Karen Utgoff

Karen Utgoff is a market-oriented business strategist and venture development consultant based in Amherst, Massachusetts.1 She currently serves as the Director of IALS Venture Development at the UMass Institute for Applied Life Sciences since March 2018.12 Additionally, she has been the UMass Amherst I-Corps Site Director at the University of Massachusetts Amherst since September 2018.1

With over 25 years of experience, Utgoff focuses on team-based, project-driven innovation and entrepreneurship programs to facilitate the transfer of technology from university labs to the marketplace.12 Her expertise includes:

• Market-oriented business strategy
• Entrepreneurial marketing and business development
• Innovation and entrepreneurship programs

Utgoff's professional background includes:

• Principal at Karen Lauter Utgoff Consulting since 19911
• Adjunct Instructor for NSF I-Corps National Teams Program and MIT Spark Program at New England Regional Innovation Node (NERIN) at MIT since July 20191
• Former lecturer at Olin College of Engineering and University of Massachusetts Amherst1

She holds an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania - The Wharton School and an AB from Oberlin College.1 Utgoff has been recognized for her mentorship, receiving the 2018 Mentor of the Year award from Cleantech Open Northeast.1