Monthly news, events & updates |
Building a Rainforest in the Desert | November 2022 |
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Local Startup Circular Genomics Competes in TechCrunch Disrupt’s Startup Battlefield |
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Circular Genomics is a local startup utilizing circular RNA to determine effective treatment options for people struggling with depression and neurological disorders. They were selected, along with twenty other early-stage startups, to participate in the finals of the Startup Battlefield cohort at the TechCrunch Disrupt Conference for a chance to win $100,000. The conference took place October 18 – 20 and was highly competitive. Two hundred startups exhibited at the showcase and just twenty were selected to participate in the finals.
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UNM Rainforest Innovations Welcomes New Board Member |
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David L. Perkins, MD, PhD
Professor of Medicine, Division of Nephrology
Department of Internal Medicine
Director of the Center for Personalized Medicine
Co-Director, M.D./Ph.D. Program UNM School of Medicine
University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center
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In the Spotlight - Featured UNM Inventor |
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John Stormont, Ph.D.
Professor and Associate Chair
Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering
The University of New Mexico
Active Startup: TS-Nano, Inc.
Dr. Stormont’s research areas include:
- Development of materials and methods for modification of fractures for applications related to CO2 sequestration, methane leakage from oil and gas wells, and geothermal energy systems
- Measurement of hydrologic-mechanical properties of rock, cement and soil including high-pressure and high-temperature conditions
- Multi-phase flow through porous media and fractures
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UNM Orthopaedic Technology & Facility Showcase Recap |
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UNM Rainforest Innovations partnered with the UNM Health Sciences Center of Excellence for Orthopaedic Surgery & Rehabilitation to host a showcase which included technology presentations, facility tours and a design thinking round table session on October 13.
Technology presentations included:
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Your Good Idea: Getting It from an Idea to a Technology to a Product
New Mexico Rainforest Webinar
Tuesday, November 8 | 11 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. (MST)
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How do you explain your idea for your company or product? In this VIRTUAL webinar, product expert Susan Cornelius will teach you how to create a QUICK PITCH for your product or business and how to answer the biggest questions to take your business plans to the next step: What really is your product? What makes it unique? Finally, how should you make it better for the customer?
This event is offered virtually via Zoom. A meeting link will be sent to you ahead of the event.
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Student Interns @ UNM Rainforest Innovations |
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Christie Vessells
Innovation Intern
Our featured intern this month is Christie Vessells. She’s an Innovation Student Intern who joined UNM Rainforest Innovations in February. Christie was born and raised in Albuquerque and attended Sandia High School. She earned a certificate in Automotive Technologies from CNM and recently completed her associate degree in Information Technologies from CNM.
When asked what she enjoyed most about her position, she said, “I really enjoy learning about new technologies. It might take me some time poking around Wikipedia and the internet to learn about them, but I frequently find myself losing myself in the research I am doing.”
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The Office of Science & Technology is accepting applications for New Mexico SBIR/STTR Grants
Application deadline: Friday, November 14 at 5 p.m.
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The New Mexico Economic Development Department is offering Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (NM SBIR/STTR) grant awards up to $100,000 to accelerate commercialization of technologies developed with the aid of the federal SBIR awards.
- Phase II grants - $100,000
- Phase I grants - $25,000
This is a competitive grant for New Mexican companies with high-growth potential. To be eligible, companies must have an active Phase I or Phase II SBIR award or a letter of award. Award funds must be used for business development and must not duplicate items or activities funded by the federal SBIR award.
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Attend Upcoming Open Office Hours
Providing Mentoring for Your Startup/Idea
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Rainforest Mentor Hours with Stacy Sacco |
Join Stacy Sacco to discuss your startup or idea and gain valuable resources.
For the past 20 years, Mr. Sacco has taught entrepreneurial studies at the UNM Anderson School of Management, and served as the Director of the UNM Small Business Institute. He currently is the President of Sacco Connections, a management consulting firm, and hosts a free, informational website, with 3,000+ links to local jobs, events and resources.
