Monthly news, events & updates |
Building a Rainforest in the Desert | January 2022 |
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Local Startup Circular Genomics Closes $4.5M Series Seed Investment Round |
Local startup Circular Genomics (https://www.circulargenomics.com/) recently closed on a $4.5M series seed investment round for their innovative research on circular RNA to target effective treatment options for people struggling with depression and neurological disorders. The investment round was co-led by Cottonwood Technology Fund III and Tramway Venture Partners and included Mountain Group Partners and other individual investors.
The company’s approach to personalized treatment for depression predicts a patient’s sensitivity to antidepressants by using circular RNA to measure the genes and proteins associated with pathways related to depression and other neurological disorders. With this information, doctors could make better informed decisions when determining effective medication options for patients.
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UNM Rainforest Innovations Announces New Director of Corporate Engagement and Collaboration Initiatives |
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UNM Rainforest Innovations has hired a new Director of Corporate Engagement, Mathis Shinnick. Mathis is a globally experienced and versatile executive with a proven track record of building, managing, and sustaining profitable ventures. As the Director of Corporate Engagement, he plans, develops, and manages external outreach initiatives and partnerships on behalf of UNM Rainforest Innovations and the University of New Mexico.
The vision of this new corporate engagement initiative is to situate the University of New Mexico at the top of global corporate call lists for engaging talent, advancing research, establishing collaboration, and developing workforce. The University of New Mexico community, UNM Rainforest Innovations, and the UNM Foundation have a plethora of connections and relationships spreading across our local community and across the globe. Coming together to communicate goals and needs with external partners will not only strengthen the ties within our community, but also expand opportunities for all.
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UNM Inventors’ Research Effectively Kills Coronavirus |
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Dr. Eva Chi, a professor of chemical and biological engineering at the University of New Mexico, and her collaborator Dr. David Whitten, associate director for the Center for Biomedical Engineering and distinguished professor for the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, are studying synthetic polymer materials and their antimicrobial properties in order to kill bacteria and simple viruses. Their research has shown that these materials are able to kill 99.9999 percent of the coronavirus in 10 minutes of irradiation. They want to integrate these polymer materials into wipes, surfaces, fabrics and even air filtration systems so that when they are activated by UV light, they can kill viruses and create long-lasting antiviral surfaces.
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In the Spotlight - Featured UNM Inventor |
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Arash Mafi, Ph.D.
Interim Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
Professor, Department of Physics & Astronomy
Member, Center for High Technology Materials
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Dr. Mafi’s research areas include:
- Optics and photonics: theoretical, computational, and experimental; guided-wave and fiber optics;
- High-power fiber lasers: radiation-balanced fiber lasers; image transport using transverse Anderson localization; wave propagation in random media; laser and nonlinear properties of Anderson localization optical fibers; entangled pair generation in optical waveguides for quantum communications; quantum and nonlinear behavior of optical waveguides; linear and nonlinear multimode interference devices; gain-guided index-antiguided fiber lasers and amplifiers; beam quality analysis; plasmonics and metamaterials; microring resonators; sensing; and optical communications.
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UNM I-Corps Site Program Trains Fall 2021 Cohort |
Six teams participated in the fall cohort and consisted of an academic lead (a UNM faculty or staff member), an entrepreneurial lead (a UNM student or post-doc), and an external industry mentor provided by the I-Corps program. Throughout the program teams learned how to determine value propositions, customers, size of market, and market trends for their respective technologies. They were also equipped with $3,000 in seed funding to fund their customer discovery efforts and proof-of-concept prototyping.
Interested in participating in the Spring I-Corps Cohort? See below!
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UNM Rainforest Innovations and the UNM Innovation Academy invite you to apply to the National Science Foundation program: |
Lobo Rainforest NSF I-Corps (Regional Program)
Apply by February 13, 2022
The I-Corps program is funded by the National Science Foundation to help scientists and engineers to explore commercialization and prototyping. Selected I-Corps site teams will receive a $3,000 award to assist with customer discovery and also receive entrepreneurial training and guidance over 11 weeks to assess your idea’s commercial viability.
You are applying as a team that has at a minimum: an entrepreneurial lead (a UNM student or post-doc) and an academic lead (a UNM faculty member, staff, or advisor) with a STEM-related technology you wish to commercialize. Through this program, we will pair you with an experienced mentor.
Benefits of participation:
- Get entrepreneurial training, support, and guidance for customer discovery.
- Explore the potential impact of your research project (prototype or proof-of-concept).
- Learn how to assess the market opportunity and pathway for your innovation.
- Achieve eligibility to apply for the national NSF I-Corps program and a $50,000 I-Corps team grant.
