4/10/2026
1 Riverside Economic Development CommitteeRosibel Ochoa, PhDAssociate Vice Chancellor Technology PartnershipsAdjunct Faculty Chemical and Environmental EngineeringApril 23rd2026 10 YEARS SUPPORTING INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIPIN THE INLAND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
4/10/2026
2 Integrated Platform to Supportour Region’s Tech Entrepreneurs •Entrepreneurs-in-Residence•CEO-in-Residence•Proof of Concept•Venture Capital•Government Grants•Demonstration Funds•Contracts•NSF I-Corps•Blackstone Launchpad•Specialized Certificate Programs•Faculty Fellows•ExCITE Riverside•Life Sciences•SoCal OASIS® Park Infrastructure funded by OTP•UCR CREAT’R Lab Maker Space for students•Riverside ExCITE Technology Incubator•UCR Life Science Incubator•UCR Plant Transformation Research Center•Northside Ag Innovation Center •SoCal OASIS Park
4/10/2026
3 CONCEPT•Entrepreneurial Education•Certificates: Zero to Entrepreneur•Soft Landing for International Companies•SME: BizTechConnect3-10weeksVALIDATION•Proof of Concept Studies•Intellectual Property Protection and Transfer•Company Incorporationand Team Formation•Tech Roadmap & Critical Milestones Definition6-12monthsGRADUATION & SCALE-UP•Specialized testbeds/ validation by customer•Talent Development•Customer/Market Development•Regulatory Assistance•Access to Capital (seed plus)•Corporate Partnerships (OG)2-3yearsSpecialized Mentorship Led by Assigned EIR INCUBATION•Prototype Testing and Validation•Pitch Deck development•Pre-seed funding (VCs, Angels)•Grants (Catalyst, CEC Innovation Grant)2-4 years Support for the entrepreneurial journey
EPIC SBDCBuild 2 ScaleOpportunity GatewayINNOVAR
UCR Research Labs
Riverside ExCITELife Science Incubator
SoCal OASIS®Park
Experienced Executives provide individualized mentorship•Steve Flaim•Steve Sharp•Art Salyer•John Shearer•Philip Topham•Isabelle Bart•Jay Gilberg•Lada Rasochova•Gioia Messinger•Martin Kleckner•Ben Raju•Angelo Farooq Life SciencesTechnologyCleantech, EntertainmentDepartment of DefenseArtificial IntelligenceClean Tech, MarketingGeneralLife SciencesTechnology, IOTLife Sciences, SBIR/STTRAccess to CapitalSmall Business, Access to Capital •Galen Williams•Doug Kollmyer•Ken Gruys•Mario Diez•Scott Brovsky•Shomit Ghose•Tim Richardson•Todd Lorenz•Peter Ciulla•Nicole Cleary•Jocelyn•Aaron (Life Sciences)•Agriculture (some background)•Dan Ovadya (To be trained) Agriculture, Clean TechClean Tech, TransportationAg Biotech Wireless TechnologyEnergy StorageAccess to CapitalData, AIAccess to CapitalCircular EconomyLife SciencesLife SciencesClean Tech
4/10/2026
4 Current portfolio supported by UCR Epic SBDCas of 2/1/2026119 Startups as of 2/1/202694 Applications Resources Available for Entrepreneurs Offered by UCR OTPEntrepreneurial Education•INNOVAR and NSF I-Corps. Designed to help entrepreneurs and innovators understand the technology commercialization and entrepreneurship process. Program is based on the National Science Foundation I-Corps process that is focused on customer discovery, validation and identification of product market fit. Tech Validation•Proof of Concept Grants. Programs designed to provide mentorship and funding for technology and market validation of technologies•SBIR/STTR Resource Center. Assists innovators with application for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants•Build2Scale. Access to specialized testbeds and technology experts for product validation and pilot testing.Business Mentorship•EPIC SBDC. Specialized business mentorship provided by seasoned executives to help entrepreneurs turn technologies into fast growing businesses. •Opportunity Gateway. A platform that connects scalable businesses with customers and partners. 4/10/2026
5 Company Milestones
