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The Commercify Blog

Expert insights and practical advice for innovators, researchers, and commercialization professionals.

DoD SBIR Guide: Topics, TPOCs, and Winning Strategy
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DoD SBIR Guide: Topics, TPOCs, and Winning Strategy

How DoD SBIR differs from civilian agencies: the component breakdown, the DSIP portal, why you must call the TPOC first, and Phase 3 paths that fund production.

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How to Conduct a Prior Art Search (Step by Step)
Vik ChadhaVik ChadhaMay 18, 2026

How to Conduct a Prior Art Search (Step by Step)

A 7-step prior art search method using free databases: Google Patents, USPTO PatFT, Espacenet, CPC classification, and non-patent literature, with a worksheet.

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NIH SBIR Application Guide: ICs & Aims
Vik ChadhaVik ChadhaMay 18, 2026

NIH SBIR Application Guide: ICs & Aims

How NIH SBIR really works in 2026: picking the right Institute, engaging your Program Officer, study sections, the Specific Aims page, and review criteria.

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NSF SBIR Guide: Project Pitch to Phase II
Vik ChadhaVik ChadhaMay 18, 2026

NSF SBIR Guide: Project Pitch to Phase II

How NSF SBIR (America's Seed Fund) works: the Project Pitch screening, invitation-only proposals, NSF's deep tech lens, and the dual technical review.

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Patent Claims: Independent vs Dependent
Vik ChadhaVik ChadhaMay 18, 2026

Patent Claims: Independent vs Dependent

Patent claims are the patent. Inside: claim anatomy, independent vs dependent claims with examples, the broad/narrow trade-off, and 5 drafting mistakes.

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Provisional Patent Application: The Founder's Guide
Vik ChadhaVik ChadhaMay 18, 2026

Provisional Patent Application: The Founder's Guide

What a provisional patent application actually does, what it costs, when to file, and how to convert it within 12 months — for founders and researchers commercializing technology.

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Provisional vs Non-Provisional Patent: When to Convert
Vik ChadhaVik ChadhaMay 18, 2026

Provisional vs Non-Provisional Patent: When to Convert

The mechanics, costs, and options at month 12 of a provisional patent: convert to non-provisional, file PCT, abandon, or refile, with a framework for choosing.

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SBIR Commercialization Plan: Template + 5 Examples
Vik ChadhaVik ChadhaMay 18, 2026

SBIR Commercialization Plan: Template + 5 Examples

The SBIR commercialization plan often decides Phase II. A section-by-section template, agency-specific requirements, and 5 annotated excerpts from funded plans.

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SBIR Eligibility: Rules & Disqualifiers (2026)
Vik ChadhaVik ChadhaMay 18, 2026

SBIR Eligibility: Rules & Disqualifiers (2026)

SBIR eligibility in 2026: the three core tests, the VC-ownership rule applicants get wrong, foreign-influence limits, PI employment, and required registrations.

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SBIR Phase 1 vs 2 vs 3: Stage-by-Stage Guide
Vik ChadhaVik ChadhaMay 18, 2026

SBIR Phase 1 vs 2 vs 3: Stage-by-Stage Guide

What each SBIR phase funds, the Valley of Death between Phase 1 and Phase 2, the Phase 2B/CAP supplements, and the 5-7 year arc from feasibility to revenue.

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SBIR Success Rates by Agency, Phase, and Applicant Type
Vik ChadhaVik ChadhaMay 18, 2026

SBIR Success Rates by Agency, Phase, and Applicant Type

What public data shows about SBIR Phase 1 win rates by agency, Phase 1-to-2 conversion, long-term commercialization, and the repeat-applicant gap.

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SBIR vs STTR: Which One Should You Apply For?
Vik ChadhaVik ChadhaMay 18, 2026

SBIR vs STTR: Which One Should You Apply For?

SBIR vs STTR compared: the university partnership requirement, the PI employment rule that matters for academic founders, IP allocation, and a decision tree.

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University Patent Filing: Invention Disclosure to PCT
Vik ChadhaVik ChadhaMay 18, 2026

University Patent Filing: Invention Disclosure to PCT

How a university invention becomes a filed patent: the disclosure form, Bayh-Dole timing, TTO triage, who pays, and the typical 3-9 month filing timeline.

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Utility vs Design vs Plant Patents: Which One Fits?
Vik ChadhaVik ChadhaMay 18, 2026

Utility vs Design vs Plant Patents: Which One Fits?

The three U.S. patent types compared: term, scope, cost, what each protects, an invention-type lookup table, and when to file multiple types for one invention.

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What Is AUTM? The Association Behind US Tech Transfer
Vik ChadhaVik ChadhaMay 17, 2026

What Is AUTM? The Association Behind US Tech Transfer

A plain-language guide to AUTM: what the university tech transfer association does, its annual licensing survey, the Innovation Marketplace, and how to use it.

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The Bayh-Dole Act: A 2026 Plain-Language Guide
Vik ChadhaVik ChadhaMay 17, 2026

The Bayh-Dole Act: A 2026 Plain-Language Guide

The 1980 law that built the modern US tech transfer system: how Bayh-Dole works, what it requires of universities, and the march-in debate, explained plainly.

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The Researcher''s Commercialization Playbook
Vik ChadhaVik ChadhaMay 17, 2026

The Researcher''s Commercialization Playbook

A researcher''s playbook for commercializing your own work: when to disclose, working with your TTO, the license-vs-spin-out decision, and mistakes to avoid.

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The Technology Transfer Agreement: Anatomy of the Deal
Vik ChadhaVik ChadhaMay 17, 2026

The Technology Transfer Agreement: Anatomy of the Deal

What a technology transfer agreement contains, how each major clause works, and where the real negotiation happens. A plain-language guide for first-time deals.