- Strengthen your SBIR/STTR proposal if pursuing a startup.
Program Dates:
Mondays, 4:30pm-6:00pm (MT) from February 21, 2022 – May 9, 2022 online via Zoom meetings
Final presentation date: May 2, 2022
Application Requirements:
- Contact information of Team Members
- Description of technology/idea
- Summary of problem being solved
- Description of the target customer that would benefit from the innovation
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Create.Sell.Bank! for the Community
Online Course
Start or Grow Your Business Online
January 18 - March 27, 2022 (self-paced)
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Funded by a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, this self-paced online course will teach individuals and businesses e-commerce techniques including developing storefronts, an online presence and various strategies for driving traffic to your site. This course is open to anyone in the New Mexico community and available completely online. Course access, materials and updates
will be via Google Classroom.
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Prior Art Searching for Your Technology & Startup
NM Rainforest Webinar
January 26, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (MST)
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Hear from our very own, Dr. Gregg Banninger, Innovation Manager, Life Sciences at UNM Rainforest Innovations on what a prior art search is, how to conduct a prior art search, and why it's important when developing your technology/business.
Gregg joined UNM Rainforest Innovations as an Innovation Manager-Life Sciences in May 2019. Prior to joining UNMRI, Gregg held positions as patent coordinator at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, a Patent Agent at an IP law firm, and a Technology Manager at Indiana University Research and Technology Corporation.
Gregg has a Ph.D. in Genetics and a B.S. in Biochemistry from Stony Brook University (Stony Brook, NY), and is a registered Patent Agent.
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The 7-Pillars to a Healthy, Thriving Business
NM Rainforest Webinar
February 16, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. (MST)
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In this virtual seminar, A.J. Mirabedini will discuss how your business is an interconnected organism and how you can achieve success by nurturing each of the seven critical pillars:
- Your Finances
- Your Team
- Your Products/ Services
- Your Marketing
- Your Sales
- Your operations
- YOU!
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While the world is full of business leaders focused on the bottom-line success of their own companies, A.J. is dedicating his nearly 30 years outstanding success history to studying, learning, mentoring and advising mid-market businesses and private equity firms interested in them. A.J. is building a movement focused on holistic health of client companies, with deep focus on their finances, HR, marketing, SOP and products and services. He is a consummate business executive and serial entrepreneur, with deep ties to private equity and investors interested in mid-market founder led organizations. |
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Attend Upcoming Open Office Hours
Providing Mentoring for Your Startup/Idea
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Rainforest Mentor Office Hours with Stacy Sacco |
Mr. Stacy Sacco teaches entrepreneurial studies at the Anderson School of Management, serves as the Director of the UNM Small Business Institute and is President of Sacco Connections, a management consulting firm.
Mr. Sacco will be available for one-on-one mentoring where he will give guidance, coaching and perspective to enhance entrepreneurship and provide connections to resources at UNM and in the community. There are many resources available to those who have ideas that they may want to turn into a business!
Stacy Sacco will be available either IN-PERSON at the Lobo Rainforest Building or VIRTUALLY via Zoom based on your personal preference. Click Sign Up to select the time frame you plan to attend.
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SCORE mentors will be available for one-on-one, confidential discussions and mentoring to inventors, students, and start-up companies.
SCORE's mentors (https://albuquerque.score.org/) are successful business people and entrepreneurs who want to give back to the community by helping other entrepreneurs become and stay successful. SCORE has been helping small businesses start and grow in the Albuquerque area for over 50 years through mentoring and workshops and seminars. SCORE is the largest National resource partner of the Small Business Administration (SBA) with about 11,000 SCORE volunteers sharing their time and talents to help America's small businesses.
In Person at the Lobo Rainforest Building:
In accordance with UNM policy, please wear a mask. Walk-ins are welcome, or click Sign Up to select the time frame you plan to stop by.
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Advanced Economic Development Leadership Program - Spring 2022 Class Accepting Applications |
Program dates and location:
May 16-19, 2022 | Gulfport, Mississippi
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The Advanced Economic Development Leadership (AEDL) executive education program is one-of-a-kind, with applicants needing five years professional economic development experience and completion of a basic certificate. The program is online and will provide an engaging and immersive experience. Apply now to reserve your spot for the next two-week learning experience that is becoming the standard for advanced EcD training. All economic developers who successfully complete the program earn an Economic Development Master Practitioner diploma from the four partner universities. |
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UNM Rainforest Innovations 2022 Calendar Has Arrived |
The UNM Rainforest Innovations 2022 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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UNM Rainforest Innovations | Website
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