Dear Enabling Innovation (EI) Report Participant:

The results from Survey #1 are found below. Of the 534 emails sent to the EI Report Participants, we received 74 responses from those who had signed up on the website: http://ncet2.org/EnablingInnovation/.

The responses suggest that programs at universities are designed to help a wide range of participants in the university startup process. (See Graph 1). Faculty/staff (76%) and researchers (67%) were the major targets of the programs. Also prominent were programs that enable links with area entrepreneurs (67%), economic development agencies (62%), students (62%), SBIR companies (59%), angel investors (57%), small/medium sized businesses (52%) and venture capitalists (46%).

GRAPH 1

In response to the question asking which groups were most helpful in creating or funding startups, state economic development groups (42%), faculty/staff (41%), angel investors (39%) and area entrepreneurs (38%) were most often cited. SBIR companies (23%), VCs (23%), small/medium businesses (20%), researchers (18%) and students (15%) fell into a second tier. Alumni (8%), federal labs (2%) and Fortune 500 (2%) comprised the 3rd tier.

GRAPH 2

As to the groups with whom Enabling Innovation Participants want to work in the next 12 months, angel investors were ranked as the number 1 choice of respondents, with 67% of EI participants wanting to work more with this group. 50% of respondents are also interested in working more with VCs. Area entrepreneurs (43%) were the next most significant group. In the next tier were alumni (26%), faculty/staff (26%), state economic development (24%). In the last tier were Fortune 500 (19%), small/medium businesses (17%), researchers (14%), SBIR companies (14%), students (11%) and Federal labs (6%).

GRAPH 3