RCIC | Innovate El Paso

The Hub of Human Innovation and RampCorp Present Mayor John Cook: Making a Difference, Idea to Market

valerie — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 22:08:20 +0000

Make plans to attend another great event at the Hub of Human Innovation. El Paso Mayor, John Cook, will be talking to folks about making a difference by taking an idea to market. Cook has lived in Northeast
El Paso for most of his life where his family has owned and operated several Northeast businesses. He was elected Mayor of El Paso in 2005 and re-elected in June 2009 and is currently serving his second four-year term as Mayor. In 2005 he launched a “feed the homeless” Project which has evolved to Feeding the Nation’s Homeless, Inc., a not-for-profit foundation that develops and markets Senor John’s BBQ sauces to fund the Foundation.

They started out small in West Texas and Southern New Mexico and plan to take the project national within a few years. In March of 2010, Lowe’s Supermarkets, a chain of 90 stores, began selling Señor John’s on the shelves in 16 supermarkets throughout El Paso. This is sure to be an exciting event, make reservations today!

When: April 26th, Thursday 5:00 – 7pm
Where: The Hub of Human Innovation, 500 W. Overland, Suite 230.

For more information, contact Nancy Lowery, The Hub of Human Innovation, (915) 321-3121, (619) 436-6891 or Nancy@hubofhumaninnovation.org.

For reservations contact Elizabeth Holguin, The Hub of Human Innovation, (915) 321-3125, or Elizabeth@hubofhumaninnovation.org.

Did Someone Say Golf? Make Plans to Attend the El Paso Export Forum and Golf Tourney

valerie — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 22:05:41 +0000

We are looking forward to an action packed day this Thursday, April 26 at the Butterfield Trail Golf Club. The City of El Paso has put together a great program where participants will have the opportunity to hear about the latest programs that facilitate and support local businesses in expanding beyond the region. A great program to be followed by some time out on the greens, it’s a win-win!

Click here for event information and registration.

Congratulations to Innovate El Paso’s Associate Director Rosey Natividad and Husband, Daniel – Marcus Has Arrived!

valerie — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 22:02:45 +0000

After months of waiting and anticipating, Marcus D. Skertchly has arrived safe and sound! Marcus was born April 16 and weighed 7 lbs. 9 oz. and needless to say, proud parents Rosey and Daniel are over the moon! We are looking forward to many Innovate El Paso visits from Marcus in the future.

STEM and CRVC Coming Soon!

valerie — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 15:58:01 +0000

Camino Real Venture Competition – March 9th and 5th

The Camino Real Venture Competition provides a venue for young entrepreneurs to develop a business concept from planning stage to start up, and hopefully to product commercialization. College and high school student teams will present business plans based on innovative technologies to a group of judges consisting of successful business people, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and other business experts. The Competition will consist of a Venture Forum, a 60 Second Elevator Pitch, and the presentation of the business plan.

Please visit www.bnsl.org for details.

STEM Challenge 3 Builds Future Business Leaders

Upper Rio Grande Workforce Development Board, the BNSL, UTEP College of Engineering and College of Business, Innovate El Paso, The Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization, SCORE, and Connect a Million Minds are partnering for the STEM Challenge 3. The contest provides a real world opportunity for high school teams to implement Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) in an innovative business plan. This year, the contest will be merged with The Camino Real Venture Competition (CRVC) held on March 9th and 10th. Check out their website at www.urgjobs.com for rules and application.

News in Grant Collaboration and Opportunities

valerie — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 15:55:56 +0000

We’ve got some great news for you in the world of grants and funding opportunities in our area!

First off, we’d like to welcome the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce to our Regional Grant Strategy Committee. They will be assembling a Grant Task Force and looking for grants that benefit the mission of the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce. If you’d like to know more about their efforts, please contact Janice Gonzalez at 915. 629.6716.

Eli Velasquez met with the Economic Development Administration to learn more about upcoming million plus dollar grant opportunites and was informed that another I6 Challenge would be released in March or April.

