NM FAST, administered through Arrowhead Center, recently announced both a free virtual workshop for early-stage founders and a new commercialization pilot program aimed at companies already working to bring federally funded technologies to market.
Source: NMSU Newsroom
Based on work posted by Alejandro Najera-Acosta and Carlos Murguia
Photos: Courtesy
New Mexico State University’s Arrowhead Center is expanding efforts to help New Mexico startups move from federally funded research concepts to viable commercial businesses through a pair of new statewide initiatives focused on funding strategy, intellectual property and commercialization support.
NM FAST, administered through Arrowhead Center, recently announced both a free virtual workshop for early-stage founders and a new commercialization pilot program aimed at companies already working to bring federally funded technologies to market.
The first initiative, a virtual workshop titled “SBIR: Startup Funding, Licensing & IP,” is scheduled for June 17 and is designed to help startup founders better understand funding pathways, licensing considerations and intellectual property strategy while pursuing Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer awards.
The workshop will be led by startup advisor Daniel Jones, who has worked with technology companies across healthcare, ag-tech, fintech and Internet of Things industries. Topics will include capital raising strategies, intellectual property development and commercialization planning for companies emerging from academic or corporate research environments.
“New Mexico founders are translating research from national labs and universities into companies that can compete for federal R&D dollars, but capital strategy and IP decisions made early can determine whether that work reaches the market,” said Carlos Murguia, director of the Technology and Innovation Gateway at Arrowhead Center.
Workshop Registration
The free virtual workshop will be held Wednesday, June 17, from 9 to 11 a.m. MDT via Zoom. Registration is available through NM FAST Workshop Registration.
A second initiative announced by NM FAST focuses on companies further along in the commercialization pipeline.
The new SBIR/STTR Commercialization Bridge Pilot is designed to assist New Mexico companies transitioning from federally funded Phase II research into Phase III commercialization, procurement and revenue generation. The program is being delivered in partnership with the Santa Fe Business Incubator.
The pilot program will select six to 10 companies statewide for an intensive cohort running from June 10 through July 8. Participants will receive one-on-one advising and guidance related to federal procurement, commercialization strategy, customer acquisition and capital planning.
Murguia said the goal is to address a long-standing gap faced by many technology startups after securing federal research funding.
“New Mexico founders working at the leading edge of deep tech have done the hard work of winning Phase II awards, and the next challenge is turning that research into contracts, customers, and revenue,” Murguia said.
Eligible sectors for the commercialization pilot include aerospace, energy and clean technology, advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, biotechnology and defense-related technologies.
Commercialization Bridge Pilot Applications
Applications for the SBIR/STTR Commercialization Bridge Pilot are due May 25. Interested companies can apply through Commercialization Bridge Pilot Application Portal.
The broader NM FAST program operates statewide and supports startups pursuing federal innovation funding opportunities through SBIR and STTR programs. According to Arrowhead Center, NM FAST has supported more than 470 New Mexico startups over the past decade and helped participating companies secure nearly $28 million in federal SBIR awards.
Both initiatives are supported through the New Mexico Economic Development Department’s Technology and Innovation Office as part of broader statewide efforts to expand entrepreneurship and technology commercialization in sectors including advanced computing, bioscience, advanced energy and aerospace.
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