Isis Innovation's Contribution

In addition to funding patents, Isis can assist in the spinning-out process.

Isis can help with the preparation of the business plan, which will provide the basis on which your investors will construct their proposals. Isis can assist in deciding how best to structure the new company (debt/equity; shares, share options etc). Isis can assist in identifying sources of investment finance through the Isis Angels Network and other contacts. Isis has a list of lawyers and accountants we have used before and can introduce you to them as well as to potential investors. Although the University must approve all spinout companies, Isis is involved in the approval process; and the University will consider the recommendations of Isis when deciding whether to accept an investment proposal.

To help define the business of the company we have developed the questionnaire which is included in these notes on pages 13 and 14. Although some of the questions appear trivial we have found that discussing them with researchers (particularly if there is more than one involved) is very helpful in stimulating discussion, and clarifying exactly what the spin-out is to do. Isis staff will be pleased to go through the questionnaire with you if you so wish.

During the spinning out process, as well as in the subsequent running of the business, it is important that the team has a leader. This may be a researcher, or possibly one of the investors or an identified manager. Isis can compensate to some extent for lack of leadership in the Spin-out team; but Isis will not be involved in the management of the resulting company (unless a member of Isis staff becomes involved as the University's appointed director). It is therefore important to establish a leader at an early stage. It may or may not be the case that the early leader eventually becomes the Managing Director of the company.