Business Advisory Group
The Business Advisory Group (BAG) is part of the University of Minnesota’s Technology Commercialization (Tech Comm) office, which connects groundbreaking university research with the marketplace. Tech Comm helps bring innovative discoveries based on University intellectual property from the lab and into the world through licensing and startup company formation – and BAG members play a critical role in that process.
The BAG is a broad-based network of entrepreneurs, business leaders, industry experts, and investors who provide guidance on commercialization strategies and help assess new business ideas across a wide range of sectors.
What BAG Members Do
This select group of individuals with varied expertise meets every other month via zoom, and offers invaluable expertise and connections to accelerate innovation. BAG members are asked to:
- Participate in virtual meetings every other month featuring research presentations, startup pipeline reviews, and deep dives into select technologies or ventures
- Share technical and market expertise to support early-stage innovation, and provide insight into development plans for advancing the innovation
- Help identify and connect entrepreneurs, investors, and CEOs
- Engage in networking with fellow members, university researchers, and the broader innovation ecosystem
- Provide feedback and insights outside of meetings as opportunities arise
Joining the Business Advisory Group (BAG)
If you are interested in joining the BAG, please fill out the BAG Member Interest Form at the bottom of this page. Our selections committee reviews and selects new BAG members on a quarterly basis and will notify you at that time on your selection. Membership decisions are determined by meeting these qualifications:
Current Priority Areas of Technical Experience
We are especially interested in BAG members with expertise in one or more of the following domains:
- Diagnostics & Biomarkers
- Therapeutics & Vaccines
- Life Science Research Tools
- Medical Devices and Medical Technology
- Imaging
- Plants and Agricultural Biotechnology
- Animal Health
- Food Science
- Education and Training
- Consumer Goods
- Communications and Networking
- High Tech
- Sustainable, Clean, and Green Technologies
- Materials and Chemicals
- Bioengineering
- Engineering
- Semiconductors
- Instrumentation, Sensors, and Controls
Ready to join? Complete BAG Member Interest Form
Questions?
If you'd like to learn more about the Business Advisory Group, feel free to reach out to Maria Ploessl at [email protected].