Biography
Adam J. Bock, MBA, PhD, is an award-winning academic, venture financier, and serial entrepreneur.
As an academic, he studies entrepreneurship, business models, and technology venturing. Adam is the co-author (with Gerry George) of The Business Model Book (Pearson 2018), Models of Opportunity (Cambridge 2012), and Inventing Entrepreneurs (Pearson Prentice Hall 2009). He has published peer-reviewed research on innovation and entrepreneurship in Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, Journal of Management Studies, Venture Capital: An International Journal of Finance, and other journals.
Adam has co-founded four life science companies spun out of university research. Nerites Corporation commercialized a bio-inspired synthetic medical adhesive developed at Northwestern. Nerites was acquired by Kensey-Nash (Royal DSM) for $20 million in 2011. Stratatech Corporation commercialized an immortalized human keratinocyte cell line developed at Wisconsin. Stratatech was acquired by Mallinckrodt in 2016 for $187 million. Virtual Incision Corporation is commercializing miniaturized surgical robots developed at the University of Nebraska. His most recent venture, Cellular Logistics, was spun out of the University of Wisconsin in 2016. Adam managed multiple angel investing networks, facilitating more than $10 million into early stage technology firms. He mentors technology and social entrepreneurs around the world.
He has taught entrepreneurship at institutions including UW-Madison, the University of Edinburgh, Imperial College London, and Skolkovo Institute for Science and Technology. He provides executive education in strategy, entrepreneurship, and innovation through the Center for Professional & Executive Development at the Fluno Center. He developed a series of online entrepreneurship courses with Epigeum, LTD which was utilized at more than a dozen UK universities. Adam received the 2018 National 3E Award from the United States Association of Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE) for the best experiential entrepreneurial classroom activity. He was named the 2016 “Most Valuable Professor” by the Edgewood College Athletic Department.
Adam is a Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy. He was selected as a Member of the Royal Society of Edinburgh Young Academy in 2012. Adam served on the World Entrepreneurship Forum (Lyon, France) from 2011-2013. He was Deputy Director of the $9M EPSRC EPSRC and MRC Center for Doctoral Training in Optical Medical Imaging at the University of Edinburgh, an entrepreneurship training program linking the School of Business, College of Medicine, and School of Chemistry.
He holds Bachelors degrees in Quantitative Economics and Aeronautical Engineering from Stanford University, an MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a PhD in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Imperial College London.
Research
Selected Accepted Journal Articles
Johnson, D. & Bock, A. & Thompson, A. (2021). Interpretation of successful and failed events at entrepreneurial firms: Acknowledgement practice under uncertainty International Small Business Journal
Selected Published Journal Articles
Bock, A. & George, G. & Warglien, M. (2021). A Simulation-based Approach to Business Model Design and Organizational Change. Innovation: Organization and Management
Johnson, D. & Bock, A. & George, G. (2019). Entrepreneurial dynamism and the built environment in the evolution of university entrepreneurial ecosystems Industrial and Corporate Change
Bock, A. & Johnson, D. (2018). Regenerative Medicine Venturing at the University-Industry Boundary: Implications for Institutions, Entrepreneurs, and Industry Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology: Cardiac Extracellular Matrix
Frydrych, D. & Bock, A. (2018). Bring the Noize: Syndicate and Role-Identity Co-Creation During Crowdfunding SAGE Open
Bock, A. & Gregson, G. & Harrison, R. (2017). A review and simulation of business angel investment returns Venture Capital: An International Journal of Finance
Johnson, D. & Bock, A. (2017). Coping with Uncertainty: entrepreneurial sensemaking in regenerative medicine venturing Journal of Technology Transfer
Bock, A. & Johnson, D. (2016). A Comparative Study of Ecosystem Development in Regenerative Medicine Academic Entrepreneurship: Translating Discoveries to the Marketplace
Frydrych, D. & Bock, A. & Kinder, T. (2016). Creating project legitimacy – the role of entrepreneurial narrative in reward-based crowdfunding International Perspectives on Crowdfunding: Positive, Normative and Critical Theory
Bock, A. & Eisengerich, A. & Sharapov, D. & George, G. (2015). Innovation and Leadership: When Does CMO Leadership Improve Performance From Innovation? SAGE Open