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!
These are hybrid office hours. Stacy will be available to meet IN-PERSON at the Lobo Rainforest Building or VIRTUALLY via Zoom depending on your own personal preferences.
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Virtual Mentor Office Hours with Susan Cornelius |
Join Susan Cornelius for 25 minutes of workshop and conversation on turning your good idea into a technology and then into a product. This initial conversation will take place 10:00-10:25 a.m. followed by one-on-one meetings to personally discuss your idea with Susan.
Susan Cornelius is the Principal of Accelerate2Solutions, an innovative, small, high tech company focused on creating successful, lean start-ups. Susan has coached more than 71 companies, and created seven start-up companies, ranging from $500M to $150,000, helping them emerge as successful high tech, and life and health sciences companies. Susan brings 30 years of experience in start-ups, mergers, acquisitions, and successful, entrepreneurship in healthcare, research, enterprise software service solutions, medical devices, national defense, and high tech sensing devices for homeland security.
Register to select the appointment time frame for a 30 minute virtual mentoring session. A Zoom link for your session will be emailed to you after you register.
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Mentoring for Entrepreneurs with Mytegia Lee |
Come to virtual 1:1 mentoring with Mytegia Lee where she will provide guidance, coaching, perspective, and connections to enhance entrepreneurship and 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! Join Mytegia on Zoom and learn more about what is available and which connections are the best fit for you.
Ms. Lee is the Executive Director of the Southwest Native Assets Coalition (SNAC). Prior to joining SNAC she worked in the commercial banking and financing services industry providing credit analysis, financial education as well as small dollar loan origination and servicing throughout western New Mexico.
These are VIRTUAL office hours, please register to select the time frame when you can attend your meeting on Zoom. After you register, a Zoom link and calendar invitation will be emailed to you.
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SCORE Mentors Offer Support for Aspiring and Established Entrepreneurs at the Lobo Rainforest Building |
UNM Rainforest Innovations collaborates with SCORE to offer mentoring and confidential discussions for aspiring and established entrepreneurs, inventors, students, and start-up companies. SCORE’s certified mentors are successful business people and entrepreneurs with the goal of giving 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.
IN-PERSON at the Lobo Rainforest Building. Click "Sign up here" to select the time frame you plan to attend.
SCORE Mentors:
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Dar Johnson
Dar retired after 20 years with the US Air Force and has over 36 years in the aerospace private sector including over 36 years in senior and “C-suite” level management positions. He has been responsible for achieving growth nation-wide, obtaining new customers, cost containment, turning around marginal operations, increased profitability, customer satisfaction, staffing, and policy and procedure development. He has also worked in business development, proposal support, capture manager and proposal manager and has owned a successful consulting business.
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Vic Berniklau
Vic retired from the U.S. Department of Energy as Senior Executive after filling positions in Technical and Administrative Leadership. He started two small businesses in electronic security with his wife and son and grew them to 30 employees with $2M in sales. He is a consultant in technology management and business management and is an instructor at the University of New Mexico at the Graduate Level in Public Administration (Research Methodology) and Business Administration (Management of Technology).
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ADVANCED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
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Job creation across America faces numerous, challenging, contemporary issues. Today’s successful economic development professional must make intelligent decisions and provide unparalleled leadership as communities vie for new, quality jobs and economic growth.
The core curriculum of the Advanced Economic Development Leadership program is built on a foundation of exploring innovation, managing change, and surviving disruption in the unique field of economic development. We know each of you is facing new challenges unique to your city or region and shared by others in your field, and we have prepared topics to help you navigate your evolving role in uncertain times. Learn more below about the newest topics in curriculum and how AEDL is your professional development partner every step of the way.
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JOIN THE 2023 COHORT
May 22−25, 2023 at Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, Texas
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