The UC Center for Accelerated Innovation (CAI) and UC Biomedical Research Acceleration, Integration and Development (BRAID) are partnering with UC Irvine Beall Applied Innovation to host a forum for UC Faculty to pitch advanced translational programs to a group of potential investors. Please note this opportunity is specific to devices, including wireless devices, diagnostics and tools.

BACKGROUND

It can be difficult for academic innovators to find investors for their translational programs. Similarly, it can be difficult for investors to find the most meritorious program for commercialization in a system as large as the University of California. Furthermore, faculty frequently are insufficiently prepared to present their data and plans in a format that investors can readily assess.

The UC CAI has been soliciting, vetting, ranking, and mentoring faculty innovators for the past six years. During the past three years it has partnered with UCI Beall Applied Innovation to sponsor pitch days in the areas of interest for the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). This process has successfully identified programs of significant value and also helped prepare faculty to concisely describe their program in terms of an investment thesis including: meeting an unmet medical need, a product profile, milestones, timelines, go-no go points, and an activity-based budget.

The sponsoring partners of this UC Biomedical Pitch Day are confident that there are numerous investment-ready programs across the UC campuses (UC Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, Riverside, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz). Furthermore, it is likely that these programs will offer attractive investment opportunities if the presentations are framed in an accessible format. This program extends UC CAI activities beyond the areas of heart, lung, and blood across all therapeutic areas, and across all UC campuses. Successful applicants will receive extensive hands-on mentoring to help the faculty present to a group of selected and interested investors.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Each faculty applicant will submit a 1-page description of their technology (see below for details). UC CAI will invite a select number of applicants to participate via webcast in a pre-screen pitch. This will provide an opportunity for two-way communication with a review committee composed of UC CAI leadership, clinical leaders and investors, for clarification and/or additional information. Following the pre-screen pitch, the highest ranked proposals will undergo a review by UC BRAID leadership. Final selection of technologies to present on the UC Biomedical Pitch Day will be determined by a committee of representatives from UC CAI, UC BRAID, and UCI Beall Applied Innovation, taking into account the feedback from clinical leaders and investors.

Successful applicants will be mentored by NHLBI Entrepreneurs-in-Residence and by UC faculty with business expertise. The goal is to develop a presentation designed to help investors identify opportunities for follow-up. Following Pitch Day, investors interested in projects will work with the faculty and Technology Transfer Office associated with that respective faculty's campus to determine whether terms can be reached for investment and potential company launch.

PROCESS

Eligibility: Faculty in all series and ranks at the UC CAI campuses (UC Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco) as well as UC Berkeley, Merced, Riverside, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz are eligible. Postdoctoral scholars are eligible to submit applications as Co-PI with a faculty PI.

Requirements: Projects must have existing or imminent target validation in animal systems or human cell lines and a clear clinical indication. Devices and diagnostics must also have proof of principle. Therapeutic areas can cover any health condition where there is an unmet medical need or the potential for significant improvement over current diagnostics, devices, tools or services. If patents or patent applications have not been filed, there should be a strong potential for obtaining defensible intellectual property.

Consultations: The UC CAI offers expert consultations to assist applicants with their proposals. Contact information for campus site leaders can be found below.

Application: Applications must be submitted online* between Nov 4-8, 2019 only. Submission closes at 5 pm on Nov 8.