Your Guide to Turning Research Into Revenue

Are you a UCR faculty researcher with groundbreaking ideas but unsure how to turn them into a successful business? Join our Start-up 101 webinar on Tuesday November 26th, 2024 at 12PM PDT to gain the tools and knowledge to navigate the entrepreneurial journey. This session is designed to guide academic researchers through the process of launching a company and securing venture capital funding. 

REGISTER FOR THE WEBINAR: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26TH, 2024 AT 12PM PDT

Webinar Highlights

• Fireside Chat: 30 minutes of expert insights on starting a spin-out company, followed by 15 minutes of Q&A tailored to your needs. 

• Venture Capital Essentials: Understand the stages of equity investment, the value VCs bring, and how to engage and negotiate with them. 

• Finding the Right Investor: Discover strategies to identify the right investors based on your business stage, sector, and location. 

• The Pitch and Beyond: Learn how to deliver a compelling pitch, manage term sheets, and grow your company post-investment. 

This session will cover essential topics like funding sources, navigating investor dynamics, and legal considerations, while offering practical steps for turning your academic research into a commercial venture. 

Meet Our Speaker: Shomit Ghose

Shomit Ghose is a partner at Clearvision Ventures, a Silicon Valley Venture fund focused on energy and infrastructure sustainability. Previously, he was general partner at ONSET Ventures, where he led investments in early-stage, data-centric start-ups from 2001 through 2021. Prior to entering venture capital, Shomit spent 19 years as a start-up entrepreneur, serving in virtually all functional roles, and participating in multiple successful exits, including Sun Microsystems, Broadvision and Tumbleweed.

Shomit has held an appointment as lecturer at UC Berkeley’s College of Engineering since 2018, teaching about data and AI, and is also an adjunct professor of entrepreneurship and innovation at the University of San Francisco. He further holds an appointment as an entrepreneurial advisor at the University of California – Riverside. Shomit has served on both public and private boards, and multiple scientific advisory boards, in both the US and Europe.  He received his degree in computer science from UC Berkeley, and is proudly a product of California’s public school system. 

Shomit writes frequently on the topics of Big Data, AI, and the ethical and business impacts that ensue.  Relevant articles include those on robotics, generative AI, data risks, and job loss. 

Who Should Attend

UCR faculty researchers interested in transforming their research into start-ups and learning the fundamentals of engaging with the venture capital community. 

Save Your Spot

Space is limited! Register now to attend the live webinar and gain invaluable insights on launching your start-up. 

REGISTER FOR THE WEBINAR: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26TH, 2024 AT 12PM PDT

Startup Success Stories

Edge Sound Research – From Idea to $2.4 Million in Funding

Edge Sound Research, founded by UCR alumni Ethan Castro and Valtteri Salomaki, is revolutionizing the live event experience with their cutting-edge ResonX technology. By attaching their proprietary transducer to premium seating at sporting venues, Edge Sound Research allows fans to not just hear sound, but feel it—transforming live events into immersive experiences. Their technology is already in use by two NBA teams, the Indiana Pacers and Cleveland Cavaliers.

But their journey began long before they secured over $2.4 million in venture capital funding. In fact, the concept for Edge Sound Research first took root during UC Riverside's Spring 2020 INNOVAR program, where they applied the Lean Launchpad methodology to validate their initial idea. Through customer interviews and market research, they discovered how to align their technology with real-world demand, solidifying the foundation for future commercialization. The support, mentorship, and real-world market validation they received through INNOVAR set them on the path to success, helping to refine their innovation and business strategy.

Today, after going through the NSF I-Corps, Techstars Accelerator, and receiving over 32 investor introductions through EPIC SBDC, Edge Sound Research is a prime example of how UCR's support can help transform ideas into industry-leading companies.

StarNav Becomes a Critical Partner for the Department of Defense

StarNav, a trailblazing company in advanced navigation technology, is now working closely with the Department of Defense (DoD) to provide innovative Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) solutions. StarNav’s cutting-edge technology, designed to operate independently of traditional GPS, plays a critical role in defense operations, especially in environments where GPS signals are unreliable or compromised.

The foundation of StarNav’s success can be traced back to their participation in our Fall 2020 INNOVAR program. During the program, CEO Dr. Joshua Morales honed the company’s core technology and market strategy through INNOVAR’s Lean Launchpad methodology. The customer validation process allowed StarNav to identify key market gaps and tailor its technology to meet the needs of sectors like defense.

After completing INNOVAR, StarNav continued its rapid growth, benefiting from mentorship and resources provided by EPIC SBDC and the ExCITE incubator. This positioned StarNav to secure key partnerships, including their recent work with the DoD. Their proprietary Xona PULSAR™ receiver is now helping to ensure secure navigation for defense applications, ranging from unmanned aerial systems to satellite orbit determination.

Ready to launch your idea and make an impact? Register for the Startup 101 webinar and see how you can turn your innovative idea into a startup company!

REGISTER FOR THE WEBINAR: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26TH, 2024 AT 12PM PDT