Confidential
OverviewIntroduction to Therapeutic Systems– Why we started– Pain & Solution– Where we are now
Starting up as a Student:– Navigating the “Bermuda Triangle”• Timeline and development overview• mentors & entrepreneurship programs
Lessons Learned
Confidential
Autism Spectrum Disorders
1 in 110 people
10-17% annual growth
$35 billion societal cost annually
‒ 27 States have Mandated Autism coverage
Confidential
Personal, Portable, Deep Pressure
– Provides personalized deep touch pressure to anyone, anywhere, at any time.
– Marketing Campaign: Brand, Social Networking, Website
– Launched: 4/1/11
Confidential
Accomplishments to Date Licensed & Filed Patents
Board of Directors
Scientific Advisory Board
World class Manufacturing Partner
FDA Registered Class 1 Exempted Device
Brand & Identity
Raised Capital
April Launch– Initial Sales
KOL’s Including– Autism Speaks– Easter Seals– Dr. Temple Grandin
Support
Confidential
Timeline2004– Fall: started grad school & research project
2006 – Fall: started exploring commercialization
2008 – Spring: won BP competition & NCIIA grant– Fall: Conflict of Interest process
2009– Summer: Defended
2010 – Winter: Obtained License
8
Confidential
Integrated Design & Development
Customers
Driven by Clinical Data & Research
Foundations
Design
GMP & Quality
Regulatory
Reimbursement
Manufacturing
Marketing & Brand
KOLs
Clinical Data
Confidential
Mentors & Relationships
• PhD & Master’s committee/ mentors for the academics
• “Business committee”/ mentors for the company
• Relationships are your the most important & most valuable asset.
• Student/ committee chair relationship is the most important
10
Confidential 11
Entrepreneurship programs
• Encouragement
• Knowledge
• Critical Validation
• Resources & Support– Mentors – Capital
• Capital: ~$80k– Grants, Awards,
Fellowships
• Mentors– Chair of our
board, lead investor
• Seed Round Investors
Confidential
Programs
• NCIIA
• Grinspoon Foundation
• Entrepreneurship Club
• UMass Business Plan Competition
• Isenberg Fellow
• Business Classes
• Amherst Center for Entrepreneurship Accelerator
• MassChallenge
12
Confidential
Lessons Learned & Suggestions
• IT IS A LONG TERM RELATIONSHIP…a Marriage– pick your battles
• Understand the other person’s side– Ie Laws that have to be followed by the
university. – Room for flexibility & opportunity– Understand the impact to the facility
/students
• MOST IMPORTANT: the student is not a faculty member.