Monthly news, events & updates | |
Building a Rainforest in the Desert | November 2025 | | Charles I. Wellborn Steps Down After 30 Years of Service | | |
UNM Rainforest Innovations (UNMRI) bids a fond farewell to Charles (Chuck) Wellborn, who is stepping down from the UNMRI Board of Directors after three decades of service. As the organizations first President and CEO from 1995-2000, Chuck took on the challenge of creating the tech transfer program at The University of New Mexico and laid the foundation for what has become a nationally recognized model for university technology transfer and innovation. Starting with only two staff members, (himself and his assistant, Gerri Marousek), within five years, Chuck had laid the groundwork for generating start-ups, licensing income, patent protection, and serving our university inventors that is the foundation of UNM Rainforest Innovations’ success today.
Mr. Wellborn has been on the UNMRI board of the directors for the past 30 years, one of the longest tenures of any member, and as a member of many board committees, helping guide UNMRI through its evolution into the Executive, Finance & Compensation, Endowment Fund, Cecchi VentureLab, and Real Estate committees. His decades of experience in corporate law, venture capital, and economic development, including leadership roles with the Modrall Sperling law firm, the McCune Charitable Foundation, and numerous state economic and investment boards, brough valuable insight into the organization’s governance and strategy.
Chuck’s leadership and unwavering dedication have left a lasting legacy on UNM and on New Mexico’s innovation landscape. The UNMRI community extends its deepest gratitude for his extraordinary service.
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In the Spotlight - Featured UNM Inventor | | | |
Adam Hecht, PhD
Professor
Department of Nuclear Engineering
The University of New Mexico
Dr. Hecht's research areas include:
- Radiation detection for nonproliferation
- Producing nuclear such as fission mass distributions
- Muon-based tomography
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| | Local Startup BennuBio Acquired by Precision Cell Systems | | |
Albuquerque-based BennuBio, Inc., a company founded to commercialize innovative flow cytometry technology developed at the University of New Mexico, has been acquired by Precision Cell Systems (PCS), a medical technology firm headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area.
BennuBio’s breakthrough technology expands the power of flow cytometry by enabling the analysis of samples regardless of particle size or sample volume, while preserving cell viability and improving processing speeds.
This acquisition follows PCS’s purchase of two other biotech companies, S2 Genomics (California) and ORFLO (Idaho), and marks a strategic step for the company in expanding its portfolio. This acquisition will enable BennuBio to broaden their market reach and accelerate the development of next-generation research tools.
Read more
| | Please join us to support young student entrepreneurs this Wednesday, November 5 at 5:30 p.m. at Bow & Arrow Brewing Co. No need to register. Show up and be ready to vote for your favorite pitch! | | | |
Indigenous Entrepreneurs Podcast | | | The Indigenous Entrepreneurs podcast aims to tell the story of the Entrepreneur’s Journey, specifically that of the indigenous entrepreneur, through candid conversations featuring successful indigenous entrepreneurs. | | Native American Business Roundtable - City of Santa Fe Economic Development | | |
UNM Rainforest Innovations is collaborating with the City of Santa Fe Economic Development Department to bring this roundtable event to Santa Fe for Native American owned-businesses and entrepreneurs.
These monthly gatherings create space for Native American entrepreneurs, artists, and business owners to connect, share resources, and build pathways to success.
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Mark your calendar—this roundtable will meet monthly, 10:00 a.m. at the Santa Fe Business Incubator!
Scheduled Dates for Roundtable Events:
- Tuesday, November 12th
- Tuesday, December 9th
- Tuesday, January 13th
- Tuesday, February 10th
- Tuesday, March 10th
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When: November 12
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Where: CNM’s Workforce Training Center, Albuquerque
Online Registration Fee: $50
Walk-in Fee: $75
This year’s program will highlight the promising research and breakthrough accomplishments of innovative firms as well as provide updates on proposed federal and state legislation that can impact the bioscience and health care sectors as well as the lives of NM residents.
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The University of New Mexico
Business and Economic Summit
New Mexico the Entrepreneurial
| Wednesday, November 19 | 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. (MST) | Lobo Rainforest Building | |
This year’s theme “New Mexico the Entrepreneurial” is derived from our partner Right to Start’s national campaign “America the Entrepreneurial” and highlights the leadership of New Mexico in a national context. The 2025 fall Summit will focus on growing the New Mexico entrepreneurial ecosystem in the midst of uncertainty, which is not uncommon for entrepreneurs. We want to promote and support entrepreneurs in the state as we know entrepreneurship drives progress through job growth and generational wealth.
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Mike Freeman is the CEO of Innosphere, a leading U.S.-based science and technology-focused accelerator, and a General Partner in two Innosphere venture funds. He also previously served as a General Partner in the Israel-Colorado Innovation Fund.
Under his leadership, Innosphere secured a major NSF Regional Innovation Engines award for Colorado and Wyoming, and Mr. Freeman now also serves as CEO of the resulting ASCEND Engine. Innosphere also leads a seven-state life sciences acceleration program funded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration, driving tech-based economic growth across the region. Through comprehensive programming, specialized facilities for entrepreneurs, and Innosphere-led venture capital initiatives, the organization aims to position the Colorado region as one of the top-performing economic ecosystems in the United States.
Mr. Freeman brings a diverse professional background to his roles. He previously served as the Chief Financial Officer for the City of Fort Collins, Colorado, overseeing a budget of nearly $500 million. Before joining the City of Fort Collins, he led various management consulting ventures, including managing the Local Government Solutions Group and serving as the Regional Director of HDR’s Management Consulting Group for the Rocky Mountain region. Prior to his consulting career, Mr. Freeman held multiple positions with the City of Thornton, Colorado, and served as the City Manager of Ashland, Oregon.
| | SCORE Mentors Available for One-on-One Meetings | | |
Meet with SCORE mentors at the Lobo Rainforest Building or on Zoom! Mentors are available for one-on-one, confidential discussions and mentoring to inventors, students, and start-up companies.
SCORE mentors 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.
Interested? Contact Cara Michaliszyn at cmichaliszyn@innovations.unm.edu to arrange.
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