About Jim Bratton
Jim Bratton is an experienced entrepreneur, investor, higher education administrator, and board advisor. Having
spent over 20 years as an entrepreneur and Venture Capitalist working with start-ups and university spin-outs, he has invested in and advised dozens of technology-based start-ups including QTera, Optium, Biofisica, Bladelogic, Digital Furnace, Moleculera and Lipid Biologics. Jim has led new company formations, follow-ons, strategic partnerships and exits as well as secondary investments in partnership funds.
Jim was President and CEO of Innovate IP, an Ohio State University spin-out which he grew and sold to Cayuse, LLC. Prior to joining Innovate IP, Jim served as Assistant Vice President for Economic Development for the University of Oklahoma. In this role, he oversaw technology commercialization across all three campuses, taught Entrepreneurship at the graduate level and in the Study Abroad program and managed two technology investment funds. During his tenure, Jim eliminated a $1.5MM operating deficit, introduced new programs to help graduate students explore commercializing their research through start-ups, and doubled licensing revenue. Jim began his career with BFGoodrich Aerospace managing operational and customer support resources for commercial airlines in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Licensing Executive Society (USA and Canada) and The Simon Kenton Council (BSA). He is an Eagle Scout, Scoutmaster, recipient of the Charles L. Sommers Triple Crown Award, and an avid fly fisherman. Jim is fluent in French and has studied German, Spanish, Italian, and Russian. He earned his MBA from Duke University and holds a BA in French and Economics from Sewanee: The University of the South.
