Tech Transfer Showcase

Advancing academic discoveries by connecting innovators with the partners who can bring them to market.

The Tech Transfer Showcase highlights promising academic innovations and connects research institutions with industry leaders, investors, and strategic partners. The program supports early-stage technologies by creating opportunities to build relationships, attract funding, and accelerate the journey from lab to market.Selected applicants present their most promising innovations live at the iC³ Life Science Summit, where universities and research institutions from across Texas showcase technologies ready for licensing, collaboration, or acquisition.

Applicant Requirements

Funding Requirements

Dilutive Funding Limit
Eligible applicants should have raised no more than $5 million in dilutive funding, supporting early-stage companies with strong innovation and growth potential.

Early-Stage Innovation

Technologies should represent early-stage development or promising intellectual property.

Tech Transfer Office Recommendation

Applications must be recommended by the institution’s Technology Transfer Office.

Institution Submission Limit

Each academic institution may submit up to two separate applications.

Non-Confidential Information

Applications must include non-confidential information only.

Who Can Apply ?

Academic institutions located in Texas with technologies available for licensing, collaboration, or acquisition.

Previous Tech Transfer Winners

Venu Varanasi, PhD, MS

The University of Texas at Arlington

Award Year : 2022

Alexandra Jamieson

The University of Texas at Arlington Research Institute

Award Year : 2023

Connie Manz, MS

The University of Texas at Dallas

Award Year : 2024

Linda Olafsen, PhD

Baylor University

Award Year : 2024

Iman Salafian, MS, PMP

The University of Texas at Austin

Award Year : 2024

Rose Pedretti, PhD

UT Southwestern Medical Center

Award Year : 2025

Eugene Chung

Rice University

Award Year : 2025

Christine Rohan, MBA

Vanderbilt University

Award Year : 2025

Testimonials

“BioNTX has created a unique opportunity for academic faculty to connect with and discuss our technologies with leading industry executives and commercially focused investors and partners. The feedback and conversations are vital to ensure that our basic research efforts align with commercial interests.”

“Winning second place was wonderful, but for me, this experience was more about the opportunity to share about the technology with potential partners, investors, and collaborators. The value for me was getting to meet new people and just the exposure of our technology, and so we know about other folks who are doing potentially related work. A number of people visited with me afterward, and I'm excited about the potential for obtaining additional funding support and moving this toward prototype, which is the next step for what we would like to do with our technology.”

“Winning the 2024 BioNTX Tech Transfer Showcase was a huge milestone for our technology and the University of Texas at Austin. The whole Tech Transfer Showcase program from pitch deck reviews, pitch practice and genuine feedback from the judges was incredibly valuable. The exposure gave us visibility and elevated our credibility within the investor community, which helped us reach critical funding and clinical milestones on our development path.”

"Texas Tech was excited to be selected as a finalist for the pitch event podium presentations. The mentoring process and practice sessions leading up to the pitch presentations were invaluable. This event is something all tech transfer offices could benefit from."

“The Tech Transfer Showcase is an excellent example of how BioNTX is serving Texas universities and creating a strong life science ecosystem across the State of Texas.”

“The BioNTX Tech Transfer Showcase application and mentoring process was a fantastic experience. I would highly recommend this pitch event to any Tech Transfer Office looking to increase visibility and gain commercially minded feedback on your technologies.”

“The BioNTX Tech Transfer Showcase program was extremely helpful for a first-time founder coming from an academic background. The help I received in designing a pitch deck that created a story around the value of our technology and the coaching sessions with experienced investors/industry leaders gave me the confidence to pitch at larger competitions. It was a great experience!”

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can apply?

Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Tennessee academic institutions who have technologies available for licensing, collaboration and/or acquisition

Why apply?

Exposure: Showcasing your technology increases its visibility among potential partners, investors, and collaborators. This exposure can lead to valuable connections and opportunities for collaboration or commercialization.

Networking: Tech transfer showcases bring together a diverse range of stakeholders, including industry professionals, investors, researchers, and entrepreneurs. Networking at these events can help you build relationships that may lead to partnerships, funding, or further development opportunities.

Access to Resources: Tech transfer showcases attract investors, funding organizations, and support services that can provide resources and expertise to help advance your technology. Engaging with these stakeholders at the event can open doors to funding, mentorship, and other forms of support.

What type of technologies are we looking for?

Any technology that could advance clinical outcomes, lower healthcare costs and/or accelerate delivery of innovative life science solutions.

How will my application be graded and by whom?

Your application will be scored against a rigorous evaluation matrix geared toward the commercial viability of the technology by an expert panel seasoned investors, entrepreneurs, and industry professionals.

What if I don't win a speaking spot?

Even if you don’t win the top prize, you will receive valuable feedback on your technology and unprecedented exposure and connections to life science professionals within the Texas innovation ecosystem.

What if my technology is in very early stage?

That is exactly what this showcase is for – getting early-stage innovative ideas out in front of an audience of investors and industry professionals who can help you further develop and validate your idea/technology.

What if my technology is not patented?

All ideas and/or data must be protected as this will be a public disclosure.

When does the application portal close?

Monday, July 28, 2025 at 5:00pm CST

What if my technology has been spun out into a start-up or we intend to spin it out of the university?

This is a perfect opportunity to share your technology with local entrepreneurs searching for their next opportunity or provide a first look with industry executives who are diversifying their product portfolio or growing their research and product development pipeline through licensing, strategic partnership and/or research collaboration activities.

What if I can’t answer all of the application questions (e.g., value proposition, business model etc.)?

That’s okay. This is where the business mentor can help fill some of the gaps for an innovative and disruptive technology and provide a valuable voice of customer information for your team.

How many applications can each Academic TTO submit?

Each academic institution can submit up to two (2) separate applications per location.

When should I expect to hear if I made it to the next rounds?

We will announce those who have made it to the next rounds on Thursday, August 7, 2025.

Who can I reach out to if I have any other questions?

If you have any additional questions, please reach out to Jacqueline Ho at jho@biontx.org.