New Guidelines for start-ups at EPFL

EPFL builds and supports the companies, people, and technology that will change the way the society works for the better. Whether it’s through the knowledge and skills of our graduates and researchers, our collaboration with industry, or our licensing of disruptive technologies, EPFL helps turn promising ideas into new products and services.

To facilitate the journey of future start-up founders, The Technology Transfer Office (TTO), together with The Startup Unit, put at their disposal a document (EPFL Guidelines to startups) summarizing the rules and practices that EPFL has put in place, based on several years of experience, regarding the creation and development of start-ups at EPFL.

From licensing conditions to the use of EPFL name and resources and questions of collaboration between start-ups and EPFL, all elements to be considered are included in this document.

EPFL entrepreneurs say:

The document is very useful. It covers many important aspects, which are not obvious for the start-up founders. I wish I had it when I launched my start-up! The guidelines bring clarity about the license conditions. They are nicely explained, including the rationale behind the rules.

The guideline is clear and concise and contains all the important information an EPFL entrepreneur must know. I am sure that this document will be of value to the entire start-up community. For the investors, the EPFL brand gives a lot of credibility, as it is associated to long-term value and risk-reduction. The transparency provided by these guidelines is an additional and important piece to the EPFL start-up ecosystem.