ABOUT US:
Frequently Asked Questions
Click a question below to read the answer.
Q: What is IP?
A: IP stands for Intellectual Property. It refers to the legal rights and protections granted to individuals or organizations for their creative and innovative works or inventions, as well as the protections organizations take on their own to protect their know-how and trade secrets. Intellectual property can include a wide range of intangible assets, such as patents, trademarks, copyrights, relationships, and trade secrets. These provide exclusive control and economic benefits to the IP owner, allowing them to prevent others from using, copying, or exploiting their creations without permission—and creating an asset that may be monetized.
Q: What is commercialization?
A: Commercialization refers to the process of introducing and bringing a product, technology, or innovation to the market in a way that allows it to be sold, distributed, and utilized by customers or end-users. It involves transforming an idea or concept into a marketable and profitable product or service through activities such as market research, product development, manufacturing, marketing, and sales.
At Rushlight Ventures, while we have a significant focus on technology commercialization, we also focus more broadly on monetization—turning your assets into money—which often, but not necessarily, involves some degree of commercialization.
Q: Is Rushlight Ventures a venture fund?
A: Rushlight Ventures is a venture studio, not a venture fund. We specialize in the monetization of defense and dual-use intellectual property created by small and mid-sized businesses conducting federally sponsored research.
Q: What is a venture studio?
A: A typical venture studio is an organization that specializes in creating and launching new businesses. Unlike traditional venture funds or accelerators, a venture studio is actively involved day-to-day in the development and operation of the startups it creates. It typically provides resources, expertise, and a structured framework to support the entire lifecycle of a startup, from ideation to commercialization.
Rushlight Ventures is a bit of a hybrid—we act as a Technology Transfer organization for licensing deals, a Venture Studio for startups, and an M&A consultant for asset sales, all under the label of Venture Studio.
Q: How is a venture studio different from a venture fund or accelerator?
A: While venture funds and accelerators primarily focus on investing in existing startups, venture studios take a more hands-on approach to building companies. Venture studios not only help identify capital opportunities, but also offer operational support, team building, product development, and other resources to nurture multiple startup ventures. Venture studios are actively involved in the day-to-day operations of the startups they create, while venture funds and accelerators typically have a more passive role as investors.
Q: What types of technology, products, or industry sector will Rushlight Ventures work with?
Rushlight Ventures is open to working in various technology areas, products, and industry sectors. We are both “intellectual property (IP) type” and “monetization path” agnostic. We work with IP of all varieties, including products, patents, trade secrets, proprietary relationships, and know-how. We can pursue value creation from your IP via licenses, asset sales, startups, joint ventures, M&A, or internal business units.
Q: Does Rushlight Ventures qualify as a TABA vendor?
A: Yes, Rushlight Ventures qualifies as a TABA vendor. Technical and Business Assistance (TABA) provides funds to help small businesses participating in the SBIR and STTR programs with commercializing its technology. Rushlight Ventures provides valuable assistance in this area.
Q: Can Rushlight Ventures’ services be a G&A expense?
A: It is possible for Rushlight Ventures’ services to be considered a DCAA General and Administrative (G&A) expense. If commercializing technology is part of your business model, then expenses associated with that are typically allowable and we can help you structure your operational budget and support activities to build in technology commercialization.
Q: What is IP?
A: IP stands for Intellectual Property. It refers to the legal rights and protections granted to individuals or organizations for their creative and innovative works or inventions, as well as the protections organizations take on their own to protect their know-how and trade secrets. Intellectual property can include a wide range of intangible assets, such as patents, trademarks, copyrights, relationships, and trade secrets. These provide exclusive control and economic benefits to the IP owner, allowing them to prevent others from using, copying, or exploiting their creations without permission—and creating an asset that may be monetized.
Q: What is commercialization?
A: Commercialization refers to the process of introducing and bringing a product, technology, or innovation to the market in a way that allows it to be sold, distributed, and utilized by customers or end-users. It involves transforming an idea or concept into a marketable and profitable product or service through activities such as market research, product development, manufacturing, marketing, and sales.
At Rushlight Ventures, while we have
a significant focus on technology commercialization, we also focus more broadly on monetization—turning your assets into money—which often, but not necessarily, involves some degree of commercialization.
Q: Is Rushlight Ventures
a venture fund?
A: Rushlight Ventures is a venture studio, not a venture fund. We specialize in the monetization of defense and dual-use intellectual property created by small and mid-sized businesses conducting federally sponsored research.
Q: What is a venture studio?
A: A typical venture studio is an organization that specializes in creating and launching new businesses. Unlike traditional venture funds or accelerators, a venture studio is actively involved day-to-day in the development and operation of the startups it creates. It typically provides resources, expertise, and a structured framework to support the entire lifecycle of a startup, from ideation
to commercialization.
Rushlight Ventures is a bit of a hybrid—we act as a Technology Transfer organization for licensing deals, a Venture Studio for startups, and an M&A consultant for asset sales, all under the label of Venture Studio.
Q: How is a venture studio different from a venture fund
or accelerator?
A: While venture funds and accelerators primarily focus on investing in existing startups, venture studios take a more hands-on approach to building companies. Venture studios not only help identify capital opportunities, but also offer operational support, team building, product development, and other resources to nurture multiple startup ventures. Venture studios are actively involved in the day-to-day operations of the startups they create, while venture funds and accelerators typically have a more passive role as investors.
Q: What types of technology, products, or industry sector will Rushlight Ventures work with?
Rushlight Ventures is open to working in various technology areas, products, and industry sectors. We are both “intellectual property (IP) type” and “monetization path” agnostic. We work with IP of all varieties, including products, patents, trade secrets, proprietary relationships, and know-how. We can pursue value creation from your IP via licenses, asset sales, startups, joint ventures, M&A, or
internal business units.
Q: Does Rushlight Ventures qualify as a TABA vendor?
A: Yes, Rushlight Ventures qualifies as
a TABA vendor. Technical and Business Assistance (TABA) provides funds to help small businesses participating in the SBIR and STTR programs with commercializing its technology. Rushlight Ventures provides valuable assistance in this area.
Q: Can Rushlight Ventures’ services be a G&A expense?
A: It is possible for Rushlight Ventures’ services to be considered a DCAA General and Administrative (G&A) expense. If commercializing technology is part of your business model, then expenses associated with that are typically allowable and we can help you structure your operational budget and support activities to build in technology commercialization.