BERC x BCLT Cleantech Startup Series

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The Cleantech Startup Series is a 4-part event meeting every Wednesday in September at 5:30 pm in Room 100! Directly after the session, BCLT will host a happy hour in 295 Simon (Warren Room) where students can talk with the speakers and connect with other students interested in startups throughout all of UC Berkeley.

Below is a summary of each session:

Session 1 (9/7) — You have an idea–Now what?

The decisions that you make from the very first day could have significant long-term consequences–good and bad.  What should you be thinking about when you come up with a potentially new technology?  How should co-creators be working together?  What if you want to build a prototype? And what if you come up with your great idea while working for someone else?

You need to be able to answer these questions before making any significant decisions.  But for most new start-up innovators, they don’t have the benefit of attorneys or other seasoned start-up entrepreneurs.  

This session, taught by Silicon Valley start-up experts, will introduce you to the important issues that you need to know about on day 1.

Session 2 (9/14) — Starting and funding a new company–myth vs. reality

Congratulations, you have a new innovation and want to move forward with commercializing it.  How do you fund development and testing?  Time for venture capital money?  Maybe or maybe not.  Funding and corporate structures come in many flavors.  But which is right for you and your team?

This session, taught by Silicon Valley experts in start-up funding, will introduce you to the common funding practices used by innovators.

Session 3 (9/21) — Staffing and running a young tech company–avoid learning the hard way

For success, tech companies require talent.  Whether you are adding employee number 1 or hiring a third party to help with development, you face a series of challenges.  Who owns the IP?  How do you protect your trade secrets?  How do you actually hire someone under California law?  What if I am contracting with another company for a project?  HR is not just an issue for big companies.  Because every hiring decision is critical to a small company, you cannot afford to make mistakes.  But without help, HR mistakes are almost guaranteed.

This session, taught by leading HR attorneys in the tech field, will introduce you to the key issues that you must address when working with others.

Session 4 (9/28) — Technology Transactions–Why reinvent the wheel when you can license it?

You can spend time developing what others have already developed or you can focus on developing your specific innovation.  Technology transactions are at the core of almost every successful technology company.  But where do you start?  How can you get access to technology?  And how can you monetize technology that you are willing to share with others?     

This session, taught by leading technology transaction attorneys, will introduce you to the important aspects of technology transactions and how they can impact your business.

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