A new, national competition has been launched to identify and support school programs and technology innovations that motivate children to be more physically active. The ASAP competition will award a total of $500,000 to schools with the most innovative, impactful, and cost-effective physical activity programs, and to technology developers who create new ways of using technology to promote increased physical activity among youth. In addition to monetary awards, top winners will participate in funded pilot studies aimed at expanding their programs’ reach and impact.

CPRIT has announced a new Request for Applications for commercialization and company formation. Please visit www.dshs.state.tx.us for more information.

Innovate El Paso will be reaching out to our surrounding counties of Brewster, Culberson, Dona Ana, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, and Presidio on innovation. If you all know of an organization that would be interested in collaborating, please have them contact us at 915.534.8148 or ideas@innovateelpaso.org.

Innovate El Paso Brings Inventor In Residence on Board

valerie — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 15:54:40 +0000

We are excited to announce that Roberto Gutierrez, President of Gutierrez Engineering Design, has volunteered to hold “office hours” every Friday after lunch for inventors to come share their idea, and get consultation; all free. El Paso inventors, give us a shout at 915.534.8148 or send a message to ideas@innovateelpaso.org if you’d like more information.

February RBTEC Event: Everything You Need to Know About Technology Licensing

valerie — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:34:04 +0000

Make plans to attend the Rio Bravo Technology Entrepreneurs Council’s presentation, Everything You Need to Know About Technology Licensing. The panel of speakers will cover the key elements of the license agreement: upfront fees, annual maintenance fees, royalties, milestones, and equity. Speakers will also discuss their own experience with the process, and provide advice for other entrepreneurs going through the process.

The speaker panel will feature the following special guests:
Dr. Russell R. Chianelli – Professor of Chemistry, Materials and Environmental Science and Engineering and Director of the Materials Research and Technology Institute at the University of Texas at El Paso
Xavier Saenz – President and founder of MRI Enterprises
Jon Edwards – Vice-President of MRI Enterprises
Laura Bosworth – CEO and co-founder of TeVido™ BioDevices
Date: Thursday, February 16, 2012
Time: 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Where: The Hub of Human Innovation
500 W. Overland, Suite 230

Interested in Grant Collaboration? We’d Love to Hear From You!

valerie — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:54:31 +0000

In our efforts to leverage resources for our community in the realm of innovation (whether it be education, job creation or entrepreneurial training), we are excited to have identified funding opportunities that we would like to brainstorm and discuss with you! These funders are:

* Interested in the El Paso region
* Want to encourage entrepreneurial and economic development
* Have money to help us!

We’d like to invite you or a representative from your organization to talk about these opportunities over breakfast. Let us know if you’re interested and will send you an invite to our next meeting.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us at 915.534.8148 or ideas@innovateelpaso.org – we can’t wait to hear from you!

Life Science Funding Opportunity – J&J COSAT Seed Grant for North Texas

valerie — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:53:53 +0000

The North Texas RCIC had the opportunity to meet with Johnson & Johnson (J&J COSAT) before the holidays and would like to pass along an important Life Science Funding Opportunity for North Texas.

Their interests include: medical devices, diagnostics, biotechnology, and consumer products. On a periodic basis, the emerging technologies group within J&J COSAT organizes a day to review early stage opportunities to consider such opportunities for a non-dilutive seed grant funding program. The awardees could potentially benefit from this program in several ways:
seed (non-dilutive) funding, which is usually capped at around $250K;
access to J&J’s internal experts in a relevant domain; and
enhanced visibility in the investment community by virtue of J&J’s support.
Click here for details

Team Traction Jack in the News!

valerie — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:53:06 +0000

It’s full steam ahead for the business team of Jeff Brown and Carlos Amaro, the two young men whose also refer to as Team Traction Jack. News Channel 9 recently ran a profile on Traction Jack and the plans the team have for the manufacturing of their product.

The Traction Jack, is a simple, ramp-like structure that is used to provide a vehicle that becomes “stuck” the traction needed to continue on its way. Brown and Amaro are currently seeking Traction Jack investors as they work on securing a manufacturing resource for their product.

Click here to check out the Traction Jack segment on KTSM

For more information visit www.tractionjack.com or please feel free to contact Jeffrey Brown at 915-820-7754 or via email Jvbrown19@elp.rr.com.