[Online] TWIST Talk by Kunal Ghosh

Translating University Innovation into Society through Entrepreneurship

Abstract

Universities are often a hotbed for new innovation given the nexus of young talent, sophisticated infrastructure, and a culture of intellectual freedom. Many breakthrough innovations with the potential to make profound impact on society and improve the state of the world would however be stuck at the university bench if it were not for technology transfer mechanisms to facilitate commercialization. Stanford University in California has historically been highly successful in nurturing category-defining innovations and enabling their transfer into society through spin-outs, spawning legendary tech companies such as Silicon Graphics, Yahoo, Google, Instagram, and a plethora of biotech companies. In this talk, I will present an overview of how university-based innovation can be translated into society through entrepreneurship, including "The Three Rules" that all budding university-based entrepreneurs should follow. I will present this overview and advice through the lens of my own journey and the story of Inscopix, a Stanford spin-out commercializing breakthrough Neurotechnology to map the brain.  

CV

Kunal Ghosh is founder and CEO of Inscopix, Inc., a Palo Alto-based startup developing a platform for mapping brain circuits. Kunal founded Inscopix out of a research project at Stanford University that resulted in the invention of a miniature, integrated microscope for in vivo brain imaging. The invention is the centerpiece of Inscopix's core brain circuit mapping products which today have already advanced fundamental knowledge of the brain circuits underpinning brain function and behavior. Inscopix's platform also has the potential of shaping the future of neuro-therapeutic discovery, enabling the development of entirely new in vivo circuit-based assays for diseases such as Parkinson's, epilepsy, and depression. Kunal is a passionate advocate of the role of business as a force for good in society, and especially the role of entrepreneurial ventures in catalyzing a technology-fueled revolution in brain science and mental health. He is a frequent speaker on these themes at scientific meetings, industry conferences, and top Business schools, and serves on the World Economic Forum's Council on Neurotechnologies and Brain Science. Kunal holds a BSE in Electrical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, a BS from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and an MS and PhD in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University.

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