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AUC Spinoffs

A spinoff is a technology-based company formed to commercialize inventions made at the University and protected by intellectual property rights that are owned by AUC. The creation of a spinoff is an effective tool to commercialize an invention. Inventors may lead or participate in these spinoff or start-up companies in a variety of ways. 

AUC’s Technology Transfer Office supports aspects of forming a spinoff company. If you are an AUC researcher and interested in learning more about how you can lead efforts to spin-out your AUC innovation, reach out to the Technology Transfer Office and we’ll be happy to discuss how best to support you through the process and your options.

AUC’s Spun-out Technologies

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D-Kimia

d-kimia

D-Kimia develops novel diagnostic solutions to detect a broad range of diseases by targeting the nucleic acid signature of the disease. D-Kimia’s diagnostic solutions are rapid, affordable, simple to use, and provide the same level of specificity as the most advanced Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), and other amplification-based diagnostic techniques.

Check out D-Kimia's website here
Research Center

Suitera

suitera

Suitera provides state-of-the-art analysis and optimization tools based on innovative proprietary in-house developed mathematical concepts. These tools significantly reduce the computational time and resources required to perform complex modeling, analysis, and simulation tasks associated with the design of complex systems in a variety of domains.

Check out Suitera's website here

TTO Express License for AUC Spin-Outs

Express License Agreement is a new mechanism meant to speed up the process of spinning out technologies for cases that are ready for spinning out.

Innovations developed using AUC resources, or during the course of faculty’s institutional commitments for educational research are subject to the intellectual property policies of The American University in Cairo. Whether AUC licenses these technologies to existing companies or to new start-ups, its objective remains the same: to transfer and commercialize AUC innovations into accessible technologies, products and services for the good of society.

The Technology Transfer Office (TTO) continues to support AUC faculty and researchers who are aiming to start companies based upon intellectual property coming from University research. As part of these efforts, the TTO has created an Express Startup License to help fast-track the licensing process for faculty start-up companies and reduce legal costs on AUC researchers.

This license is meant to significantly accelerate and simplify the licensing process. The express license is focused on offering all AUC entrepreneurs equal and fair terms, with an emphasis on openness and transparency. This license has been designed with the attorneys at AUC’s legal office thus allowing AUC entrepreneurs to sign without the need to go back to the legal office for approval. By saving time to get a license done, AUC researchers can concentrate their efforts on developing their technologies or companies. Alternatively, researchers can opt for signing an Option Agreement for the technology, thus delaying the need to sign a license agreement until they are able to accept the obligations of a licensee.

AUC’s Financial Return/Equity

As we appreciate that cash and equity are critical and precious in the early stages of a startup's journey, AUC has adopted a new approach. We have swapped the typical upfront “payment” in licenses with a “liquidity event” payment, due only in cases such as when the company sells substantial or all its shares or IPOs. AUC takes no cash or equity at the moment of signing the license.

The license agreement includes a flat rate royalty based on net sales, this means the University only expects to receive a payment if the startup is realizing sales. The agreement also includes milestones and milestone payments that are fine-tuned and agreed upon before signing, which are targets that AUC expects the startups to achieve to keep the license to the technology.

Express License Process

AUC researchers that have demonstrated a solid effort to start a company based on AUC technologies that have either been validated in the proof of concept fund or have demonstrated significant industry applicability can receive an option to the technology. This option means that AUC will not place efforts to license the technology for anyone for a period of time. During this time the research team will be required to work on developing a business model with the help of the TTO or external business/market consultants. The business plan development and review process is intended to partially substitute for the more rigorous commercial due diligence obligations in typical license agreements. Once a mutually agreed-upon plan is in place, the option will be updated to include a promise to provide the license under the Express License terms. Researchers may then execute the Startup License immediately, or, if still in the formative stage, extend their option as they seek to raise financing or other sources of cash that will allow them to make the payments required once the license is executed.

News

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AUC’s Spinoff Company Suitera Secures Additional Investment, Valuation Reaches $10 Million

February 13, 2022

Suitera, the second spinoff company by The American University in Cairo (AUC), has secured an additional investment to reach a valuation of $10 million.

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