Our mission is to transform and expand the region's innovation economy through entrepreneurship education, technology commercialization, application of UA research, and creation of new entrepreneurial ventures. 

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How can seasoned executives and entrepreneurs engage?

• Startup: Join a UARF startup as a C-level executive, board member or adviser - reach out via our mentorship application
• License: Directly license UA intellectual property to form your own venture - learn more about UARF's licensing process
• Mentor: Mentor an I-Corps team to give back to Northeast Ohio students and get an early look at emerging startups and technologies - learn more about I-Corps
• Contribute: Become an ARCHAngel by contributing time and talent to or making an investment in Akron-based startups - learn more about ARCHAngels

UARF Actively Manages:

• 350+ issued and pending patents in the areas of polymers, biomedical, sensors and more
• 25+ technology-based startups - most based on strong UA intellectual property
• 40+ pre-company teams participating in I-Corps each year that are considering starting up

Mentor Successes

Tom Swiger

• Former VP Technology, B.F. Goodrich, Tremco Division
• Mentored three UARF I-Corps teams and UARF startups
• Co-founded startup company eSens based on one of his I-Corps teams’ technologies

“You’re going to bring a unique set of experiences to that team that they just can’t get anywhere else. It’s rewarding in many ways… You’re working with students and faculty. It gets you exposed to a new approach, perhaps, that you haven’t seen to finding a fit for a technology in the market."

​Cynthia Mathis

• Senior Director, Global Alliance Development, Qlik Technologies, Inc.
• Mentored two student-led UARF I-Corps teams

“As experienced business people, we have so much to share . And the opportunity to bring that out in an environment where students are really eager to learn and willing to participate in learning is really fantastic… As business people, we continue to learn ourselves and this provides the ultimate platform for that… Join in. It’s amazing.”

Dave Lupyan

• Business Unit Manager, Scot Labs division of the Scott Fetzer Co.
• Past president of Northeast Ohio Product Development & Management Association
• Mentored two UARF I-Corps teams and assisted UARF startups with product development

“It’s the joy and satisfaction of helping somebody develop their business sense and understanding how to launch a new product."

Programs Seeking Mentors:

I-Corps: Coach aspiring entrepreneurs as they go through a structured program on lean launch and customer discovery 

Mentor Network: Work directly with promising startups and technology teams in a less structure environment

ARCHAngels: Join an Akron-based network contributing time, talent and investment to Akron-based startups

Apply Now!