University Venture Development Fund

Botanical genetic fingerprinting: Floragenex

What if you could develop a tomato plant that would bear mouthwatering fruit and remain toothsome despite being trucked long distances?

Using patented technology developed by UO biologist Eric Johnson, a UO spinout company called Floragenex is unlocking the genetic origins of complex traits such as taste, fragrance, and disease resistance in plants. With this discovery new plant varieties can be developed in less than half the time needed for traditional hybridizing or selective cross breeding.

In 2005, Floragenex CEO and President Nathan Lillegard was a UO M.B.A. student in the UO’s Technology Entrepreneurship Program when he chose to create and enter a business plan for Johnson’s discovery in the UO’s New Venture Championship (NVC). Lillegard’s business plan has since morphed into a real company in the UO’s Riverfront Research Park.

Business Week recognizes the UO’s New Venture Championship, held annually in Portland, Oregon as one of the top three international business plan competitions.