Clearing Hurdles to Academic Startup Formation: How Editpep Became a Company

This case follows an academic startup, Editpep, as it encounters and overcomes hurdles in its early days. The case also follows the creation of the Life Sciences Entrepreneurship Center (LSEC) at UC Berkeley and the new LSEC Venture Grant program. Resources from this program, and other places, help Editpep develop and refine its strategy, secure seed funding, and hire its first CEO. The case also explores how UC Berkeley supports academic startup formation, how other universities might emulate and improve upon Berkeley’s achievements, and potential obstacles universities could face along the way.