UCLA Technology Development Group
UCLA Technology Development Group is the centralized technology transfer office for UCLA, managing invention disclosure, patent prosecution, licensing, and startup formation across life sciences, engineering, and software for university researchers, industry licensees, and entrepreneurial founders.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1919
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What UCLA Technology Development Group does
UCLA Technology Development Group (TDG) is the centralized technology transfer office for the University of California, Los Angeles, operating as a campus-wide gateway that converts UCLA research into commercial outcomes through IP protection, licensing, and startup formation. It serves three primary constituencies: UCLA researchers and innovators who disclose inventions, industry and investor counterparties that license technologies or fund UCLA-affiliated startups, and external entrepreneurs who access startup formation resources.
TDG manages a broad portfolio spanning life sciences (therapeutics, vaccines, drug delivery, diagnostics, medical imaging), physical sciences and engineering (electrical, mechanical, chemical, materials), and software technologies. Core services include invention disclosure intake, patent prosecution management, licensing negotiation (including a phased Express LOI → option → license construct for startups), startup incubation through UCLA Ventures (Bruin Founders, Startup in a Box, Pitch Gym), gap funding via the UCLA Innovation Fund, and SBIR/STTR application support. TDG also publishes a searchable technology catalog and operates a four-tier software licensing framework (TDG-Attribution-NC-ShareAlike, TDG-Attribution-NC-NoDistrib, TDG-Evaluation, BSD).
Revenue is generated through upfront license fees, annual maintenance fees, milestone payments, earned royalties on licensee product sales, patent cost reimbursement, and equity stakes in spun-out companies. Notable portfolio outcomes include Nervonik ($52.5M Series B in April 2026), Rarity PBC ($4.6M seed in October 2025 for ADA-SCID gene therapy), Cytovale (sepsis diagnostics), ExoZymes (cell-free biosynthesis), and Cleopatra Rx (menopause neuroprotective therapy). The organization is led by Amir Naiberg (Associate Vice Chancellor and CEO & President, previously 10-year CEO of Yeda Research at Weizmann Institute) with a board chaired by former USPTO Director Andrei Iancu.
UCLA Technology Development Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- UCLA Technology Development Group
- Legal name
- University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Technology Development Group
- Website
- https://tdg.ucla.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1919
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- UCLA Technology Development Group is the centralized technology transfer office for UCLA, managing invention disclosure, patent prosecution, licensing, and startup formation across life sciences, engineering, and software for university researchers, industry licensees, and entrepreneurial founders.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
UCLA Technology Development Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Technology Transfer Services
- NAICS
- Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715)
- SIC
- Patent Owners & Lessors (6794)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Technology Transfer & Innovation-Driven Research Universities (High Commercialization) (EDAHABAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Technical Universities with Entrepreneurship & Incubation Focus (EDAHAEAH), Research Administration & Compliance (Sponsored Programs, IRB/REB) (EDADAKAH), Research Administration & Grants Management Support (Pre/Post-Award, Compliance) (EDAEALAO)
Keywords
Where UCLA Technology Development Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
UCLA Technology Development Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Technology Licensing Royalties: TDG generates revenue through upfront license fees, annual maintenance fees, milestone payments, earned royalties on product sales, and equity stakes in startup companies formed around UCLA technologies
- Patent Cost Recovery: Licensees reimburse patent prosecution and maintenance expenses incurred by UCLA
- Equity in Startups: TDG accepts equity stakes in startup companies in lieu of upfront fees, preserving startup capital for development while maintaining revenue potential through equity appreciation
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
UCLA Technology Development Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
UCLA Technology Development Group commercializes inventions and software developed by UCLA researchers through intellectual property protection, licensing to industry partners, startup formation, and sponsored research agreements. It runs the UCLA Innovation Fund and SBIR/STTR funding programs, the UCLA Ventures entrepreneur-support suite (Bruin Founders, Startup in a Box, Pitch Gym), and offers standardized software licenses for sharing research code. Revenue is generated via upfront license fees, annual maintenance fees, milestone payments, earned royalties, patent cost reimbursement, and equity stakes in spinout companies.