UCR OTP Support2020Joined ExCITE as a coworking company with3 cofounders•35 Hours•Joined EPIC SBDC•INNOVAR•3 Mentors2021Received $1.4M Grants, moved into 1stoffice space •31 Hours•1 Mentor•Supported SBIR Submission•SWOT Analysis20221st prototype test flight $3Min Grants, added2nd office space, 3 FTEs•120 Hours•2 Mentors•CAP Table Optimization•NSF National I-Corps•SBIR Phase II Submission•9 Service Provider Intros2023Product tested on T-38C jet at Edward Airforce Base, 8 FTEs•23 Hours•2 Mentors•Pitch Deck Development •Senior Management Coaching •Proposal Support2024$900kin sales, $4M fromDoD/Air Force, 3rd office space•60 Hours•Team of 4 Mentors •Admitted to Build 2 Scale, Market Diversification•NASA Regional I-Corps•Hiring of Talent•Access to UCR Infrastructure2025Signed major non-DoD customer, added4th office, 11 FTEs, CEO Awarded RCCD Entrepreneur of the Year•60 Hours•Team of 5 Mentors•Opportunity Gateway for Strategic Partnerships •Product Certification Assistance •Scaling Operations •Faculty collaboration on new product developmentOver $125k investment through mentorship and OTP program support Company Case Study:
created or retained2,000 Jobsengaged 4,000 Studentsin capital raised$160 Millionin SBIR/STTR (35% success rate)$72 Million 620 startupssupported since 2016
Winners of the 2023 competitition shown with judges at SoCal OASIS® Pitch Challenge Finals 4/10/2026
6 Geographical Distribution of Clients
566242222335N=620
2017-2025
Seedorina
StarNav
SuperFoam
Riverside ExCITEtechnology incubatorWork SpaceLow OverheadTechnical + Business ExpertiseTraining & Events12 private work/office spaces and open work space for 40 startups with 24/7 access.Subsidized space and no-cost mentorship allows startups to focus on developing their technology and products.Office: $300-700Hot Desk: $150 Technology and Business mentorship provided by UCR OTP programs at no cost to the companies.Training and event spaces available, with access to conference and break rooms. 4/10/2026
7 Capital Received$59M*Jobs Supported260+Company Graduates5CompaniesSupported43 In Hours of mentorship$832k*reported by 19 companiesRiversode ExCITE by the Numbers since 2015 2025 ExCITE Companies
Incubated Companies
(2020) (2020)(2024)(2024) (2025)Soft Landing Companies
Coworking Companies•Solar Flux•Deepbits•Check Cherry•BitPeel•CCS Marketing•Northfia•Lorna Reed 4/10/2026
8 Annual Partner Support in 2025
Direct Financial Support, Mentorship through EPIC SBDC, and Incubator Management$155kUCRiversideDirect Financial Support$25KCity of Riverside Direct Financial Support$75KCounty of Riverside
SoCal OASIS®Park: NEXT PHASE IN THE JOURNEY
4/10/2026
9 SoCal OASIS®ParkStartup Incubator
4/10/2026
10 SCAN TO READ OUR REPORT
CURIOUS ABOUTOUR IMPACT?CHECK OUT OUR10-YEAR REPORTtechpartnerships.ucr.edu 4/10/2026
11 The OTP Team
Dr. Rosibel OchoaAssociate Vice Chancellor of Technology PartnershipsJudy SwinefordExecutive Analyst &Assistant to AVC OTPJessica PachecoAssistant Director of Program Finance & Operations Aimee KnudsonPrincipal Grant Finance AdministratorJennifer YturraldeDirector of Outreach and Incubation ActivitiesAileen LuibAssistant Director of Special Programs and OutreachMaricela ArguetaLife Sciences Incubator Laboratory ManagerBrian SuhSenior Executive Director of Technology Partnerships Grace YeeAssistant Director ofTechnology CommercializationJoyce PatronaLicensing OfficerRekha ChawlaSenior Licensing OfficerVenkata KrishnamurtySenior Licensing Officer Jennifer YturraldeDirector of Outreach and Incubation Activities Dr. Francisca ReyesDirector of Entrepreneurial Education & Blackstone LaunchPadDr. Jay GilbergInstructor andEntrepreneur-in-ResidenceKalista CombsProgram TrainingCoordinatorNicole ClearySoCal OASIS®Project ManagerScott BrovskyAssociate Director ofRegional EngagementTammy WhetterPrincipal Contracts &Grants OfficerDr. Martin KlecknerDirector of EPIC SBDC Nelson RiveraIP AnalystLuke KannikeSenior CorporateEngagement OfficerNilesh GuptaSenior CorporateEngagement OfficerMisty MaderoDirector of CorporateResearch and EngagementKen GruysSenior Advisor 4/10/2026
12 SoCal OASIS®ParkStartup Incubator Open Workspace
SoCal OASIS®ParkInnovator Hub Prototyping space
4/10/2026
13 OTP Metrics Summary (2017-2025)
