By Danielle Douglas
From Pipettes to Pitch Decks, held Jan. 19, 2026, explored the distinction between discovery and invention and how academic research can lead to commercially viable products. Around 20 graduate students and postdocs gathered in Guarini Commons for the event, co-hosted by the Dartmouth Biotechnology Club and the Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies, featuring alumni Scott Alpizar, PhD, Guarini ’19 (molecular and cellular biology), managing partner at Emerging Innovations Consulting.
Drawing on his experience as a scientist, CEO, investor, and commercialization advisor, Alpizar shared a practical roadmap for transforming academic research into fundable and scalable startup companies. The event included an hour-long presentation followed by an informal happy hour that allowed for deeper discussion and personalized questions.
Throughout the event, Kerry Swift from Dartmouth’s Technology Transfer Office was in attendance and offered additional insights from her work supporting faculty and student founders through patenting, licensing, and early-stage company formation. Her perspective complemented Alpizar’s talk and helped attendees better understand how commercialization support operates within the university ecosystem.
Alpizar highlighted several key themes for students interested in scientific entrepreneurship:
Not all good science should become a startup.
Alpizar encouraged students to think critically about whether their research addresses a real, unmet need. While high-quality data and publications are essential in academia, successful startups require clear evidence of market demand. Recognizing early whether a project is better suited for continued academic exploration or commercialization can save significant time and resources.
Commercial value comes from invention, not discovery.
A recurring theme was the distinction between scientific discovery and invention. Alpizar explained that while discoveries advance knowledge, inventions apply that knowledge to solve specific problems in ways that can be protected, scaled, and commercialized. Understanding this difference is critical when navigating patents, technology transfer, and investor expectations.
Customer discovery de-risks science early.
Alpizar emphasized the importance of speaking with potential end users early and often. Feedback from clinicians, patients, and industry partners can reshape product direction, refine target indications, and prevent teams from over-investing in solutions that lack real-world demand. Customer discovery helps align scientific effort with meaningful impact.
Entrepreneurship is a mindset shift, not leaving science behind.
Rather than portraying entrepreneurship as a departure from research, Alpizar framed it as applying scientific thinking in a new context. Skills such as hypothesis testing, data-driven decision making, and resilience translate well to startups, while additional skills, such as comfort with ambiguity, cross-disciplinary communication, and value-driven storytelling, become increasingly important.
The post-talk happy hour provided an informal space for extended conversation, where students engaged directly with Alpizar on topics including working with technology transfer offices, choosing funding sources, assessing startup readiness, and balancing academic training with entrepreneurial interests. Many attendees noted that the open format allowed for candid discussion and practical advice tailored to individual career goals.
The event offered students both a realistic view of the challenges involved in commercialization and a supportive framework for exploring how academic research can move beyond the lab to create real-world impact.