Product overview
UCLA Technology Development Group (TDG) is a university technology transfer organization that serves as a campus-wide gateway to innovation, research, and entrepreneurship. Rather than offering a single commercial product, TDG provides a portfolio of services and programs including the UCLA Innovation Fund for researcher funding, UCLA Ventures for startup support (with programs like Bruin Founders, Startup in a Box, and Pitch Gym), and Research & Industry Alliances for facilitating industry partnerships. TDG also manages a software licensing program offering four license types (TDG-Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike, TDG-Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDistrib, TDG-Evaluation, and BSD License) for sharing software developed at UCLA. Additionally, TDG supports startup formation, with success stories including Cleopatra Rx (women's cognitive health), ExoZymes (sustainable chemicals/fuels via cell-free biosynthesis), and Cytovale (sepsis diagnostics using cell mechanics).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- UCLA Innovation Fund Funding program providing financial support to UCLA researchers and innovators to advance the development and commercialization of university-disclosed technologies. Open to UCLA researchers and innovators working on disclosed inventions.
- SBIR/STTR Support Support program that helps UCLA-affiliated startups apply for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) federal non-dilutive funding. Targeted at UCLA startup founders commercializing university technologies.
- UCLA Ventures Entrepreneur-support program connecting UCLA-affiliated founders with resources for company formation and growth, including the Bruin Founders cohort, Startup in a Box, and Pitch Gym. Designed for UCLA-affiliated entrepreneurs and startup founders commercializing UCLA technologies.
- Research and Industry Alliances Service that facilitates research collaborations and industry partnerships between UCLA researchers and external sponsors, covering multiple agreement types for sponsored research and technology transfer. Intended for industry sponsors and UCLA researchers initiating collaborative agreements.
- TDG Entrepreneur Hub Online portal that serves as the campus-wide gateway for UCLA researchers and innovators, including submission tools for inventions and research materials. Internal users: UCLA researchers and innovators.
- Phased Technology Licensing (Express LOI to Option to License) Negotiated licensing framework offered to licensees covering patents emanating from UCLA inventions, beginning with an Express Letter of Intent (LOI), convertible to an option agreement, then a full license, with back-loaded consideration and equity participation available for startups. For industry licensees and startup founders seeking UCLA IP rights.
- Technology Publisher Platform Searchable online platform listing UCLA-developed technologies available for licensing across therapeutics, diagnostics, engineering, physical sciences, and software. Intended for industry partners and investors browsing for licensable IP.
- TDG Software Licensing Suite (TDG-Attribution-ShareAlike, TDG-Attribution-NoDistrib, TDG-Evaluation, BSD 3-Clause) Set of four standardized software licenses for code developed at UCLA, covering non-commercial sharing with attribution and share-alike rights, non-commercial use without redistribution, a 60-day time-limited evaluation license for commercial and non-commercial parties, and the BSD 3-Clause open-source license for journal-driven code publication. Targets academic researchers and commercial parties evaluating UCLA-developed software.
Quantifiable outcome
- 285 new inventions disclosed in FY2024
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use UCLA Technology Development Group
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
UCLA Technology Development Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
UCLA Technology Development Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Dr. Donald B. KohncoreUCLA researcher whose gene therapy research for ADA-SCID was exclusively licensed to Rarity PBC. Dr. Kohn's work represents foundational IP licensed from UCLA for commercial development.
- University College LondoncoreCo-licensor of ADA-SCID gene therapy alongside UCLA. The therapy was developed through research collaboration between UCLA and UCL.
- Nura StudiosminorAI animation platform that created UCLA TDG's first explainer video debuted at LABEST 2026.
- Heromade ProductionsminorProduction company that created UCLA TDG's Success Videos for MedTech/Physical Science and Bioscience.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
UCLA Technology Development Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- MIT Technology Licensing Office (TLO): MIT's technology transfer office handling invention disclosure, patenting, and licensing of MIT research. Operates the same TTO model as UCLA TDG with comparable portfolio breadth across biotech, software, and physical sciences.
