From Lab to Launch: Crafting Investor-Ready Pitches for University Startups

People sitting on couches and chairs in a modern office space listening to a man in a blue shirt and shorts give a presentation

4480 2nd Avenue Second Floor, Assembly Hall Sacramento, CA 95817
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Pitching an early-stage science- and technology-based startup to potential funders can be intimidating. Learning how to tailor your presentation and understanding what motivates funders to say yes are important aspects of preparing for your initial pitch. This talk, led by Kirsten Leute, Senior Vice President for University Relations at the venture fund Osage University Partners (OUP), will be structured around the firm’s many years of experience in hearing pitches and reviewing pitch decks to provide insight on creating and presenting an initial startup pitch to funders. The talk will delve into the venture capitalist mentality and will discuss the following areas:

  • Pitching guidelines and suggestions
  • Who pitches?
  • Essential elements of the deck – and how much of each element to present
  • Example slides
  • What next?

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About the Speaker

Kirsten Leute is Senior Vice President for University Relations at Osage University Partners (OUP). In leading University Relations for OUP, Kirsten is responsible for the relationships with the more than 100 academic institutions that are partnered with the fund, engaging potential new partner institutions, and creating and delivering value-add programs for the partnered academic institutions.

Kirsten is an experienced technology transfer professional, having spent 19 years in technology transfer at Stanford University and the German Cancer Research Center. Prior to joining OUP, she was Associate Director at Stanford’s Office of Technology Licensing. Over her career at Stanford, she managed portfolios of inventions in most technology areas, but concentrated in biotechnology.

Kirsten continues to be actively involved in technology transfer and university startups outside her daily work. She is currently on advisory boards for the University of Michigan and University of Arizona technology transfer offices, is a board member of Women in Bio, is an Adcom member for America’s Seed Fund (SBIR/STTR out of NSF), and is a former two-time board member for the Association of University Technology Managers.