Entrepreneurial Training
ASCEND 2.0 provides resources, advising, and mentoring to aid in the translation of promising innovations from academia to the market.
The Ascend 2.0 difference
Mentoring
Mentors can help first-time entrepreneurs navigate the complex commercialization process and ASCEND can help you find a good match.
Technology Development
Funding for biomedical technologies for preclinical development can be difficult to identify and difficult to obtain, but ASCEND will help you navigate this process.
LATEST NEWS
ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL: New Mexico scientists have formed nearly 150 bioscience startups in just the past 10 years. The rest of the country is starting to notice.
New Mexico’s startup economy is thriving, thanks in good part to a spate of fresh bioscience companies that are working to turn innovative technologies into new products and services. In fact, the bioscience sector has dominated the startup landscape in recent years, with more patents issued to New Mexico innovators…
ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL: New jobs, bigger facilities, local support: New Mexico’s bioscience industry is alive and kicking
Pharmaceutical research, development and manufacturing company Curia broke ground this fall on a $100 million expansion of its Albuquerque operations, potentially adding nearly 300 new local jobs to its current workforce. It’s the second major expansion here since 2018 by the biotech company, which already employs about 400 people at…
ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL: UNM is a regional bioscience tech-transfer leader. A new grant will help the school share its knowledge.
A novel ointment for topical treatment of HPV-induced warts and pre-cancers won first place at this year’s bioscience shark tank for University of New Mexico researchers in mid-November. A three-member panel of judges, all local entrepreneurs, selected viral oncology professor Michelle Ozbun’s research as the winner in a pitch competition…
Take your technology to market
Business advising for ASCEND innovators and their technologies is available to researchers at all of the ASCEND partner institutions. Advising will include a technology review, assignment of a technology readiness level, suggested next steps, and ASCEND resources that can help move the technology forward.
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, March 07, 2023
International Women’s Entrepreneurship Symposium
Reno, NV
Wednesday, April 19, 2023
Funding Your Innovation with America's Seed Fund
Missoula, MT
testimonials
The grant will help accelerate and expand educational programs in translational medicine and career development in health care and pharmaceutical industries across Montana and the Mountain West Region.
Jay Evans, PhDASCEND Academic LeadUniversity of Montana
This is a significant opportunity for small businesses, academia, and the federal government to partner in two critical areas: boosting high-tech innovation and tackling biomedical research needs.
Jon R. Lorsch, Ph.D. NIGMS Director
The goal is to educate faculty within the various institutions on how to commercialize their research, including startup funding and finding business partners.
Eric Prossnitz, PhD UNM’s principal investigator
The Ascend Hub gave me an opportunity to develop a pitch to showcase our technology. By working with the Ascend team and mentors I was able to take the next step towards bringing our life saving technology to the clinic. Thank you Ascend!
Kelly Drew, PhDCEO of BeCool PharmaceuticsUniversity of Alaska Fairbanks
[The ASCEND Team] met with me weekly, answering questions I had about the process of starting up, what is necessary and what is not, and how to proceed. During these meetings, we developed a terrific side deck for use at the BIO International Conference, and one for a MicroGrant pitch sponsored by ASCEND. Being a part of the cohort was a great help to me during this difficult and sometimes confusing time as I start my biotech business.
Elizabeth Corbin, PhD CEO of Optima LabsMontana State University
We are extremely grateful for being part of the ASCEND Business Cohort program. It has been an extremely productive and eye-opening experience for us as going through this program gave us the knowledge, tools, and training that we needed to enable us to pitch our technology to large pharmaceutical companies. The ASCEND program is the starting point to help us develop CNS Curative Technologies LLC and has opened the door to participate in other NIH-funded programs.
Ruben Dagda, PhDCEO of CNS Curative Technologies, LLCUniversity of Nevada Reno