Mikhail Maiorov, MS, PhD, EMTM’05
Blair Linville, EMTM’05

From Eureka to Entrepreneurial Enterprise

As EMTM students, Mikhail (Mike) Maiorov and Blair Linville discovered a way to satisfy the entrepreneurial urge while continuing their full-time positions — potentially even creating strategic relationships for the future. After working together in several EMTM classes, they recognized an opportunity to apply new research in photonic technology. "We saw that there were limitations in current technology and we wanted to explore new opportunities in the material processing market."

Blair's background in engineering and business leadership at GE was a perfect complement to Mike's research expertise in physical electronics. But neither had tried to create a new business. At EMTM, they took advantage of the Wharton Venture Initiation Program (VIP). An initiative of the Wharton Small Business Center and Wharton Entrepreneurial programs, VIP supports and encourages University of Pennsylvania students developing business plans for new products and services by offering structured guidance from professional advisers and other small business resources.

The team went to VIP in 2004 with a prototype design and the intention to use the laser technology for processing of specific organic compounds. Selected for participation in the program, they were able to benefit from the advice of experienced entrepreneurs and venture capitalists to develop a business plan and take their concept into early stage funding. "What we realized, based on the VIP meetings, was that we could go much broader," says Maiorov.

Shortly after graduating from EMTM, Blair was promoted to his current position at GE. "We see GE as the leader in business innovation, a reference point for our own progress, and possibly the company that may license and commoditize some of our technologies," says Mike. "And we see Princeton Lightwave, with its roots in Sarnoff Corporation's research labs, as a leader in research breakthroughs that may help us with the most challenging technical tasks ahead."

For Linville and Maiorov, VIP is a logical extension of the EMTM curriculum — a way to directly apply marketing, accounting, corporate finance and operations theory. At the same time, they were able to draw on the additional support of their advisors and fellow student entrepreneurs. "It's a great way to put our lessons into practice," says Maiorov. "We've been very lucky to have this opportunity."