Bock, A. & Frydrych, D. & Kinder, T. & Koeck, B. (2014). Exploring entrepreneurial legitimacy in reward-based crowdfunding Venture Capital: An International Journal of Finance
George, G. & Bock, A. (2012). Models of Opportunity Cambridge
Bock, A. & George, G. & Opsahl, T. & Gann, D. (2012). The Effect of Culture and Structure on Strategic Flexibility During Business Model Innovation Journal of Management Studies
George, G. & Bock, A. (2011). The Business Model in Practice and its Implications for Entrepreneurship Research Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice
George, G. & Bock, A. (2010). The Role of Structured Intuition and Entrepreneurial opportunities Research in the Sociology of Organizations
Practitioner-Oriented Publications
Bock, A. & Gregson, G. & Harrison, R. (2020). Stairway to Heaven? Rethinking angel investment policy and practice. Journal of Business Venturing Insights
Bock, A. & George, G. (2018). The Right Business Model At The Right Time European Business Review
Bock, A. & George, G. (2018). The Business Model Book: Design, build and adapt business ideas that thrive Pearson
Bock, A. & Johnson, D. (2016). The Uniqueness of Stem Cell Ecosystems: Lessons in matching local culture Coller Venture Findings
Bock, A. & Bock, A. (2016). The Secret Life of Crowdfunding European Business Review
Bock, A. & George, G. (2014). Agile Business Model Innovation The European Business Review
Bock, A. (2012). Technology Transfer The Encyclopedia of New Venture Management
George, G. & Bock, A. (2009). Inventing Entrepreneurs: Technology Innovators and Their Entrepreneurial Journey
Bock, A. (2003). Business Angels
Presentations
Economic Development Forum of Iowa (2006) Economic Development
(2006) Professional Development
(2005) Acquiring Angel and Venture Capital
(2004) Acquiring Angel and Venture Capital
(2003) Acquiring Angel and Venture Capital
Mississippi Valley Venture Finance Symposium (2003) Venture Finance
(2002) Acquiring Angel and Venture Capital
Wisconsin Economic Summit III (2002) Venture Finance
Wisconsin Governor’s Summit on Capital (Panelist) (2002) Venture Finance
Wisconsin Life Sciences Venture Conferences (Selection Committee Member) (2002)
Wisconsin Economic Summit II (Panelist) (2001) Venture Finance
Wisconsin Venture Conference (Steering Committee Member) (2001)
Wisconsin Venture and Growth Capital Association (Founding Director) (1)
Wisconsin Venture Conference (Steering Committe Member) (1)
Teaching
Undergraduate Courses
Entrepreneurial Growth Strategies (MHR 427), Fall 2017.
General management course that analyzes and integrates growth patterns and business disciplines in context of nascent and high growth firms.
Strategic Management (MHR 423), Fall 2009.
Synthesis of material from accounting, finance, production management, insurance, personnel and industrial relations, law and marketing; top management problems; discussion of actual business cases.
Entrepreneurial Management (MHR 422), Fall 2017.
Addresses entrepreneurship as a career,a phenomenon and as a method of bringing ideas to market. Appropriate for students interested in starting entrepreneurial ventures,advising managers or working in a small business. Including opportunity discovery
Graduate Courses
Small Business Planning (MHR 727), Spring 2006.
This course is concerned with small business planning for the initiation of a new venture or for the renewal of an existing business. Includes case studies and the preparation of business plans that require application of expertise in business functions.
Hybrid Courses
Technology Entrepreneurship (MHR/MHR 441/741), Spring 2015.
Designed for undergraduate students interested in learning about the fundamental issues related to starting and managing technology-based new ventures. Encourages students to consider how technology-based solutions can solve economic and socially oriente
Technology Entrepreneurship (MHR/MHR 441/741), Spring 2016.
Designed for undergraduate students interested in learning about the fundamental issues related to starting and managing technology-based new ventures. Encourages students to consider how technology-based solutions can solve economic and socially oriente
Technology Entrepreneurship (MHR 441/741), Spring 2017.
Designed for undergraduate students interested in learning about the fundamental issues related to starting and managing technology-based new ventures. Encourages students to consider how technology-based solutions can solve economic and socially oriente
Learning/Teaching Oriented Publications
Bock, A. (2014). Innovation Marketplace Experiential Entrepreneurship Exercises Journal