01
Start with the problem
A strong commercialization path begins with a specific user and a costly, frequent, or urgent problem. The technology matters, but evidence of demand determines the next move.
- Name the user and workflow
- Document the current alternative
- Separate technical novelty from customer value
02
Find the right front door
University discoveries, student ventures, and independent companies have different support paths. Choose the institution that matches your status and objective.
- Innovation Partnerships for U-M intellectual property
- Fast Forward Medical Innovation for biomedical translation
- CFE and Zell Lurie for venture education
- Ann Arbor SPARK for regional company support
03
Run evidence-building experiments
Use interviews, prototypes, and small pilots to reduce uncertainty before building a full product or making a fundraising claim.
- Track what changed your mind
- Record consent and data constraints
- Define a clear stop, revise, or continue decision