Mr. Allen J. Dines

As a business executive with 25 plus years of experience in the private sector, I have strong entrepreneurial and analytical skills in business development, marketing, finance, and government/public affairs. My present position involves providing assistance to business and industry in accessing the resources of the UW-Madison. I also assist new UW-Madison related startups by providing information about business formation, links to funding sources, management talent and acquiring other necessities associated with startup enterprises.

I have organized, secured financing for and managed start-up technology-based companies from inception to ultimate sale. I managed the turn-around of a biosensor technology venture leading to successful sale of the business to a national leader. I have identified and negotiated national and international technology licensing, private label manufacturing, marketing and R&D agreements. Additionally, I have managed market research, product conceptualization and commercial development of several new technologies resulting in introduction of new products to the agricultural and environmental markets. I managed the regulatory and public relations components of the first field tests of genetically engineered cotton and tobacco.

Technology transfer of University research. Factors that facilitate commercialization and accelerated business development of startup technology-based companies. Faculty Entrepreneurship. Seed and first-money financing to create commercial entities based on university research.

We live in a knowledge-based economy where economic growth is increasingly driven by application of new ideas to solve problems. Universities are in the knowledge business with major emphases on creating new knowledge and transfering existing knowledge. Universities are thus a natural nexus for industry seeking new products, new markets or imporoved methods for cost reduction.