Research Cohort
Helping University researchers move innovation toward commercialization.
Program Overview
21 projects
13 founders
$408k non-dilutive grant funding
$400k dilutive capital raised
Research History
Faculty, PhD, and postdoctoral researchers face a unique set of challenges and opportunities as they move their research toward commercialization. This year, our work with these founders reinforced what we learned last year and pushed our understanding further:
The University of Utah's ecosystem continues to deepen, with more programs, labs, mentors, and funding sources available than ever before. Yet navigating that ecosystem remains the core challenge. Founders don't lack resources, they lack a clear path through them.
This year, 13 founders across 21 projects worked with us to close that gap, raising a combined $808K in capital, nearly evenly split between dilutive and non-dilutive sources, a signal that these teams are building credibility with both traditional investors and grant reviewers alike.
In partnership with the Vice President of Research Office and Technology Licensing Office
Doman Innovation Studio recognizes that innovation happens across campus and the community, with members ranging from designers and engineers to artists and scientists. While our support is broadly adaptable, we also provide tailored resources.
In 2024, Doman launched the first research-specific commercialization cohort to help University researchers explore business pathways, assess market potential, and navigate funding opportunities.
Researcher Highlights
Bryce Wallis
IntiMate
"One of the best things that Doman Innovation Studio helped me with is sharing the knowledge and understanding of commercialization, regulatory pathways, and starting a business.
Intimate is aiming to make reproductive health more natural and accessible. Bryce and her collaborators are developing two non-hormonal vaginal gels that double as lubricants, one for contraception and one for conception. Many people want options that don’t involve hormones, so the idea is to build family planning into something couples already use, without extra steps or side effects. Whether someone is trying to prevent pregnancy or start a family, Intimate will give them a simple, hormone-free choice that fits naturally into their lives.
Daniel Greiner
Calycia Biosciences
“Doman has helped us bridge the gap between research and commercialization. Understanding how to set up a company and how to answer questions that we are not taught in our research.”
Calycia biosciences is a biotechnology company developing novel macrophage cell therapies. By leveraging the unique biology of macrophages, we are engineering solutions specifically designed to infiltrate, remodel, and treat aggressive solid tumors of the brain.
Rachel Detweiller
Lontra Biosciences
“Doman’s founder-centric approach created an incredibly supportive environment to navigate the transition from researcher to founder. I gained confidence, perspective, and practical tools for turning academic research into a meaningful venture.”
At Lontra, we have developed synthetic polypeptides that harness the functional sophistication of proteins while leveraging the tunability and scalability of traditional polymers.
Our unique materials support innovations in cryoprotectants for foods and biomedicines, anti-aggregation strategies, lubricants, anti-infectives, and engineered mucus and glycocalyx models.