May 18, 2026funding
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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Vik Chadha
Founder & CEO, Commercify
Former tech transfer professional with 15+ years experience commercializing university research. Founded Commercify to help innovators bridge the gap from lab to market.
Connect on LinkedInArticles by Vik Chadha (39)
May 18, 2026ip strategy
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.
May 18, 2026funding
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.
May 18, 2026funding
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.
May 18, 2026ip strategy
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.
May 18, 2026ip strategy
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.
May 18, 2026ip strategy
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.
May 18, 2026funding
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.
May 18, 2026funding
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.
May 18, 2026funding
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.
May 18, 2026funding
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.
May 18, 2026funding
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.
May 18, 2026tech transfer
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.
May 18, 2026ip strategy
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.
May 17, 2026tech transfer
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.
May 17, 2026tech transfer
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.
May 17, 2026tech transfer
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.
May 17, 2026tech transfer
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.
May 17, 2026tech transfer
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.
May 17, 2026tech transfer
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.
May 13, 2026tech transfer
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.
May 13, 2026tech transfer
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.
May 13, 2026tech transfer
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.
June 3, 2025tech transfer
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.
June 3, 2025market analysis
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.
June 3, 2025innovation strategy
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.
June 3, 2025success stories
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.
June 3, 2025innovation strategy
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.
January 28, 2025tech transfer
Stop Falling in Love with Your IP
University commercialization is broken—we start with patents instead of problems. Here's how to fix it.
January 21, 2025ip strategy
Patent to Product: The IP Strategy Playbook
IP strategy guide for research commercialization. Cost breakdowns, filing strategies, and proven tactics for patent portfolios.
January 21, 2025research
10 Undervalued University Technologies 2025
Analysis reveals overlooked innovations with billion-dollar potential in university labs. These technologies await the right commercialization partner.
January 21, 2025funding
Researcher's Guide to Raising Your First $1M
Playbook for academic innovators seeking their first million. Real pitch decks, investor insights, and proven strategies.
January 21, 2025tech transfer
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.
January 15, 2025funding
SBIR/STTR Guide: Win Your First Grant
Complete SBIR/STTR guide for researchers and founders. From eligibility to proposal writing to Phase II success.
January 10, 2025research
TRL Assessment: A Practical Guide
Practical guide to Technology Readiness Levels. Breaks down all 9 TRL levels with assessment criteria and frameworks.
January 8, 2025industry
Medical Device Guide: Prototype to 510(k)
Guide to commercializing medical devices: FDA pathways (510k, PMA, De Novo), reimbursement strategy, and clinical evidence.
January 5, 2025startups
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.
January 2, 2025strategy
Market Sizing for Emerging Tech Categories
Traditional market sizing fails for category-creating innovations. Frameworks for sizing markets when creating something new.
July 20, 2024research
30 Years of Game-Changing Spinoffs
From Google to Moderna: how academic innovation became trillion-dollar companies. The most successful university spinoffs.
Areas of Expertise
Research CommercializationTechnology TransferGo-to-Market StrategyInnovation ManagementUniversity SpinoutsIP StrategyMarket AnalysisStartup Funding