Consultant Profile: Anthony delCampo Area Center: North Charleston Title: Technology Commercialization Business Consultant Start Date: January 2020

QUESTION: What was your career track prior to joining the SC SBDC network? ANSWER: I have over 27 years of biomedical research business development and technology transfer experience. I began my career as a research biologist at the National Cancer Institute where I participated in ultrastructural pathology research projects as an analytical electron microscopist. I subsequently moved to the biomedical industry where, as a member of the research and development team at the LifeCell Corporation, I co-invented AlloDerm®, a regenerative tissue matrix for several human applications.

I have held commercialization positions in biopharma and academic centers including M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, BCM Technologies and the Genome Therapeutics Corporation. I also held leadership positions at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Hackensack-Meridian Health where I led teams in support of technology commercialization. In that role, I advised inventors and entrepreneurs on funding opportunities, licensing matters and new venture formation.

I have a BA degree in Biology from the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) and attended graduate school in cell biology at Georgetown University. I also hold an MBA with concentrations in finance and management from the C.T. Bauer College of Business Administration at the University of Houston. I am also a Certified Licensing Professional (CLP™) and a RTTP (Registered Technology Transfer Practitioner). In addition to my duties for the South Carolina SBDC, I am also the President and Founder of Strategic Clarity Consulting, LLC, a biomedical consulting firm providing strategic advisement to academic and corporate clients.

QUESTION: What motivated you to become an SC SBDC consultant? ANSWER: I am passionate about moving early stage technology into the marketplace. As an SC SBDC consultant, I can leverage my experience and expertise to assist entrepreneurs and small business owners to achieve their goals. In doing so, I believe I can contribute to the growth of the innovation ecosystem in South Carolina.

QUESTION: What is the best piece of advice you would offer aspiring business owners? ANSWER: I believe it is very important that aspiring business owners understand both the market need for their technology or product as well as the relevant competitive landscape. Particularly in highly competitive environments, business owners also need to demonstrate how their technology offers a differentiated solution. In addition, strong intellectual property protection is essential for a successful business, whether be in the form of a patent, trademark or copyright.

QUESTION: Do you have a particular area of interest/expertise that you offer clients? ANSWER: I offer clients intellectual property advice and help them to hone their company story and commercial strategy. Having the appropriate business strategy that reflects the strength of the client's technology as well as its competition are paramount to maximize the probability of commercialization.

QUESTION: Since becoming an SC SBDC consultant, what is your greatest accomplishment? ANSWER: Given that I have been in my role for only two months now, I must admit that my accomplishments are modest. However, I take pride in the fact that in that short time, I have assisted several inventors and entrepreneurs to consider strategic directions that perhaps were not obvious to them initially, but yet could prove to be vital in ensuring that their technology offering moves forward.

QUESTION: Why is the SBDC an important resource for small business owners in South Carolina? ANSWER: In my view, the SBDC represents a reliable, no cost, one on one consulting resource for entrepreneurs in South Carolina. Importantly, this resource provides the small business owner with an unbiased review of their business as well as offers expert guidance that might not otherwise be available to them.

QUESTION: What is your favorite part about working for the SC SBDC? ANSWER: Sharing in the passion exhibited by entrepreneurs and small business owners to commercialize their technology to achieve a potential societal benefit.