We review or draft your IP policy covering modern categories - AI-assisted inventions, software, datasets, student contributions. We benchmark peer institutions and design procedures for every stage from intake through licensing.
Since 2000100+ ClientsNASA Prime Contractor of the Year 2022
A working TTO in weeks, not years
Launch & Run gives emerging research universities a fully operational technology transfer office on a monthly retainer. No $250K hire, no 12-month ramp, no single point of failure.
30-minute discovery call to assess fit
25 yrsContinuous operation since 2000
2,000+Technology evaluations conducted
100+Clients across universities, labs, corporations
50%Average reduction in client patent spend
What it does
Everything a TTO does, delivered as a service
Launch & Run covers the full scope of technology transfer work, from policy through licensing, using a methodology refined across NASA, Michigan State, and 100+ engagements.
IP policy and procedures built for your culture
We review or draft your IP policy covering modern categories - AI-assisted inventions, software, datasets, student contributions. We benchmark peer institutions and design procedures for every stage from intake through licensing.
Invention harvesting and evaluation
Proactive faculty outreach surfaces disclosures that would otherwise go unreported. Every invention passes through the IMS Triage-Screen-Assess gate before any patent dollars are spent, producing a documented Release, Monitor, or Pursue decision.
Market-centric marketing to industry
We identify top potential licensees and decision makers, build compelling value propositions, and run outreach campaigns. Patenting decisions are driven by evidence of licensee demand, not inventor enthusiasm.
License negotiation and partnership development
We negotiate license agreements, structure startup-friendly terms, and build industry partnerships. Our team brings relationships and pattern recognition from 25 years of deal-making across sectors.
Bayh-Dole compliance infrastructure
We build iEdison reporting, election of title processes, and patent filing obligation tracking so federally funded research stays compliant without burdening faculty or administrators.
Quarterly reporting to leadership
Portfolio state, pipeline activity, licensing revenue, and patent spend reported on a regular cadence. Leadership sees outcomes, not just activity.
Outcomes
What clients say after working with us
“We licensed over 220 technologies capable of generating tens of millions of dollars in future revenue, enabled several startups, and eliminated a backlog of nearly 700 technologies.”
“AE's team quickly understood our technologies and helped investors appreciate the potential of our IP (now ~300 patents), which catalyzed over $200 million of capital investment.”
“Having someone like AE to engage with is a necessity to deliver the services we need for faculty to have a greater chance for success in commercializing a diverse range of techs.”
“We are impressed by the ability of Acuity Edge's experienced team to understand complex technologies and connect with the right contacts in industry to help get deals done.”
Side by side
Launch & Run vs. hiring a full-time TTO director
Launch & RunFull-time TTO hire
Operational in weeks+×
Predictable monthly retainer+×
Experience from 100+ institutions+×
Proven stage-gated methodology (IMS)+×
No recruiting fees or ramp period+×
Team bench depth, not a single point of failure+×
Reduces patent spend 40-50% while growing licensing+×
Clear transition path to in-house operation+×
Questions
Common questions about Launch & Run
What is Launch & Run?+
Launch & Run is Acuity Edge's fractional technology transfer program for emerging research universities. We build your T2 infrastructure (IP policy, disclosure process, procedures, compliance) and then operate your TTO on a monthly retainer, handling invention harvesting, evaluation, marketing, licensing, and reporting.
Who is Launch & Run built for?+
Emerging research universities with meaningful faculty research activity but without the disclosure volume or budget to justify a full-time internal TTO. Typical fits include R2 universities pursuing R1 status, R3 institutions pursuing R2, liberal arts colleges expanding into STEM, regional comprehensives, faith-based institutions, and international universities building T2 from scratch.
How fast can we be operational?+
Weeks, not months. The launch phase builds your IP policy, disclosure workflow, procedures, and compliance infrastructure quickly. Ongoing operations begin immediately after launch, with invention harvesting and evaluation starting right away.
How does this compare cost-wise to hiring a full-time TTO director?+
A full-time TTO director costs $250K+ annually when you include salary, benefits, infrastructure, travel, databases, and legal support. Launch & Run is priced as a monthly retainer at a fraction of that cost, with no recruiting fees, no ramp period, and no risk of a wrong hire. Our IMS evaluation gate also reduces patent spend by 40-50% on average.
What happens when our research volume grows?+
Launch & Run includes a clear transition path. When your disclosure volume and licensing activity justify an in-house team, we hand off a documented, functioning operation with established procedures. You inherit a system that works, not a blank slate.
What is the Invention Management System?+
The IMS is Acuity Edge's proprietary 8-step commercialization methodology, organized into four phases: Evaluation (Triage, Screen, Assess), Protection (Patent), Execution (Prepare, Market, License), and Management (Manage). It is stage-gated, market-centric, and has been refined across 2,000+ technology evaluations over 25 years. It is documented in the book 'Commercializing NASA Technologies.'
Get started
Get a working TTO without the hire
Book a 30-minute call to see if Launch & Run fits your institution. We will assess your current state and outline what operational T2 would look like for you.
Book a call→