WildTangent Inc.

Alex St. John

Alex St. John has a new gig. The outspoken WildTangent founder let it slip tonight at the WTIA's gaming panel that he has been chosen as an entrepreneur-in-residence at the University of Washington. In that role, St. John will sniff around the UW for compelling business ideas.

"It is not announced yet, but I will be the entrepreneur-in-residence in the computer science department to help startups and graduate students out of the University of Washington get VC funding and spin out companies," St. John said. After the panel, he offered a few more insights on what he'll be doing.

"Being given free rein to shop around the computer science department for good ideas is really exciting," said St. John, adding that he was ready to try something new after 10 years at WildTangent. "The opportunity for me is to find the next exciting idea and play a role in its success in the marketplace."

Last fall, St. John stepped down as CEO of the Redmond gaming company, a startup he co-founded in 1998 after a career at Microsoft. He remains executive chairman. Controversial and charismatic, it will be interesting to see how St. John's brash personality fits in the halls of academia.

He's already found one entrepreneur, working with computer science professor and animation expert Barbara Mones on an undisclosed project. Mones, who spoke with me after the panel, said she was thrilled to have St. John by her side as she contemplates the new venture.

"His role is really critical because I have no business background," said Mones. "He can guide and mentor me and give me an idea on whether my ideas are workable and how they fit into the marketplace because I don't know. He is vital."

St. John and Mones just started working on the idea, which is in the gaming arena, a few weeks ago. They declined to offer details or a name.
 
In his new role, St. John said he will work with entrepreneurs at the UW or help them take the ideas to outside investors or management teams.

Hiring St. John is just the latest effort in a massive transformation at the UW's TechTransfer department, much of it being led by new vice provost Linden Rhoads. Rhoads has said that she wants the UW to become one of the world's leading institutions for innovation and entrepreneurial ideas.