June 17-18, 2026

Central Station Hotel (545 S Main St, Memphis, TN 38103)

 

Sponsored by Life Sciences Tennessee and UT Research Foundation

 

The Office of Research is hosting an entrepreneurship workshop and pitch competition in Memphis on June 17-18 at the Central Station Hotel in downtown Memphis. We only have space for ~50 attendees, so if you have an idea you'd like to pitch or want to learn more about how to get your science into the real world, please sign up ASAP.

 

REGISTER NOW>> 

 

Space is limited. If you sign up and later realize you can't join us, please contact lphelps8@uthsc.edu.

 

WORKSHOP OVERVIEW & AGENDA

 

This workshop is designed to equip emerging investigators and trainees across the UTHSC

ecosystem with the mindset, skills, and connections needed to translate scientific discovery

into real-world impact. It integrates inspiration, practical skill-building, and direct

engagement with industry and regional innovation partners.

 

June 17, 2026: Inspiration, Foundations, and Skill Building

8:00–8:30 AM | Registration & Networking Breakfast

8:30–9:00 AM | Welcome & Institutional Framing (Jessica Snowden)

• Why entrepreneurship matters for academic health sciences

• Overview of regional innovation opportunities

 

9:00–10:00 AM | Keynote: From Lab to Market (Monica Jablonski)

• Translating discovery into patient impact

• Lessons learned navigating academia and industry

 

10:15–11:30 AM | Panel: Pathways to Impact

• Practice guidance from partners in technology transfer, faculty with startup experience,

biotechnology industry partners, and other members of the entrepreneurship

ecosystem

 

11:30 AM–12:15 PM | Interactive Workshop: Identifying Opportunity

• Define unmet clinical or public health need

• Stakeholder mapping• Assessing market vs academic significance

 

12:15–1:15 PM | Lunch & Networking Tables

• Biotech / Therapeutics

• Digital Health / AI

• Medical Devices

• Public Health Innovation

 

1:15–2:15 PM | Commercialization Fundamentals

• IP basics and working with UTHSC tech transfer

• Licensing vs startup pathways

• Regulatory overview (FDA basics)

 

2:15–3:15 PM | Partnering with Industry

• Sponsored research and collaboration models

• How to approach industry partners

• Conflict of interest and compliance considerations

 

3:30–5:00 PM | Workshop: Building Your Pitch

• Problem → solution → impact framing

• Value proposition in healthcare

• Storytelling for scientific audiences

 

5:00–5:30 PM | Mentor Office Hours

 

5:30–6:30 PM | Optional Networking Reception

• Cross-sector networking with regional partners

 

June 18, 2026: Application and Pitch Competition (Half Day)

8:00–8:30 AM | Coffee & Final Prep

 

8:30–9:15 AM | Funding Your Idea

• NIH SBIR/STTR opportunities

• State and regional funding

• Institutional pilot funding opportunities

 

9:15–10:15 AM | Pitch Coaching

• What judges look for

• Common mistakes

• Refining delivery and clarity10:30 AM–12:00 PM | Pitch Competition

• 3–5 minute pitches + Q&A

• Judging panel: UTHSC, industry, venture, tech transfer

 

Judging Criteria

• Clarity of problem

• Innovation and differentiation

• Feasibility

• Impact on patient care or public health

• Quality of presentation

 

12:00–12:30 PM | Awards & Closing

• Seed funding prizes

• Mentorship opportunities

• Next steps within UTHSC innovation ecosystem