If you are a Tulane employee or inventor founder of a startup based on a patented intellectual property owned by Tulane University (Tulane IP). 

To qualify for a Go Green License, startups must:

• Be licensing Tulane intellectual property (IP) assigned solely to Tulane.
• Be launching a new company around the Tulane IP.
• Include at least one founder who is a Tulane faculty member, staff member, student, or inventor of the Tulane IP. 
• Be incorporated when signing the Go Green License.
• Have, at minimum, a 2-person founder team.
• Complete a conflict-of-interest disclosure per Tulane guidelines (counsel.tulane.edu/conflict-interest-policies). Go Green License will be executed only upon completion of any COI approvals.
• Agree to the Go Green License without any modifications, in other words, “As Is”.
• Complete I-Corps training or gain admission into a Venture Lab or Studio.
• Provide their business plan or similar business canvas materials to the Tulane Innovation Institute.
• Participants may be required to complete additional educational programs through Tulane's Innovation Institute or pursue recommended resources to address any identified deficiencies in the requirements listed above.
 

Tulane offers flexible licensing pathways based on your readiness. Companies meeting our requirements can secure a license quickly and often within 30 days or less. For those needing time to develop their technology and business model, our Go Green Option provides a no-cost 12-month option when you commit to I-Corps training or a Venture Lab/Studio program. This option can be extended for an additional 6 months at no cost if you submit an SBIR/STTR application during the first year. Throughout this period, your team works with the Tulane Innovation Institute to refine your business concept and utilize our resources—including I-Corps, SBIR/STTR support, and Green Wave Innovation Network (GWIN) mentoring—to prepare for successful technology commercialization. Tulane covers all patent expenses while maintaining prosecution control during the period, with patent expense repayment deferred until later and becoming payable under the Go Green License's delayed payment terms.
 

No, unless the other institution agrees to all of the terms and conditions of the Go Green License. Please contact OIPM for more information.

No, at least one founder must be a Tulane faculty member, staff member, student, or inventor of the Tulane IP to qualify for the Go Green License.

No, you will not be able to renegotiate the terms of the previous license. 

No, the terms of the Go Green License are fixed. If the terms are not acceptable, a more detailed and time-consuming exclusive license agreement template will be used. 

This agreement is intended not to require edits. However, if there are specific concerns, you may discuss them with your business manager. Please note that a request for additional edits or changes will be a decision to opt out of the Go Green License.

No, a business plan is required to qualify for the Go Green License. While there's no single correct format for a business plan, this document helps demonstrate your venture's viability and direction. 

The plan doesn't need to be elaborate—it could be a simple business canvas or outline showing your concept, target market, and operational approach. The Tulane Innovation Institute provides guidance throughout the application process and can help you develop the core elements needed, such as your value proposition, customer segments, revenue model, and initial resource requirements.
 

No, you will not qualify for the Go Green License. The diligence milestones should be part of your business plan. 

To expedite and simplify the contract process and lessen the burden on startup companies, the Go Green License template has a simple deal structure with one flat royalty rate, a low success fee at the time of liquidation/IPO (initial public offering), no upfront fees, deferment of certain pre-license patent expense reimbursement, no annual fees till year four, and no milestone payments. 

However, the licensee will be responsible for all ongoing and future patent costs post-execution of the Go Green License. Tulane University will control the prosecution process, but the licensee will be copied on all relevant correspondence and have time for comment. 

Yes. The Go Green License now offers specific terms for different technology categories, including "Software and Other Copyrightable Materials," which covers software, copyrights, and related technologies. Each technology category has tailored terms that are appropriate for that field. Contact the Innovation Institute to determine which category best fits your technology.

The diligence requirements function as essential checkpoints ensuring Tulane startups actively advance licensed technologies toward commercialization. These agreements establish clear milestones that provide an effective framework to track progress throughout the partnership, while the financial considerations reflect the fair market value of the technology and the university's investment in its development. Both elements work in tandem to create a balanced relationship where startups receive valuable intellectual assets and support while the university maintains appropriate visibility into development and receives reasonable compensation for its innovations—ultimately fostering a sustainable technology transfer ecosystem that transforms academic discoveries into market-ready solutions with tangible economic and societal impact. 

Success Fee means the rate that will be used to calculate the amount the Licensee shall pay to Tulane University upon a liquidation event or Initial Public Offering (IPO). The success fee rate for the Go Green License is 1.25%. 

The Tulane Innovation Institute will ensure that all qualifications are met and confirm the applicability of the Go Green License to your startup company through its review process.

As an example, in a situation where the company is located outside of the United States and there is a founder who is a university employee, you will need to obtain COI approval, and an export control waiver may also be required to proceed with licensing. Please contact OIPM for more information.
 

Please email oipm@tulane.edu and you will be connected to the appropriate business manager. 

The Innovation Institute will help determine the appropriate category for your technology during the initial consultation. The three main categories are: 1) Engineering + Physical Sciences + Life Sciences, 2) Therapeutics + Med Devices, and 3) Software and Other Copyrightable Materials. AI technologies are offered under a pilot program with hybrid terms that combine elements of software licensing with data-dependent considerations. Some technologies may have characteristics that span multiple categories, in which case the Innovation Institute will work with you to select the most appropriate classification.