• Coordinate with your Business Engagement liaison.
  They can help determine whether a nondisclosure agreement (NDA) is needed before you speak with the company and ensure the conversation aligns with UGA’s established processes.
• Cocreate a focused agenda.
  Work with your liaison and departmental leadership to draft a preliminary Statement of Work (SOW)and budget. This template provides a helpful starting point for the SOW.
• Consider who else should be involved.
  Some opportunities benefit from a broader UGA presence. Consult your Department Head and think about colleagues or administrators from other departments, colleges, or units who may strengthen the discussion.

During the Conversation

• Keep it simple and accessible.
  Avoid diving too quickly into technical details. This short UIDP video illustrates common pitfalls and why clarity matters in early conversations.
• Center the company’s needs.
  Spend most of the time listening and learning — their priorities, challenges, motivations, and longterm goals. This insight will help you assess alignment between your expertise and their interests.
• Avoid discussing costs.
  If asked, explain that UGA’s standard process is to develop a Statement of Work before estimating project costs. This ensures accuracy and protects both parties.
• Close with clear next steps.
  Before ending the meeting, identify action items for both sides. Reinforce these in your followup email to demonstrate professionalism, reliability, and genuine interest in collaboration.

Following the Conversation

• Send a timely thank you email.
  Recap key insights you heard, confirm any decisions made, and express appreciation for the company’s time and openness.
• Document action items for both sides.
  Clearly restate next steps, responsible parties, and any timelines discussed. This reinforces reliability and prevents misunderstandings.
• Share relevant materials with your Business Engagement liaison.
  Provide notes, meeting takeaways, and any documents the company shared so your liaison can advise on next steps and ensure alignment with UGA procedures.
• Assess alignment and feasibility.
  Reflect on what you learned about the company’s needs and whether a collaboration makes sense. If not, consider whether another UGA colleague might be a better fit.
• Avoid sharing costs prematurely.
  If the company requested budget information, notify your liaison so they can guide the development of a Statement of Work before any pricing is discussed.
• Determine whether additional UGA partners should be involved.
  Based on the conversation, consider whether colleagues, administrators, or other units should join future discussions.
• Set up the next touchpoint.
  If appropriate, propose a followup meeting, share requested materials, or begin drafting a highlevel concept or problem statement to keep momentum strong.