From University Labs to Global Deep Tech Ventures: Crossing the Valley of Death
- Date
- 2026.10.07
- Time
- 14:30 - 15:15
- Location
- Knowledge Capital Congrès Convention Center
Universities and regional innovation ecosystems are vital sources of breakthrough technologies and deep tech startups.Yet research excellence alone is not enough to build globally competitive companies. Many promising technologies struggle to cross the “valley of death” between academic research, commercialization, and market adoption.
Deep tech founders need support in developing robust intellectual property strategies, validating real-world customer needs, securing patient and growth capital, and recruiting experienced management talent. They also need international networks that connect university research and regional strengths with global investors, corporate partners, customers, and markets.
This session will explore how universities, research institutions, accelerators, investors, and public ecosystem builders can work together to transform scientific breakthroughs into globally scalable deep tech companies. The panel will discuss best practices in technology commercialization, IP strategy, venture creation, management talent development, ecosystem design, and cross-border expansion—and examine what it takes to help university- and region-based startups successfully cross the valley of death and compete on the global stage.
Todd Stavish
SRI Ventures, Managing Director
Joe Kirgues
gener8tor Management, LLC
Kimi Sakoda
Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)
Todd Stavish
SRI Ventures, Managing Director
- Biography
Todd Stavish is the Vice President of the ventures team at SRI. In this role, Todd manages the overall operations for SRI Ventures, including incubation and deal sourcing.
Prior to joining SRI, Todd was Director of Lab41, a division of In-Q-Tel Labs. Under his leadership, Lab41 developed novel deep learning algorithms, security for machine learning models, and one of the largest real-world audio training datasets. Previously, Todd was co-founder of CosmiQ Works, an applied research lab focused on developing, prototyping, and evaluating open source artificial intelligence capabilities for geospatial use cases. While at CosmiQ Works, he pioneered the SpaceNet Challenge, a corpus of commercial satellite imagery and associated algorithm design competitions. Before working at CosmiQ, Todd led In-Q-Tel’s big data, geospatial, and commercial space investments.
Todd brings a wealth of experience to SRI’s Ventures team, having spent his spent his early career working in Silicon Valley start-ups. He received a bachelor’s degree in Computational Physics from Saint Bonaventure University.
Reach out to Todd directly if you are interested in working with him to identify opportunities for potential successful spin-offs.
Joe Kirgues
gener8tor Management, LLC
- Biography
Kirgues attended Marquette University where he earned his Bachelor Degree in Finance. He went on to attend the University of Wisconsin Law School, graduating in 2008. He then served as a Clerk to the Honorable Judge William E. Callahan, Jr. in the Eastern District of Wisconsin. Kirgues became an Associate for Quarles & Brady LLP in 2011. He met gener8tor co-founder Troy Vosseller in 2011 through that position and has been growing the gener8tor brand since the company was founded in 2012. To date, gener8tor has expanded to over 100 employees and has supported 2,200 startups in raising $4B+ in capital and creating more than 15,000 jobs.
Kimi Sakoda
Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)
- Biography
Kimi Sakoda is Chief at JETRO Nagoya. Since joining JETRO in 2023, she has supported the international expansion of Japanese startups, with a particular focus on areas such as the space and mobility sectors. She currently works on both outbound startup support and inbound business attraction, helping connect Japanese and international innovation ecosystems through cross-border partnerships and collaboration.