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The Post Request for Proposals: Biotherapeutics Technology Pitch Event

Request for Proposals: Biotherapeutics Technology Pitch Event

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Dear colleagues,  

The Column Group (TCG), a San Francisco-based biotech venture capital group with $3.5B in assets under management, focused on building new drug discovery and development companies, is eager to learn more about new technologies/approaches being advanced at the University of Utah (UofU). TCG is open to the possibility of building companies locally as part of a broader effort to foster the development of the biotech community in Utah. TCG recognizes the unique opportunity created by the innovative science at the University of Utah and its ecosystem of related companies, as well as the attractive quality of life afforded by the Salt Lake City/Park City area. To kickstart this, TCG will host a pitch event for selected academic groups and local biotech startups with UofU faculty involvement interested in advancing their work to the discovery and development of new therapeutic agents.  

The UofU Technology Commercialization Office (TCO) is helping to facilitate this unique partnership. Interested applicants will submit brief proposals (required materials listed below) by 5:00pm (MST) on March 11, 2024. The TCG team will conduct a confidential internal review and select up to 12 proposals for an in-person pitch event to the firm’s leadership team.  This pitch event will be held at the UofU on April 24-25, 2024, Location TBD. Each of the selected applicants will have the opportunity to present for 30 minutes, with an additional 15 minutes reserved for open Q&A and discussion. This event will generate valuable feedback for the scientists, as well as guidance on further development of the technology. Proposals must be submitted via the program portal: 

 https://utah.infoready4.com/#freeformCompetitionDetail/1931407. 

This announcement serves as the RFP for this opportunity. Full details are found below.  You can learn more about TCG here, including information about the team, and direct links to their current portfolio of companies. More information about the UofU Technology Licensing Office (TLO) can be found here. Thank you.  

Sincerely,  

Jim Hotaling, MD MS FECSM
Associate Vice President of Research for Innovation and Translation
University of Utah 

Jared Rutter, PhD
HHMI Investigator
Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry
University of Utah School of Medicine 

Program Description 

The Column Group (TCG), a San Francisco-based biotech venture capital group with $3.5B in assets under management, focused on building new drug discovery and development companies, is eager to learn more about new technologies/approaches being advanced at the University of Utah (UofU). TCG is open to the possibility of building companies locally as part of a broader effort to foster the development of the biotech community in Utah. TCG recognizes the unique opportunity created by the innovative science at the University of Utah and its ecosystem of related companies, as well as the attractive quality of life afforded by the Salt Lake City/Park City area. To kickstart this, TCG will host a pitch event for selected academic groups and local biotech startups with UofU faculty involvement interested in advancing their work to the discovery and development of new therapeutic agents.  

The UofU Technology Commercialization Office (TCO) is helping to facilitate this unique partnership. Interested applicants will submit brief proposals (required materials listed below) by 5:00pm (MST) on March 11, 2024. The TCG team will conduct a confidential internal review and select up to 12 proposals for an in-person pitch event to the firm’s leadership team.  This pitch event will be held at the UofU on April 24-25, 2024, Location TBD.  Each of the selected applicants will have the opportunity to present for 30 minutes, with an additional 15 minutes reserved for open Q&A and discussion.  This event will generate valuable feedback for the scientists, as well as guidance on further development of the technology. 

Eligibility Criteria  

  • Only therapeutic applications will be considered. Diagnostics, medical devices, etc. fall outside the scope of TCG’s investment thesis and scientific expertise. 
  • Technologies that are already licensed to early-stage companies as well as those being developed fully within the University setting, including in an accelerator such as U2TAH, are eligible.  We also welcome submissions from faculty at the UofU who have formed companies but have not licensed technology from TLO. 
  • Promising science with potential commercial applications in the therapeutics space is also welcomed, even if no IP has been filed. 
  • Applicants must be faculty at the University, or their start-up must be based in Utah, to be eligible for this pitch event.  

Program Deadlines 

Proposals are due by 5:00pm (MST) on March 11, 2024. Late proposals will not be accepted.  

Required Proposal Materials 

1.) Technology/Approach Summary: 1-page maximum, 12pt. font, single-spaced, PDF ONLY
At minimum, the Summary must provide a brief overview of the following:  

  • The scientific approach: what you are trying to accomplish 
  • Potential therapeutic application(s): what is the impact of what you are trying to accomplish 
  • Competitive differentiation: why/how this concept or technology is set up to be successful and/or competitive 
  • Assessment of key risks to the approach/technology: what are challenges, threats, or barriers of this concept or technology 

2.) Team Roster: 1-page maximum, 12pt. font, single-spaced, PDF ONLY
Please identify all key personnel on your proposed team AND their potential role in the further development of the technology. Please list full name, affiliation, and expertise for everyone. 

3.) Slide Deck: 6-slide maximum, PDF Format ONLY
The associated slide deck should demonstrate and/or illustrate the technology or approach, including any key pieces of data. Due to the technical mechanics of the InfoReady system, please ensure your slide deck is uploaded as a PDF file.  

4.) Questionnaire: To be collected/completed within InfoReady.
Thorough response to the following questions must be provided:  

  • What existing financial support exists for the development of this technology, if any? If there is existing financial support, please identify how much and the source(s) of funding.  
  • Has the technology been disclosed to the Technology Licensing Office (TLO)?  
  • Has the technology been licensed to a startup company? If yes, how much funding has the company raised and from what source(s?)  
  • Is the technology currently supported by the Utah Therapeutics Accelerator (or any other similar entity)? If yes, where?  
  • Please list any other information that would be important to disclose prior to review of this submission. 

Review Process and Evaluation Criteria
The TCG team will conduct a confidential internal review and select up to 12 proposals for an in-person presentation to the firm’s leadership team. 

Submit a Proposal
Proposals must be submitted via InfoReady. Please submit here: https://utah.infoready4.com/#freeformCompetitionDetail/1931407.  

Contact Information
For program-specific questions, please contact Brian Kraft. For technical questions/issues related to using InfoReady, please contact VPR Grants.