By Crystal Carter, Texas A&M Innovation, February 13, 2024
Texas A&M University’s Advancing Discovery to Market (ADM) program provides investments to researchers aiming to commercialize their discoveries. Launched in 2023, the program has emerged as a critical resource for supporting development of early-stage innovations toward market-ready products. Texas A&M Innovation supports the full potential of scientific discoveries at A&M by providing critical guidance and coaching to researchers interested in applying for this funding.
Understanding the market, forming a clear commercialization strategy, and effectively communicating an innovation’s potential impact are key components of a successful ADM proposal. Some ADM awardees found that partnering with Texas A&M Innovation for coaching and strategic support made a significant difference in the outcome of their proposal.
Among the recent ADM awardees is Waltram Ravelombola, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Soil & Crop Sciences at Texas A&M University whose project aims to advance a new short-season black-eyed pea variety to market. Securing an ADM grant was vital in developing the variety to a point of readiness for potential licensing partners.
Reflecting on the support received through Texas A&M Innovation, Ravelombola remarked, “Texas A&M Innovation was instrumental in helping with my pitch presentation. They assisted in coaching and improving the pitch presentation by editing the slides, practicing the pitch in multiple sessions, and providing suggestions and ideas to make the presentation more impactful.”
Similarly, Zachary Grasley, Ph.D., department head and professor in the Civil & Environmental Engineering Department at Texas A&M University whose project focus is centered on a low carbon footprint plient concrete for sustainable, affordable drainage structures was an ADM awardee and emphasized the transformative role of coaching and how to connect knowledge gaps to the commercial use of the technology. “The Texas A&M Innovation office was instrumental in helping me develop a convincing pitch for the ADM competition,” stated Grasley. “As a researcher, I know the knowledge gaps in my new technology, but the Innovation office helped coach how to link those gaps to the business case / commercial use for my technology. I used tips they provided (e.g., “the power of three”) to hone my presentation to be as compelling as possible to folks outside academia. The great thing is that I am sure these tips for improving the ADM pitch will also make me more effective at developing a client base for commercializing my technology.”
The success stories of Ravelombola and Grasley with the Advancing Discovery to Market initiative including their partnership with Texas A&M Innovation underscore the broader impact coaching can provide throughout the lengthy commercialization process. By providing support from new innovation through market commercialization, Texas A&M Innovation empowers inventors to translate their discoveries into tangible solutions with real-world impact.
Ravelombola offered encouragement to other researchers to connect with Texas A&M Innovation, highlighting the benefits of the collaboration. “Texas A&M Innovation has made my pitch successful with excellent positive feedback from the panel reviewers. Their office was very responsive to the requests I had during the preparation, and I encourage other scientists to work and collaborate with their office.”
Texas A&M Innovation promotes an innovative and entrepreneurial culture among A&M’s research community and uses a rigorous process to guide projects from new innovations through market commercialization. We encourage industry partnerships, support startups and entrepreneurial commercialization, make connections to mentors, funding, and other critical resources to accelerate commercialization of System IP. Through our work we strive to promote regional economic development, and ultimately impact the lives of people locally, nationally and globally.
