Charge Up! Series
RSI Entrepreneurship Program 2023/2024
ZAP Program
NSFTM ZAP Program Lean Startup Workshop Series - Have an idea you might want to turn into a business? Learn how to take the first steps toward discovering customers and the potential market for your innovation. When: three sessions/month, via ZOOM. Information and Apply: Here
ZAP Lunch & Learns: These lunchtime sessions offer in depth information about the program, and its benefits for researchers exploring the entrepreneurial pathway that will help you decide whether the program is right for you. When: 2023: October 17, December 6 2024: January 23, February 13, March 12, May 14 Noon - 1.30 pm PT Where: Resnick Sustainability Institute, Earle M. Jorgensen Laboratory, Conference Room 224 Register Here
Special Event with the eClub:
The Caltech Entrepreneurship Club and the Office of Technology Transfer and Corporate Partnership (OTTCP) are hosting the inaugural Entrepreneurial Meetup where students will have the opportunity to interact with their peers who are also interested in engaging with the startup ecosystem. This event is designed as an open space to freely discuss business ideas and industry jobs. For students who currently have startup ideas, you can receive feedback on your initial business plans and talk with internal Caltech experts about practical next steps. If you are interested in learning more about entrepreneurship and want to join an existing team, this is also a great opportunity to make an initial introduction.
OTT Entrepreneurs in Residence Julie Schoenfeld and Jay Chiang along with George Tolomiczenko, Executive Director of the Merkin Institute for Translational Research and Stephanie Yanchinski, Director of Entrepreneurial Programs, will give a snapshot of their backgrounds, how they help with early business development plans, and any programming and resources (including ZAP) to help scientists and engineers get started.
Lunch will be provided, and this event is open to undergrads, graduate students, postdocs and any interested faculty. Please RSVP to reserve your spot as this event will have a registration limit, and spots are first come first serve: Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/entrepreneurial-meetup-tickets-868567828757
Date/Time: April 18th, 12:00-1:30 PM
Location: Caltech Innovation Center, 271 South Chester Avenue Pasadena, CA 91106
Moderated Fireside Chats: Hear Real Life Experiences
Scaling for Growth: From R&D to Reality: Steve Oldham, CEO of Caltech startup Captura, and former CEO of Carbon Engineering where he was responsible for growth from 10 employees through to a recent $1.6Bn sale to a strategic investor, will share his best practices and answer your questions about guiding a startup to a successful exit. When: October 18, 5 – 6 pm PT Where: Resnick Sustainability Institute, Earle M. Jorgensen Laboratory, Conference Room 109. Meet & Greet to follow. Office hours available on request. Register Here
One Caltecher's Pathway - the story of Brimstone Energy: Cody Finke, (Ph.D., 2019) founder and CEO of Brimstone Energy (Rocket Fund 2019,2020), grew Brimstone Energy from a two person garage startup to a fast-moving tech venture that has raised over $55m investment. Cody will talk about his experiences as a new graduate and how he made the successful transition to high tech CEO. When: January 23, 4.30 – 6 pm PT Where: via ZOOM. Register here.
Workshops
Legal Best Practices - Forming and Funding Your Company: Learn the basics of forming a company, when and how to incorporate and navigate the complications of equity splitting, and above all, what to avoid from legal expert Rick Friedman, of Novus GC . Rick has deep experience with working in the high tech startup world, in particular with Caltech startups. When: November 8, 4.30 – 6.00 pm PT Where: Resnick Sustainability Institute, Earle M. Jorgensen Laboratory, Conference Room 109. Meet & Greet to follow. Office hours available, on request. Register Here
Patenting your Innovation: Hear licensing best practices from Caltech from Rose Kiser, Assistant Director for Technology Transfer, Caltech's Office of Technology Transfer and Corporate Partnerships, and how to build company IP from John Peck, Partner, KPPB law firm. When: Thursday, November 16, 4.30 – 6.00 pm PT Where: Resnick Sustainability Institute, Earle M. Jorgensen Laboratory, Conference Room 109. Meet & Greet to follow. Register Here
Valuing Technology: Learn how to assess the value of your technology using technoeconomic analysis and carbon life cycle assessment from Dr. Hanna Breunig, Deputy-Head of the Sustainable Energy and Environmental Systems Department at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. She will focus on preparing TEA and CLC evaluations for successfully winning federal grants. Dr. Breunig is an environmental engineering expert with 13 years of experience helping startups with carbon life cycle assessment, technoeconomic analysis, and technology scale up. When: Wednesday, February 14, 4.30 -6.00 pm PT Where: Resnick Sustainability Institute, Earle M. Jorgensen Laboratory, Conference Room 109. Meet & Greet to follow. Office hours available, on request. Register Here
Scaling for Growth: Technology to Product: Today, investors and partners seek startups with leadership that knows how to scale innovative technologies to production. Zainub Noor and Scott Gale, engineering experts experienced at working with new ventures at Halliburton Labs, will explain what company management must consider, from product development to settling supply chains for manufacture. When: (Rescheduled) February 27 4.30 – 6.00 pm PT Where: via ZOOM Register here.
