Monthly news, events & updates | Building a Rainforest in the Desert | December 2024 | |
UNM Rainforest Innovations 2025 Calendar Has Arrived
The UNM Rainforest Innovations 2025 calendar is now available! Twelve UNM faculty members from both HSC and Main Campus are highlighted with information on their technologies and research areas. Congratulations to our featured inventors!
We will be mailing out these calendars to our UNM inventors and business community. To ensure that you receive a calendar or if your address has changed, please contact: Savanah Romero at sromero@innovations.unm.edu.
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Creating a Patent Strategy to Move Your Startup Toward Unicorn Status
New Mexico Rainforest Seminar Series
Today! Tuesday, Dec. 3 from 12:00-1:00 p.m.
At the Lobo Rainforest Bldg. and Online via Zoom
Steve Sponseller helps technology companies build strong and secure patent portfolios that provide a competitive edge. He has helped more than 1,500 inventors and business leaders identify, develop, and protect their most valuable inventions.
During this seminar, Steve will discuss why a patent strategy is important for every technology startup that invents new products or services. A well-designed patent strategy can provide a competitive advantage, attract investors, attract and retain employees, and increase company valuation.
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UNM Recognized with 2024 IEP Innovation Award for Advancing Entrepreneurship and Economic Development | |
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The University of New Mexico (UNM) has been honored with the prestigious 2024 Innovation and Economic Prosperity (IEP) Innovation Award by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) for its outstanding contributions to fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology-based economic development.
“This award highlights the strength of our collaborative ecosystem, where research, entrepreneurship, and community engagement come together to create a lasting impact,” said Lisa Kuuttila, CEO and Chief Economic Development Officer of UNM Rainforest Innovations. “It reflects how we are working to drive economic prosperity across New Mexico and beyond, ensuring entrepreneurs have the resources and support they need to succeed.”
Read the full article
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UNM Rainforest Forum: How UNM Technologies Find their Start-up Team
Thursday, December 12 from 4:00-6:00 p.m.
At the Lobo Rainforest Bldg.
This UNM Rainforest Forum, open to Rainforest Forum members and the community, will highlight how UNM inventors have worked with entrepreneurs to create their start-up team. We will have a panel of speakers including entrepreneurs and innovators from BennuBio, Flow Aluminum, Sandia Medical Technologies and TS-Nano.
The UNM Rainforest Forum was created by the UNM Rainforest Innovations Board of Directors to bring together UNM and business community members to enhance and strengthen UNM’s role in economic development.
Appetizers and refreshments will be provided.
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Join Us at the 2024 Pitch Deck Competition Finals Event
December 5, 4:00-6:00 p.m.
At the Lobo Rainforest Bldg.
Attend the final round of the 2024 Pitch Deck Competition to hear the five finalists pitch to investor judges. Finalists will present a 10-minute pitch deck with 5 additional minutes of question and answer in front of a panel of judges.
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In the Spotlight - Featured UNM Inventor | | | |
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Ivan Deutsch, PhD
Distinguished and Regents’ Professor
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Director, Center for Quantum Information and Control
The University of New Mexico
Dr. Deutsch's research areas include quantum information science, atomic, molecular and optical physics, and quantum optics.
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Student Entrepreneurs Shine at Fall 2024 Rainforest Pitch Competition | |
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On November 6 at Bow and Arrow Brewery, the UNM Innovation Academy, in collaboration with UNM Rainforest Innovations, recognized the outstanding student entrepreneurs in the Fall 2024 Rainforest Student Pitch Competition. The competition provides a platform for student entrepreneurs from across New Mexico to present their innovative business ideas.
A special thank you to the generous sponsors, Judy Love, Bank of Albuquerque, and Bow and Arrow Brewing Co., whose support significantly enhanced the impact of this year’s competition. Thanks to the Bank of Albuquerque, the prize pool for the top three winners and all finalists was doubled, offering even greater recognition for their outstanding efforts.
See list of winners
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Tribal Entrepreneurship Enhancement Program
Indigenous Entrepreneurs Podcast
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Reducing Racial and Gender Biases in the Investment World | |
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In this episode, Maria Lopez Rosas, Portfolio Associate for Illumen Capital, shares details about the company's efforts to improve diversity in the investor and entrepreneur world. Maria also shares her experience as an Indigenous woman working in the investor and venture capital space.
Check out the podcast
Watch on YouTube
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Tribal Liaison Mytegia Lee: Fostering an Environment Where Entrepreneurs can Thrive in Indian Country and Beyond | |
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Over the past two and a half years, Mytegia Lee has been serving as a tribal liaison for UNM Rainforest Innovation’s New Mexico Tribal Entrepreneurship Enhancement Program (NMTEEP). In this role, Mytegia has engaged in many activities to support and promote small businesses and entrepreneurs in Gallup, New Mexico and surrounding communities in Northwestern New Mexico and on the Navajo Nation.
Throughout her time as a liaison, Mytegia has engaged in one-on-one mentoring, technical assistance, and counseling as part of her duties. One of her key achievements this past year was assisting 22 Navajo entrepreneurs in applying for the Navajo Nation Division of Economic Development’s 2024 Artisan and Small Business Grant Program. During the application period, Mytegia sat down with different individuals to walk them through the application process, offering personalized support and helping them overcome challenges and barriers in navigating the grant system on the Navajo Nation.
Out of the 22 businesses Mytegia assisted, all were awarded funding with amounts starting at $5,000. Notably, eight of these businesses received grants of $50,000 or more, including Nizhoni Smiles, Karla Ray Salon, Iron Cowboy Gym, Diamond Cuts Barbershop, Tonya June Rafael Jewelry, and Platero Jewelry.
Read more
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You can apply now for the
Spring 2025 Rainforest Accelerator
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Join the upcoming Rainforest Accelerator for the Spring 2025 cohort! In this program, teams of faculty and/or students, entrepreneurs, and mentors (mentors provided by the Rainforest Accelerator) receive up to $3,000 of funding to develop a business model and complete extensive market discovery for a disclosed UNM technology.
The outcomes you can expect through this program include:
- Exploring the transition of your technology to the marketplace.
- Determining the value proposition, customer, the size of the market, and market trends for your technology.
- Receive a dedicated mentor to provide one-on-one guidance.
- Conduct 25-100 discovery interviews and provide a formal presentation to investors at the end of the program to receive feedback on the commercialization opportunity of your technology.
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Program time commitment has been condensed and shortened to help accommodate your schedule!
The program will run on Mondays, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. from February 3 – March 24, 2025 online via Zoom meetings. The Final Presentations will be March 24, 2025, in-person at the Lobo Rainforest Building.
For questions, please contact Cara Michaliszyn at cmichaliszyn@innovations.unm.edu
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