UC Riverside Welcomes Inaugural Cohort of SBIR Phase I Workshop Program
UC Riverside has welcomed ten innovative companies into the inaugural cohort of its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I Workshops. The six-week program, run by UC Riverside's Office of Technology Partnerships, equips technology entrepreneurs with the knowledge, resources, and mentorship needed to develop competitive federal grant proposals and accelerate the commercialization of emerging technologies.
Beginning October 7 and continuing through November 18, 2026, the workshop brings together entrepreneurs, industry experts, and experienced mentors to help participating companies strengthen their commercialization strategies and pursue federal research and development funding.
Meet the Inaugural Cohort
The inaugural cohort includes ten companies, each paired with an experienced mentor from UCR's Entrepreneurial Proof of Concept and Innovation Center (EPIC).
| Company | Representative | EPIC Mentor |
|---|---|---|
| Evolution RNA Therapeutics | Changcheng Zhou | Stephen Flaim, Ph.D. |
| Parity Endeavors | Roy Samuelson | Stephen Sharp |
| Belleteva | Isgouhi Kaloshian | Lada Rasochova, Ph.D. |
| Glid Tech | Kevin Damoa | Peter Ciulla |
| Digital Therapeutics | Frederick Johnson | Philip Topham |
| Double Lock Healthcare | Elizabeth Wong | Peter Ciulla |
| LAMON | Pooyan Mobtahej | Philip Topham |
| HerdSense | Jeremy Ampofo | Lada Rasochova, Ph.D. |
| Validus Institute | Majd Oteibi | Stephen Flaim, Ph.D. |
| Sujen LLC | Subhash Mendonca | Stephen Sharp |
Each participating company receives individualized guidance from an Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR), an experienced entrepreneur or industry professional who provides strategic mentorship to emerging businesses. Through EPIC, EIRs help entrepreneurs navigate commercialization challenges, validate market opportunities, develop business strategies, and strengthen their readiness for funding.
Preparing Entrepreneurs to Compete for Federal Innovation Funding
The federal SBIR and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs provide competitive, non-dilutive funding to small businesses developing innovative technologies with strong commercial potential. These programs offer entrepreneurs an opportunity to advance early-stage research and development without giving up equity in their companies.
However, securing federal funding requires more than a promising technology. Competitive proposals must demonstrate technical innovation, a clear market opportunity, commercial feasibility, and a credible strategy for bringing new products or services to market.
UCR's SBIR Phase I Workshop helps bridge this gap by providing practical training in proposal development, customer discovery, market validation, competitive analysis, business modeling, and commercialization planning. Participants learn how to prepare essential components of federal funding applications, including the National Science Foundation (NSF) Project Pitch, National Institutes of Health (NIH) Statement of Specific Aims, and commercialization plans.
Throughout the program, participants are expected to conduct at least 18 customer discovery interviews, meet regularly with their assigned mentors, and refine their proposals based on market feedback. The workshop concludes with final commercialization plan presentations, allowing entrepreneurs to demonstrate their progress and receive expert feedback.
By strengthening entrepreneurs' ability to develop compelling, evidence-based grant proposals, UCR aims to improve regional access to federal innovation funding, accelerate technology commercialization, and support the growth of high-potential businesses throughout Inland Southern California.
To learn more about the program, visit innovation.ucr.edu/sbir-phase-1.
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Program Sponsorship
The SBIR Phase I Workshop is sponsored by the California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA), supporting efforts to expand access to entrepreneurial resources, strengthen small business innovation, and advance economic development throughout California.