About
Quadrant-i is the newest addition to the Office of Commercialization and is dedicated to helping faculty, researchers, and students translate their research into startups. Quadrant-i is poised to be a comprehensive resource for the thriving research community on campus, facilitating the journey from innovations to impact. Quadrant-i offers programs, resources, and services tailored to expedite and enhance the commercialization process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Quadrant-i?
Quadrant-i is a new unit in Georgia Tech’s Office of Commercialization that is dedicated to helping faculty, researchers, and students translate their research into startups.
What does the name “Quadrant-i” mean?
The name is inspired by Pasteur’s quadrant in the Daniel Stokes innovation-impact model and will emphasize the translation of deep scientific research into products. (See more information about Pasteur’s quadrant here.)
What are the primary functions of Quadrant-i?
Quadrant-i will be a comprehensive resource for the thriving research community on campus, facilitating the journey from innovations to impact. The unit will offer programs, resources, and services tailored to expedite and enhance the commercialization process, including:
- Advocating for policy changes and incentive structures to foster a culture of impact.
- Securing non-dilutive grant funding.
- Navigating conflicts of interest to maintain research integrity.
- Providing mentorship on the business aspects of innovation.
- Interfacing with customers, investors, and mentors.
- Launching startups with essential resources and support.
What are the units in the Office of Commercialization including Quadrant-i?
Quadrant-i will join the other units in commercialization — the Office of Technology Licensing, VentureLab, and CREATE-X — in making Georgia Tech the premier campus for startups and commercialization.
How does Quadrant-i work with the other units?
The units within the office of commercialization all focus on different aspects of commercialization and entrepreneurship. The following is a quick summary of their functions:
CREATE-X: helping students gain entrepreneurial confidence and launch startups
Office of Technology Licensing: intellectual property (patents) filing and licensing
Quadrant-i: helping faculty and researchers translate their research into startups
VentureLab: teaching, training and research in commercialization and entrepreneurship
Which unit historically supported the functions that Quadrant-i will perform?
VentureLab has over the last two decades supported the functions that Quadrant-i will perform.
What will VentureLab focus on henceforth?
The reorganization will also allow VentureLab to amplify its impact in making Georgia Tech a thought leader for entrepreneurship by focusing on its teaching, training, and research activities in commercialization and entrepreneurship.
What stage of commercialization should I be at to approach Quadrant-i for assistance?
You can approach Quadrant-i no matter what stage you are at including: learning about entrepreneurship and resources available, idea stage, research stage, prototype stage, or startup stage. We will guide you to the right personnel and resources after getting to know you better.
What resources does Quadrant-i have to offer me?
Quadrant-i offers a spectrum of resources including business coaching and guidance, networks of customers, investors, and entrepreneurs, and programs to secure both non-dilutive and dilutive funding.
Who can I reach out to for more information about Quadrant-i?
Please send a note to commercialization@gatech.edu and we will be in touch right away.
Meet The Team
Jonathan Goldman
Interim Director
Jonathan Goldman has been appointed interim director of Quadrant-i. As interim director, Goldman leads programs, resources, and services designed to expedite and enhance the commercialization journey for Georgia Tech’s innovations.
A seasoned entrepreneur and commercialization expert, he has assisted in developing more than 10 companies that collectively attracted more than $300 million in funding. Goldman was instrumental in forming the solar firm Suniva, later serving as its director of Business Development.
Goldman will drive Q-i’s strategic initiatives to accelerate the transition from research breakthroughs to successful ventures. His vision includes enhancing Georgia Tech’s capacity to convert pioneering discoveries into thriving spinouts and funded startups while invigorating the local tech ecosystem.
Goldman holds a bachelor’s degree in aeronautics and astronautics from MIT and a master’s degree in metallurgy from Georgia Tech.
Roberto Casas
Associate Director
Roberto Casas joined Georgia Tech in 2005 and focuses on accelerating the formation of new startups around the university’s research activity. Roberto works primarily with CoC, ECE and ME and has provided strategic advice to more than 120 start-ups on how to start and grow their businesses; 45 of these companies have already emerged from the program, securing more than $1,576 million in private and public funding and creating more than 1000 jobs. He also supports the EDA University Center Program at Georgia Tech and has assisted other universities in building their own faculty start-up programs.
Prior to VentureLab, he had over 15 years of business development and marketing experience in corporate and start-up environments. His career includes roles at Procter & Gamble, Philips Electronics, and MeadWestvaco, prior to co-founding a virtual entertainment venture. He is a co-founder of the MIT Enterprise Forum of Atlanta and is actively engaged with the MIT admission office in the interviewing and recruitment of applicants for each year’s freshman class. Roberto has an MBA degree from MIT (Sloan) and a BS degree in Electrical Engineering from Los Andes University.