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10 Tech Transfer Examples That Built the Modern Economy
Vik ChadhaVik ChadhaMay 17, 2026

10 Tech Transfer Examples That Built the Modern Economy

From Google PageRank to mRNA vaccines, ten real-world examples of how university research became commercial products, and what they reveal about tech transfer.

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What Is Tech Transfer? A Plain-Language Guide for 2026
Vik ChadhaVik ChadhaMay 17, 2026

What Is Tech Transfer? A Plain-Language Guide for 2026

Tech transfer moves research inventions from university labs to market. A plain-language explainer of what it is, who does it, and how the two main paths work.

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The Complete Guide to Licensing University IP in 2026
Vik ChadhaVik ChadhaMay 13, 2026

The Complete Guide to Licensing University IP in 2026

A step-by-step guide to identifying, evaluating, and licensing IP from US university tech transfer offices, from finding technology to negotiating terms.

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Top Universities Licensing AI/ML IP (2026)
Vik ChadhaVik ChadhaMay 13, 2026

Top Universities Licensing AI/ML IP (2026)

Which US universities have the strongest AI and machine learning IP available for licensing? A data-driven ranking for founders and corporate innovation teams.

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Top 10 Universities for Licensing Biotech IP in 2026
Vik ChadhaVik ChadhaMay 13, 2026

Top 10 Universities for Licensing Biotech IP in 2026

A data-driven ranking of the best US universities for licensing biotech IP, by patent output, licensing revenue, portfolio size, and commercialization record.

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5 AI Strategies for Tech Transfer Success
Vik ChadhaVik ChadhaJun 3, 2025

5 AI Strategies for Tech Transfer Success

Learn how leading universities are using AI to transform their tech transfer processes, accelerate commercialization, and increase licensing revenue.

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AI Analysis: Cleantech Opportunities 2025
Vik ChadhaVik ChadhaJun 3, 2025

AI Analysis: Cleantech Opportunities 2025

Deep dive into the most promising cleantech commercialization opportunities, backed by AI-powered market analysis and real-world success metrics.

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AI GTM Strategy Guide for Tech Innovators
Vik ChadhaVik ChadhaJun 3, 2025

AI GTM Strategy Guide for Tech Innovators

Learn how to create a winning go-to-market strategy for your innovation using AI-powered insights, with step-by-step guidance and real success metrics.

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Lab to Market: Gene Therapy's $50M Exit
Vik ChadhaVik ChadhaJun 3, 2025

Lab to Market: Gene Therapy's $50M Exit

Case study: how researchers used AI commercialization strategies to take gene therapy from lab to $50M Series A funding.

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Innovation Pricing Guide: AI Strategies
Vik ChadhaVik ChadhaJun 3, 2025

Innovation Pricing Guide: AI Strategies

Learn how to use AI-powered pricing optimization to maximize the commercial value of your innovation, with real-world examples and proven strategies.

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Stop Falling in Love with Your IP
Vik ChadhaVik ChadhaJan 28, 2025

Stop Falling in Love with Your IP

University commercialization is broken—we start with patents instead of problems. Here's how to fix it.

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Patent to Product: The IP Strategy Playbook
Vik ChadhaVik ChadhaJan 21, 2025

Patent to Product: The IP Strategy Playbook

IP strategy guide for research commercialization. Cost breakdowns, filing strategies, and proven tactics for patent portfolios.

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10 Undervalued University Technologies 2025
Vik ChadhaVik ChadhaJan 21, 2025

10 Undervalued University Technologies 2025

Analysis reveals overlooked innovations with billion-dollar potential in university labs. These technologies await the right commercialization partner.

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Researcher's Guide to Raising Your First $1M
Vik ChadhaVik ChadhaJan 21, 2025

Researcher's Guide to Raising Your First $1M

Playbook for academic innovators seeking their first million. Real pitch decks, investor insights, and proven strategies.

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Why 90% of Innovations Die in the Lab
Vik ChadhaVik ChadhaJan 21, 2025

Why 90% of Innovations Die in the Lab

The brutal truth about tech transfer failure rates and how to beat them. Data-driven patterns from 10,000 university innovations.

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SBIR/STTR Guide: Win Your First Grant
Vik ChadhaVik ChadhaJan 15, 2025

SBIR/STTR Guide: Win Your First Grant

Complete SBIR/STTR guide for researchers and founders. From eligibility to proposal writing to Phase II success.

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TRL Assessment: A Practical Guide
Vik ChadhaVik ChadhaJan 10, 2025

TRL Assessment: A Practical Guide

Practical guide to Technology Readiness Levels. Breaks down all 9 TRL levels with assessment criteria and frameworks.

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Medical Device Guide: Prototype to 510(k)
Vik ChadhaVik ChadhaJan 8, 2025

Medical Device Guide: Prototype to 510(k)

Guide to commercializing medical devices: FDA pathways (510k, PMA, De Novo), reimbursement strategy, and clinical evidence.

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12-Slide Pitch Deck for University Spinouts
Vik ChadhaVik ChadhaJan 5, 2025

12-Slide Pitch Deck for University Spinouts

A proven 12-slide pitch deck framework for university spinouts and deep tech ventures, with examples and mistakes to avoid.

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Market Sizing for Emerging Tech Categories
Vik ChadhaVik ChadhaJan 2, 2025

Market Sizing for Emerging Tech Categories

Traditional market sizing fails for category-creating innovations. Frameworks for sizing markets when creating something new.

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30 Years of Game-Changing Spinoffs
Vik ChadhaVik ChadhaJul 20, 2024

30 Years of Game-Changing Spinoffs

From Google to Moderna: how academic innovation became trillion-dollar companies. The most successful university spinoffs.

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