The University of Florida has inked an agreement with Sterling, VA-based G4i Consulting to provide government business development services to UF-affiliated technology companies. The agreement has the potential to bring several hundred million dollars in new government contracts to UF’s incubator companies and to increase licensing revenues for the university. The goal is to establish a fund that will accelerate the commercialization of UF’s start-ups by introducing them directly to government clients and Fortune 500 companies operating in the government contracting space. Plans call for the fund initially to support the creation of a dedicated business development “Gator Team” for five to seven portfolio companies. Drawing on G4i’s customer relationship management system, E PROMIS, and its proprietary business intelligence, each Gator Team will work with G4i to focus the strategy, business, and marketing plans of its incubator companies and develop a proposal aimed at winning multi-billion-dollar contracts over a two-year period. “As focused as we are on driving licensing, we’re also seeking out relationships that will set our start-ups on a path for success,” says David Day, director of UF’s Office of Technology Licensing. “UF’s affiliation with G4i introduces our incubator companies to the largest consumer in the world. The U.S. government buys more than $300 billion of goods and services annually. We believe this can be a powerful engine for fast tracking the university’s technologies into the marketplace.”
As part of its own expansion efforts, G4i plans to open its flagship on-site presence at UF’s Florida Innovation Hub — a 45,000-sq.ft. “super” incubator for scientists, investors, and entrepreneurs expected to open in December 2011. G4i’s dedicated Gator Teams will be housed on-site to assist in market research, business development, and proposal management. In the meantime, G4i expects to begin the appraisal and evaluation of UF start-ups in the fourth quarter of 2009. G4i is currently capitalizing the fund with VC, hedge fund, and private equity relationships.
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