Ted Baker

Looking for a way to boost your chances at entrepreneurial success?

The Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialization (TEC) concentration in NC State University’s Jenkins MBA program provides the methodology, the Intellectual Property (IP) and the mentors for a safe environment for would-be entrepreneurs to learn how to create new ventures.

When successful, graduates have the opportunity to launch high-growth businesses at the end of the course. They receive knowledge, skills, experience, useful social ties and a future—all for the price of tuition. 

Roger Debo

TEC’s Impact On NC

Since it was started in 1995, new ventures created by the TEC program have produced almost 400 North Carolina jobs. TEC is enabling the next generation of technology entrepreneurs to guide new companies through profitability, resulting in more investment in local companies.

To date, co

mpanies that were created or significantly assisted by TEC have attracted more than $200 million of investment capital to North Carolina, and some of these companies have received international recognition.

Success Stories

LipoScience on the north side of Raleigh and HueMetrix on Perimeter Road are excellent examples of projects that left the NC State incubator and became local businesses. We also have a group of alumni that stayed together and used what they had learned in class to launch a completely different venture called Protochips, a Raleigh semiconductor technology company.

Our students identify which discoveries are suitable for commercialization—before resources are wasted launching a venture that’s not viable. Regardless of the eventual outcome technology providers receive valuable feedback about their technologies.

TEC’s graduate certificate program further supports the university’s goal of fostering innovation-driven economic development in two ways:

• It opens the door for non degree-seeking students to enroll in the TEC sequence and gain the knowledge and experience needed to bring an idea to the market.
• It adds credibility to the resumes of graduate students, showing potential employers or investors that this person has completed the highest level of training available in technology entrepreneurship.

TEC Seeks Out Technologists Wanting To Commercialize Innovations

We are looking for new projects where technologists are eager to have their innovation commercialized and willing to support the formation of a startup. We take projects from local universities, R&D companies or individual inventors. We’re also always looking for more mentors, advisors or local contacts for the student teams. Interested individuals should contact us at (919) 515-5717.

The Best Value For Entrepreneurs Anywhere

If you tried to replicate this course in the private sector, the cost would be well over $100,000 per person. When you consider the value of the IP, the level of experience of the mentors, the caliber of the instructors, and the years of improving on the methodology, TEC may very well be the best value for entrepreneurs anywhere in the world.

Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily TechJournal South’s.

Ted Baker is associate professor in the NC State Jenkins MBA program and Roger Debo is director of the TEC Program, College of Management at NC State.

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