1. General Information and Benefits of Start-Up Companies
2. Developing Your Business and Executing a Business Plan
3. Sources of Funding

Developing a start-up company can be the most rewarding experience of any researcher's career. Forming a new business entity can be the most efficient way to bring a product into the commercial market. Start-up companies typically specialize in the concentrated development of a few key technologies rather than broad, but shallow exploration of many technologies. In all cases, a start-up company requires a competitive spirit, a strong desire to succeed financially, and an entrepreneurial spirit that reflects resourcefulness and creativity. The USC IP Office works with dozens of start-up companies created by faculty researchers as well as others who are not affiliated with the University.

There is no such thing as a "typical" start-up company, but there are some characteristics that apply to many start-up companies:

• Have been in business for about five years or less -- may or may not have achieved profitability in that time
• Can be found in large or fast-growing metropolitan areas around the U.S.
• Hire fewer employees, but with more specialized skills and knowledge
• Focus on a small number of technologies to bring to market
• Operate in a dynamic workplace environment that promotes creativity and ingenious solutions to traditional problems

• Bring a groundbreaking technology to market in an efficient manner, thereby diversifying the economy
• Create local and regional jobs, purchase from regional suppliers and support the local taxbase
• Generate revenue for the university and its academic departments and enhance university reputation by developing technologies that benefit society
• Allow founders to work under their own leadership and execute their own unique ideas to enhance the success of their discovery