Business Plan



WARF's finalization of license and equity agreements with your company, first must be cleared by WARF's internal Start-up Committee. If an equity agreement is involved, the agreement requires approval by the WARF Board of Trustees. The board, composed of UW-Madison alumni who are highly experienced and successful business leaders, is the governing body for WARF.*

In reviewing your business plan, WARF will expect to see answers to several key questions:

• What problem will your company solve?
• What value does your start-up company bring to the technology you hope to license?
• What are your company's products?
• What are the expected markets for these products and the size of the markets?
• Who are the company's anticipated customers, why will they buy and have they been contacted to assist in product design?
• Who are your company's competitors or potential competitors in these markets?
• What is your process and timeline for developing the products?
• Who will manage the company and what is their relevant experience?
• How much capital is needed to get a product to market and, if an equity license is involved, what is the anticipated pre-money value of the company at each round of financing?
• What are your financial projections for the first five years of company operation?
• What is the company's exit plan?

After you have completed your business plan, submit it along with a completed start-up application form (see below) to your licensing manager for review by WARF. You also must establish your company as a legal entity before WARF can enter into license and equity agreements with you.

* WARF's trustees meet three times a year. Please provide the business plan and start-up application to your licensing manager by March 1st, July 1st or December 1st to ensure a timely response to your request. After the board meets, your licensing manager will inform you of its decision.

View WARF's start-up company application form

Next >