Turn Your Idea Into a Viable Business

INNOVAR is a 10-week training program that helps aspiring founders transform technology concepts into real-world solutions with commercial potential. Whether you're exploring innovations in sustainable farming, robotics, health tech, transportation, or other fields, INNOVAR gives you the tools to validate your idea, build a business model, and move confidently toward launch.

Built on the proven Lean LaunchPad framework, the program emphasizes real customer discovery, teaching you how to test assumptions, identify market needs, and refine your idea based on direct feedback from potential users. The focus isn’t on the technology itself, but on solving a meaningful problem for real customers.

What You'll Learn

INNOVAR equips you with practical business knowledge to help you move from lab to market. Through hands-on activities and expert guidance, you'll explore key areas such as:

Market analysis & sizing
Understanding the competitive landscape
Go-to-market strategies
Intellectual property protection
Funding and commercialization pathways

What You'll Gain

Beyond the classroom, INNOVAR offers personalized support and strategic connections to help you succeed long after the program ends:

1:1 mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs and advisors
Transferable startup skills that apply across industries
Access to a robust network of professionals and resources
Opportunities to pursue follow-on funding and business support

Program Commitment: Expect to spend about 8 hours per week, including weekly sessions, customer interviews, mentor meetings, and assignments.

Summer 2026 Schedule

Class 1 (6/24/26) - Ideation
Class 2 (7/1/26) - Introduction & Core Concepts
Class 3 (7/8/26) - Product/Market Fit
Class 4 (7/15/26) - Market Size
Class 5 (7/22/26) - Competitive Analysis and IP
Class 6 (7/29/26) - Business Ecosystem
Class 7 (8/5/26) - Go-To Market Strategy
Class 8 (8/12/26) - Commercialization Roadmap
Class 9 (8/19/26) - Funding
Class 10 (8/26/26) - Final Presentations

Important Notes

Class will start on Wednesday, June 24, 2026 and end on Wednesday, August 26, 2026
Classes will be held Wednesdays from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
The majority of this course is delivered online, but includes 2 required in-person commitments
The first and final sessions will be held in person

rise UCR

INNOVAR 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 the INNOVAR program 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 the 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.

StarNav’s journey exemplifies how INNOVAR empowers entrepreneurs to transform innovative ideas into real-world solutions that meet critical industry needs.

Ready to launch your idea and make an impact? Mark your calendars for February 2nd, 2026 for our Spring 2026 cohort!