COMPETITION EXPOSES

FIRST-YEAR MBA STUDENTS

TO TECHNOLOGY

COMMERCIALIZATION

BY LARA ZUEHLKE

n theory the task was simple. Each team of four or five MBA students was asked to randomly draw one of 20 technologies. For four days, the teams would research their technology and determine if it was marketable.

Then the students would present their findings to a panel of judges. The top five teams would advance to the finals, with the top three earning cash prizes.

But as many of the first-year students discovered, the inaugural MBA Technology Transfer Challenge was just that — challenging. The students had to wrap their brains around unfamiliar technologies then explain, verify and rationalize their research.

The weeklong challenge was designed and managed by Mays' Center for New Ventures and Entrepreneurship. It was also supported by The Texas A&M University System Technology Licensing Office, Mays MBA Program Office and a corporate sponsor, 3M.

Essentially, the goal was to spark students' entrepreneurial curiosity, while generating an understanding of how a technology's commercial viability is determined.

"This was the cornerstone of the students' entire first year," says Mays MBA Program Director Carroll Scherer. "It's what they were building toward. It just took on a life of its own, and it was exciting and gratifying to see their learning in the first year applied so effectively to this challenge."

It's not uncommon for business schools to sponsor case competitions for first-year MBA students. But the Technology Transfer Challenge took a different approach.

Students evaluated actual technologies — developed by A&M System researchers — to determine the technologies' potential use in commercial applications.

The Technology Licensing Office handpicked the 20 technologies used in the challenge from a pool of more than 400, says Terry Young, assistant vice chancellor of technology transfer and executive director of the office.

"We specifically looked for technologies whose pathway to commercialization had not yet been identified," Young explains. "We wanted there to be uncertainty so the students could find the best path to market. But we also wanted to tie in the entrepreneurial aspect, so we chose technologies that would enable students to form new companies based on their technologies."

This approach was highly beneficial to the students and the more than 120 judges. Many of the judges are former students and professionally range from entrepreneurs and venture capitalists to corporate executives.

"The alumni and judges created incredible value in the process, especially for the students," says Young. "But I think the challenge also opened the judges' eyes to the valuable research and great students we have at Texas A&M. This entire initiative created a spirit of entrepreneurship that this campus has not seen before."

For entrepreneur Rick Cashen, owner of Plano-based Cabinrock Investments, the day was well spent. He says he was eager to volunteer to help students discover new opportunities. "This was an interactive and challenging competition because students got to work with real, live technologies," he says. "I hope students understand what a great chance this provided."

Based on the buzz of excitement on presentation day, the students did indeed find value in the exercise. Not only in networking with the judges, but also in putting to use the knowledge gained throughout their first year.

"I think it was good that we had this first year under our belts. Because we had a firm grasp of the practical business knowledge we needed to complete the project," explains Rich Billeaud, whose team won first place. "Overall, I think it was an incredibly invaluable experience." @