Launching from the Lab: Building a Deep-Tech Startup

by Lita Nelsen, Lita Nelsen, Sophie Hagerty (Primary Contributor)

An essential how-to guidebook for building new companies based on deep technology.

Launching from the Lab provides a much-needed framework for new entrepreneurs who are founding a company based on “deep technology”— groundbreaking innovations arising from new discoveries in fundamental research. Lita Nelsen and Maureen Stancik Boyce cover the steps to launch and fund such companies, beginning with emergence from the laboratory and acquiring intellectual property to the intensive research of customer needs, building a team, and raising capital.

Designed to be read and then used chapter-by-chapter, the book details every step of the entrepreneur’s journey through in-depth, structured chapters. Applicable to fields as diverse as biotechnology, medical devices, computing, and clean energy, the guidebook covers topics from the importance of intellectual property and patents to forecasting financial data and pursuing capital.   The authors also include a special section on IP and dealing with tech transfer offices, for founders launching from university laboratories.

Whether you’re a first-time entrepreneur or a university researcher ready to commercialize your work, the book is an indispensable companion for turning breakthrough science into real-world impact.

254 pages, Paperback

Published February 10, 2026

Reviews

[WiseB]

I enjoyed the book’s depiction of a startup journey, especially in the tech sector, from early-stage development to product success, company growth, and a financially rewarding exit.

The book presents a systematic framework for transforming scientific research into a scalable startup based on the “Lean Canvas” method …

1. IP and Legal Foundations
2. Organizational Setup
3. Communication & Modeling
4. Capital Strategy
5. Negotiation & Governance
6. Execution & Exit