Financial Planning for Startups: The banking team from J.P. Morgan Innovation Economy Banking will give insights from working with tech startups on practical guidance that will help first time entrepreneurs build out their financial plan for putting their applied project or startup on a solid basis. Topics covered will include: managing cash burn, equipping founders with practical tools and insights to manage and reduce their startup's cash burn rate while maximizing value creation; understanding equipment financing including financing options, and best practices for negotiating terms; and an overview of how to use good financial planning to build a startup's value proposition. When: Tuesday, June 18, 4.30 – 6.00 PM PT Where: Earl M. Jorgensen Bldg., Conf. Room 109 Register Here.
Funding Opportunities
ROCKET FUND: https://rocketfund.caltech.edu/ This program provides non-equity grants of $25k - $100k for designing and building commercial prototypes for demonstrating with customers and attracting investment. Program opens in November 2023 - check website for details.
Rocket Fund Pitch Event: Caltech students are invited to attend the Rocket Fund Finals as observers and see candidates pitch to a panel of judges from industry, California utilities and VCs. When: Monday June 3, 8.30 am – 12.30 pm PT; Tuesday, June 4, 8.30 am – 12.30 pm PT Where: via ZOOM Register here for Day 1 and here for Day 2.
For more information contact: Stephanie Yanchinski, Director of Entrepreneurial Programs, stephanie.yanchinski@caltech.edu
IDEATION GRANTS: The Ideation grant program is funded by partners passionate about impacting the emerging climate crisis and excited about working with Caltech's best and brightest young innovators. dedicated to finding solutions. The goal is to accelerate the translation of sustainability research projects across campus that have potential for real world impact while giving Caltech students a broader exposure to opportunities where they can make a difference in their professional lives.
The ideation grants are intended to fund scientists and engineers interested in translating their technologies for wider world impact, and potentially creating new ventures. These grants specifically help faculty, students, and post-doctoral researchers with a technology idea explore how to move it forward to a translational outcome. These small grants also aim to kick-start business ideas and validate initial concepts.
Ideation Grants provide useful funding for expenses that don't qualify for existing sources of research money. Grants also provide additional benefits such as covering time spent away from research. Allowed expenditures include (see the application form for a more complete list):
- Technoeconomic support for evaluating technology
- Shared workspace & tech incubator facility fees
- Attending industry conferences, boot camps & pitch events
- Small equipment, materials & supplies
- Purchasing informational resources e.g., subscriptions
Eligibility
To see if you qualify for an Ideation Grant, please consider the following:
- Project aligns with RSI's general mission of addressing climate change with impactful science and technologies
- Grants range from $5,000 - $20,000, level as per negotiation
- Grants support projects and potential spin-out companies
- The requested award must fall under the Ideation-approved categories (See the budget and application forms)
- Intend completing the project within twelve months after receiving the grant
- Special consideration: recipients who have already or intend to participate in Caltech's NSF I-Corps ZAP program
Applications are considered on a rolling basis. We suggest that you submit your interest early, as funds are limited.
Please check for eligibility in the application form and complete it, along with the budget form. and return to Stephanie Yanchinski.
Applications are open!