The exploitation companies and offices at the White Rose Universities will work with you to form a company but they and you will need to satisfy yourselves that the spin out route is correct. They will help to secure early stage funding - often from the White Rose Technology Seed Corn Fund . They have good networks of business contacts and can help form the necessary teams or link into a mentor or arrange for a non-executive director.

But first, there is some necessary preparatory work for you and the technology transfer officers. How do the ideas or the research findings turn into products or services? For which markets, by which routes, against what competition, governed by which regulations and legislation? Is the idea original, how big is the market, what's the profit margin like? What kind of skills do I need in the management team, what facilities, how much start up funding?

The process begins with the technology transfer staff asking you to complete an Initial Opportunities Disclosure Form and a fuller business plan will need to be developed before company formation and certainly before attempts to secure funding. Your local White Rose Business Manager will be happy to supply you with and assist you in completing this form.