EducationTech Transfer andCommercializationEntrepreneurship Undergrad Students in programs launched 99 companies490 patents filed, 268 patents issued, 170 active license agreementsTango Mandarin – 2023 Invention of the year top 5 royalty generator in UC System300 sponsored research agreements with XX industry sponsors we have worked with26 startups launched with UCR IP have raised $42M – check with Brian20 Senior Executives delivered XXXX personalized mentoring hours 5000+students participated in Blackstone Launchpad and INNOVAR, 620Startups Supported$160M+raised by EPIC BDC clients2000Created or Retained Expanding Our International Footprint
Visit from the Los Angeles Consular CorpsSigning of MOU with ProChile
4/10/2026
14 PRIORITIES FOR 2026•Complete SoCal OASIS
Park (2027)•For-Credit Entrepreneurial Courses•Launch UCR Catalyst Fund ExCITE by the Numbers since 2015Investments Received $16.8MGrantsReceived $23.6MJobs Supported 260+Company Graduates5 Globe BiomedicalCompaniesSupported43
Revenue Received $18.4M
Blue Social
Blue Social
Farmsense
Kids that CodeHours of mentorship3,328
4/10/2026
15 •Programs to drive sustainability and social inclusion through entrepreneurship and innovation•Access to capital: SoCal OASIS Challenge•Community participation: Zero to Entrepreneur•Scale-up and growth: Build 2 Scale and Opportunity Gateway•Innovation catalyst: SoCal OASIS Park SoCalOASIS
Incubation Facilities supported by OTP programs & Mentorship
EPIC SBDC
Build 2 ScaleOpportunity Gateway
INNOVAR
UCR Life Science IncubatorSoCal OASIS®Park
4/10/2026
16 10 YEARS AGO:
$33 Million Secured to Support EPIC Infrastructure•63% from Federal, Corporations, and Foundations•Physical infrastructure, mentors, proof of concept grants•Resources available to students, Faculty and the IE entrepreneurial communityGeneral InfrastructureSoCal OASIS
4/10/2026
17 Direct Financial Support, Mentorship through EPIC SBDC, and Incubator Management$155kUCRiversideDirect Financial Support$75KCounty of Riverside Direct Financial Support$25KCity of Riverside Annual Partner Support in 2025
Capital Received$59M*Jobs Supported 260+Company Graduates5CompaniesSupported43In Hours of mentorship$832k*reported by 19 companiesExCITE by the Numbers since 2015
4/10/2026
18 ExCITE by the Numbers since 2015
Globe Biomedical
Blue Social
Blue Social
Farmsense
Kids that CodeCapital Received$59M*Jobs Supported 260+Company Graduates5CompaniesSupported43In Hours of mentorship$832k*reported by 19 companies OfficesHot Desk
Lorna Reed
Co-working(2020)(2020)(2024)(2024)(2025)(2025)(2025)(2025)(2018)(2025) (2022)(2025)
(2022)(2020)(Year company joined ExCITE)
ExCITE Companies 2025
4/10/2026
19 ExCITE provides startups with:•12 private light industrial offices, space for 30 co-working companies, and 12 hot desks•Affordable space to develop and prototype their technology products (substantially subsidized by ExCITE’s partners)•Offices range from $300-$700, hot desks are $150 monthly •Training & event spaces, and shared conference & break rooms•Technology and business mentorship through UCR’s OTP + EPIC SBDC and scale-up support programs.
Seedorina
StarNav
SuperFoam
CONCEPT•Entrepreneurial Education•Certificates: Zero to Entrepreneur•Soft Landing for International Companies•SME: BizTech Connect3-10 weeksVALIDATION•Proof of Concept Studies•Intellectual Property Protection and Transfer•Company Incorporation and Team Formation•Tech Roadmap & Critical Milestones Definition6-12weeksGRADUATION & SCALE-UP•Specialized testbeds/ validation by customer•Talent Development•Customer/Market Development•Regulatory Assistance•Access to Capital (seed plus)•Corporate Partnerships (OG)2-3 yearsPersonalized & Specialized Mentorship Led by an Assigned EIRINCUBATION•Prototype Testing and Validation•Pitch Deck development•Pre-seed funding (VCs, Angels)•Grants (Catalyst, CEC Innovation Grant)2-4 years Support for the entrepreneurial journey
EPIC SBDCBuild 2 ScaleOpportunity GatewayINNOVAR
Physical Infrastructure:•UCR Research Labs
Physical Infrastructure:•ExCITE•Life Science Incubator
Physical Infrastructure:•SoCal OASIS Park