Jeff Garbers
Principal
Jeff comes to VentureLab after 35 years in the personal computing industry, focusing on communications, mobility, Internet services, and usability. As a software developer and architect from the earliest days of the PC, Jeff has been instrumental in creating applications and co-founding companies that led their markets and were highly regarded by customers and the industry. He co-founded his first startup with his Georgia Tech graduate advisor in 1982, and sold his most recent company, Rover Apps, in 2013.
Jeff earned an AB in Mathematics from Wabash College, and his MS in Information and Computer Science from Georgia Tech. His personal passions include FIRST Robotics and STEM education for young people.
Richard Gruber
Principal
Richard joined Georgia Tech in 2023 and focuses on energy and cleantech company formation, market strategy, funding, and partnerships in support of faculty led research and resulting startups. His domain expertise is in regulated and competitive energy markets, energy infrastructure development, project finance, go-to-market strategies, energy policy, multi-stakeholder negotiations and process improvement.
Prior to joining GT, Richard co-founded several successful startups including Merit Sustainable Infrastructure, served as VP of Project Development for First Solar, and held leadership positions with power grid operator ERCOT, Energy Management Associates, Electronic Data Systems and Tenneco. Since 2007, Richard has led project development resulting in over 4,000 megawatts (nominally $4 billion) of operating solar and wind projects across the US. Most recently he has spearheaded development of ATL Cleantech Connect, a partnership between the Strategic Energy Institute at GT and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce to grow the clean energy and sustainability startup ecosystem in and around Atlanta.
Richard holds an MBA from the University of St. Thomas, a BA in Economics from Southern Methodist University and attend the Advance Management Program (AMP) at the Harvard Business School.
Harold Solomon
Principal
harold.solomon@venturelab.gatech.edu
Harold started as a software developer for IBM at NASA for Space Shuttle operating systems. After leaving IBM, he became an entrepreneur and investor in companies in telecommunications, financial services, mobile and medical imaging.
Harold has deep experience in fund raising with angels and VC investors, as well as exit experience with public companies. He is enthusiastic to meet all students interested in entrepreneurship and researchers excited to commercialize their work.
Harold studied Information and Computer Science at Georgia Tech, and earned a BBA in Computer and Information Systems from Georgia State University.
Cynthia Sundell, Ph.D.
Principal
cynthia.sundell@venturelab.gatech.edu
Cindi has been with Georgia Tech since 2011 where she has provided support in developing strategies for expansion of Georgia Tech’s innovation collaboration efforts with life science industries. In her current role with VentureLab, she scouts the Georgia Tech research enterprise for life science commercialization opportunities, connects researchers with resources and funding opportunities and coaches them through the commercialization process.
Cindi is the former Vice President of Pharmacology for AtheroGenics, Inc, an Emory startup that went public in 2001 and Vice President for Drug Development for Cerenis Therapeutics located in Toulouse, France. Her areas of expertise include discovery, pre-clinical and clinical development strategies for novel drug products. Cindi received her BA in Biology from Rutgers University and PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of Pennsylvania.
Paul Joseph, Ph.D.
Principal
paul.joseph@venturelab.gatech.edu
Paul Joseph joined Georgia Tech in 2000 and has performed extensive research in the development of microelectronic polymers. The results were most valuable and led to applications in chip manufacturing technology, and low-cost microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device fabrication and packaging. Paul’s original research work overall resulted in 85 publications in peer reviewed journals, reports, conference presentations, trade publications, and 7 awarded US and international patents. In his current role, he will be facilitating the translation of Georgia Tech research and technology by guiding the development of new ventures as strategic consultant (in business model development) for Georgia Tech clients. Paul is interested in supporting commercialization activities in microelectronics, micro-/nanotechnology, and materials etc., connecting faculty members to appropriate resources while guiding them through commercialization of their technologies and mentoring students in entrepreneurship.
In 2022, Paul received a prestigious Fulbright Specialist Award from the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board / US Department of State and was also appointed as a guest associate editor for a special research topic, "Microbial Nanotechnology" in Frontiers in Microbiology Journal. In 2023, he was a recipient of an Interdisciplinary Research Spotlight Award from Georgia Tech for his “over and beyond” contributions in 2022.
Paul received his Ph.D. in Chemical Sciences (University of Madras) and an MBA (specializing in Technology Innovation & Commercialization) at the Georgia Institute of Technology in May 2021.