have terms been agreed with the University? Will royalty payments be involved?