- Yeda Research and Development Co. The technology transfer company of the Weizmann Institute of Science, where UCLA TDG's CEO Amir Naiberg previously served as CEO for ten years. Directly comparable in mission, structure, and operating approach to UCLA TDG.
- Stanford Office of Technology Licensing (OTL): Stanford's central technology transfer office, managing licensing of Stanford University inventions across life sciences, physical sciences, and engineering. Directly comparable to UCLA TDG in mandate, structure, and serving as the sole gateway to one of the world's leading research universities.
- Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF): One of the oldest and largest university-affiliated technology transfer organizations in the U.S., handling patenting and licensing for University of Wisconsin–Madison research. Compares directly with UCLA TDG in mission, structure, and scale of licensed IP portfolio.
- Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures (JHTV): Johns Hopkins University's central technology transfer organization, licensing inventions across medicine, engineering, and public health. Directly comparable in scale and biotech-heavy portfolio mix to UCLA TDG.
- Caltech Office of Technology Transfer: Caltech's technology transfer office handling patenting and licensing of inventions from Caltech and JPL research. Directly comparable to UCLA TDG as a peer Southern California research university TTO with strong physical sciences and engineering portfolios.
- Penn Center for Innovation (PCI): University of Pennsylvania's technology transfer office, handling invention disclosure, patenting, and startup formation from Penn research. Directly comparable to UCLA TDG with strong biotech and medical device pipelines.
- UC Berkeley Office of Intellectual Property & Industry Research Alliances (IPIRA): UC Berkeley's technology transfer and industry alliances office within the same University of California system as UCLA TDG. Directly comparable in governance, mission, and licensing approach.
- Columbia Technology Ventures: Columbia University's technology transfer office, managing invention disclosure, patenting, and licensing across Columbia's research output. Directly comparable in operating model to UCLA TDG and serves a similarly broad range of disciplines.
Others
- Fuentek LLC: A technology transfer consulting firm founded by TDG board member Laura Schoppe that provides IP management and commercialization strategy services to universities and research institutions. Adjacent ecosystem participant supporting TTO operations comparable to UCLA TDG's mandate.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
UCLA Technology Development Group social profiles
Digital presenceUCLA Technology Development Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
UCLA Technology Development Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
UCLA Technology Development Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
UCLA Technology Development Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about UCLA Technology Development Group
What does UCLA Technology Development Group do?
UCLA Technology Development Group commercializes inventions and software developed by UCLA researchers through intellectual property protection, licensing to industry partners, startup formation, and sponsored research agreements. It runs the UCLA Innovation Fund and SBIR/STTR funding programs, the UCLA Ventures entrepreneur-support suite (Bruin Founders, Startup in a Box, Pitch Gym), and offers standardized software licenses for sharing research code. Revenue is generated via upfront license fees, annual maintenance fees, milestone payments, earned royalties, patent cost reimbursement, and equity stakes in spinout companies.
Is UCLA Technology Development Group a public or private company?
UCLA Technology Development Group is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was UCLA Technology Development Group founded?
UCLA Technology Development Group was founded in 1919. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is UCLA Technology Development Group based?
UCLA Technology Development Group is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does UCLA Technology Development Group make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Technology Licensing Royalties are the primary driver. The others are patent Cost Recovery and equity in Startups.
Who are UCLA Technology Development Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are MIT Technology Licensing Office (TLO), Yeda Research and Development Co., Stanford Office of Technology Licensing (OTL), Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures (JHTV), Caltech Office of Technology Transfer, Penn Center for Innovation (PCI), UC Berkeley Office of Intellectual Property & Industry Research Alliances (IPIRA) and Columbia Technology Ventures. Fuentek LLC is listed as an others.
Does UCLA Technology Development Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for UCLA Technology Development Group.
What industry is UCLA Technology Development Group in?
UCLA Technology Development Group's product category is Technology Transfer Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHABAH, Technology Transfer & Innovation-Driven Research Universities (High Commercialization), with a secondary code of EDAHAEAH, Technical Universities with Entrepreneurship & Incubation Focus. Its NAICS code is 5417 and its SIC code is 6794.