Accelerating Innovation at the University of Oregon
The Robert Family Launch Strategy Seminar Series helps transform University of Oregon research discoveries and student innovations into investment-ready ventures. Created in partnership with Launch Oregon, the Lundquist College of Business, and the University of Oregon Foundation, the series equips founders with the tools, mentorship, and strategic frameworks needed to move from concept to launch.
Each year, faculty and student founders work side by side with experienced venture capitalists, CEOs, and MBA students to refine their business models, set measurable goals, and build sustainable pathways to market. The result: more startups emerging from the university ecosystem with the structure, strategy, and investor confidence to grow.
Program Overview
To move UO-related company ideas forward by assisting research faculty and student founders with their launch process and providing students with experiential engagement through real-world case studies.
The series blends structured business development sessions, expert mentorship, and student collaboration through four integrated components: pre-work sessions, domain-specific luminary speakers, Balance Scorecard workshops, and follow-up sessions.
"The power of the Oregon network is in full force with Launch Oregon and the Robert Family Launch Strategy Seminar Series. Our early stage startup was given access to industry-leading founders, CEOs, and investors, who did deep dives on our business plans and offered wildly helpful coaching and access to their networks. I’m deeply grateful to Nate, the Launch Oregon team, and the university for including us in this powerful program."
— Corey Maynard,MBA '01, Founder and CEO, BCKR
Program Impact
Launched in Fall 2024, the Robert Family Launch Strategy Seminar Series has already supported a diverse portfolio of University of Oregon startups representing breakthrough science, technology, and social impact initiatives:
- Alchemy Coatings – PFAS-free waterproofing chemistry
- AsteriaRx – Polymeric nanoparticle technology for targeted drug delivery
- BCKR – Innovative fan gear that stands up to the elements
- Evergreen Bioworks – Biological determinants of longevity research
- KeyBiome – Microbiome-based therapeutics
- Northwest Prevention Science – Mental health app for families and schools
- NatureQuant – Data-driven metrics linking nature exposure to health and urban planning
- Penderia Technologies – Orthopedic implantable wireless sensor technology
- SynPlexity – High-capacity gene synthesis platform
Each company has leveraged the seminar series to refine strategy, strengthen business fundamentals, and connect with Oregon’s growing innovation ecosystem.
Related Events
Oregon Build Hour is a new weekly event where student creators, entrepreneurs, and innovators collaborate, experiment, and build the next big thing. Think of it as a hackathon for entrepreneurship, but without the rules—an unfiltered space to turn ideas into real businesses, products, or partnerships.
- What to expect – Open collaboration! Connect with students from diverse backgrounds such as tech, business, design, and more. Whether you're working on a product, a business plan, or a fresh idea, you'll find like-minded collaborators here.
- Expert mentorship – Get feedback and guidance from successful entrepreneurs and industry leaders. Ask questions, receive advice, and sharpen your ideas with real-world insights.
- Real results – This is more than just brainstorming; real projects are born here. By the end of each session, you'll have made tangible progress toward building something impactful.
- Creative freedom – No limits, no boundaries, just pure creativity. Whether you're at the idea stage or refining an existing project, Oregon Build Hour gives you the space to experiment and grow in a collaborative environment.
Questions? Email UOEntrepreneurship@uoregon.edu.
10:00–11:00 a.m.
About the talk: We tend to romanticize tech entrepreneurship, promoting myths of unique visionary founders who see the future and then move heaven and earth to make it happen. In reality, entrepreneurship usually involves several pivots, lots of pitfalls, and a good dose of luck. Fortunately, entrepreneurship can be done by anyone, and is something that one can better at with practice and through study. This talk aims to demystify entrepreneurship as a profession and discuss some of the ways entrepreneurs can improve their chances for success.
About Tom Moss: Tom Moss is a seasoned technology executive and serial entrepreneur with a proven track record of building, scaling, and leading innovative companies in the mobile, consumer electronics, and robotics industries. He has founded multiple successful startups including 3LM (acquired by Motorola) and Nextbit (acquired by Razer), and has held senior leadership positions at Google, where he served as the first global head of business development for Android, as well as Motorola, Razer, and Skydio, where he served as the company’s first COO and most recently served as CEO of the APAC region. A prolific inventor with 25 patents, Tom is also an active angel investor in over 40 companies and serves as a Mentor and Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Techstars, is a limited partner in multiple venture capital funds, and sits on the board of multiple deep-tech startups.
Oregon Build Hour is a new weekly event where student creators, entrepreneurs, and innovators collaborate, experiment, and build the next big thing. Think of it as a hackathon for entrepreneurship, but without the rules—an unfiltered space to turn ideas into real businesses, products, or partnerships.
- What to expect – Open collaboration! Connect with students from diverse backgrounds such as tech, business, design, and more. Whether you're working on a product, a business plan, or a fresh idea, you'll find like-minded collaborators here.
- Expert mentorship – Get feedback and guidance from successful entrepreneurs and industry leaders. Ask questions, receive advice, and sharpen your ideas with real-world insights.
- Real results – This is more than just brainstorming; real projects are born here. By the end of each session, you'll have made tangible progress toward building something impactful.
- Creative freedom – No limits, no boundaries, just pure creativity. Whether you're at the idea stage or refining an existing project, Oregon Build Hour gives you the space to experiment and grow in a collaborative environment.
Questions? Email UOEntrepreneurship@uoregon.edu.
Get Involved
Interested in supporting the next generation of UO innovators? Join us as a mentor, partner, or investor and help advance research-driven entrepreneurship across Oregon and beyond.
Contact: John Hull at the Lundquist College of Business or Nate Costa at Launch Oregon
