Business of Bioscience Student Spotlight - Tyson Fetzer

Although a slight majority of KGI's class of 2011 is staying on the west coast for their summer biotech internships, you can find students of the MBS program all over the country. Tyson Fetzer sends updates from San Antonio, Texas where he is serving as the assistant to the Project Manager in Technology Commercialization with the Startech Foundation. As a student on the Business of Bioscience focus track, Tyson is responsible for a wide range of tasks including assisting clients with business plans and presentations for equity funding, conducting due diligence and industry analysis for life science clients, and working with clients applying for SBIB and STTR grants. With such a variety of duties, Tyson's daily activities can include anything and everything.

It was this day to day flexibility and exposure to working in a start-up company in the venture funding and technology commercialization industry attracted this soon to be second year with a strong interest in the business side of the life sciences. He was able to obtain his internship through personal contacts and has proven successful in applying his first year experiences in science and business in an industry setting. Tyson was one of the few select students who had the opportunity to assist with a Team Masters Project during his first year. He acknowledges that this experience has been invaluable in setting him up for success this summer.

"I have used knowledge gained in my TMP project and my market research project in providing clients with advice. I have been able to assist them in focusing their business strategy and understanding the market better."

During the remainder of the summer, Tyson hopes to continue to make business contacts. He is also intent on gaining an understanding of what it takes to have a successful start-up company including how to quickly assess a technology and the relevant market to realize its potential for commercialization. When asked to share his secrets to landing the perfect internship, Tyson kept his response brief and to the point.

"Start early and use personal contacts. Don't settle and be persistent."

By Christina Lai (MBS '11)