Day 1: 

Funding, Commercialization & Innovation

Gain practical insights into every stage of the innovation journey. Learn about the latest SBIR/STTR program developments, federal funding opportunities, and California's innovation support ecosystem. Discover how to build impactful research and industry partnerships, strengthen your commercialization strategy, compete more effectively for funding, and position your technology for transition into federal and commercial markets.

• 8:30AM – 9:00AM: Registration & Breakfast

  Check in, enjoy breakfast, connect with fellow attendees, and kick off the conference with opening remarks before the day's programming begins.

  Speakers:

  • Misty Madero, Director, Corporate Research & SBIR/STTR Resource Center, UC Riverside Technology Partnerships
  • Valorie Piper, Diretor of Government Contractors & Procurement, IE APEX Accelerator
• 9:00AM – 10:00AM: Welcome Remarks & Opening Keynote

  Kick off SBIR/STTR Con 2026 with leaders from UC Riverside, the Inland Empire APEX Accelerator, and hear an opening keynote from Elmy Bermejo, Director of the California Office of the Small Business Advocate.

  Speakers:

  • Rodolfo H. Torres, Vice Chancellor, Research, Innovation, and Economic Development, UC Riverside
  • Jennifer Yturralde, Director, Outreach & Incubation, UC Riverside Technology Partnerships
  • Elmy Bermejo, Director, California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) 
• 10:00AM – 10:15AM: Advanced Commercialization & Customer Discovery

  Learn how customer discovery can help innovators validate market needs, refine their value proposition, and make smarter commercialization decisions.

  Speakers:

  • Martin Kleckner, Director, EPIC SBDC, UC Riverside Technology Partnerships
  • Jay Gilberg, Entrepreneur-in-Residence, UC Riverside Technology Partnerships
• 10:15AM – 10:30AM: Unlocking UCR Innovation - Resources for Startups & Small Businesses

  Discover the programs, facilities, expertise, and entrepreneurial resources available through UC Riverside to help startups and small businesses advance their technologies.

  Speakers:

  • Brian Suh, Senior Executive Director, UC Riverside Technology Partnerships
• 10:30AM – 10:45AM: Break

  Break

• 10:45AM – 11:30AM: Winning the Funding - America's Seed Fund (Zoom)

  Hear directly from NSF Program Manager Erik Pierstorff about America’s Seed Fund and key considerations for pursuing competitive SBIR/STTR funding.

  Speakers:

  • Joyce Patrona, Licensing Officer, UC Riverside Technology Partnerships
  • Erik Pierstorff, NSF Program Manager
• 11:30AM – 12:15PM: From Lab to Marketplace: DOE SBIR/STTR Opportunities (Zoom)

  Explore DOE SBIR/STTR funding opportunities and how they can support the development and commercialization of innovative technologies.

  Speakers:

  • Venkat Krishnamurty, Licensing Officer, UC Riverside Technology Partnerships
  • Ben Shrager, Program Manager, U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC)​
• 12:30PM – 1:00PM: Luncheon Keynote - Leveraging University Partnerships for Innovation

  Hear from Stacyann P. Russell, Director of the NSF I-Corps Hub West Region, on how entrepreneurs can leverage university expertise, networks, programs, and resources to accelerate innovation and commercialization.

  Speakers:

  • Francisca Reyes, Interim Director, Randall Lewis Center for Entrepreneurship​, UC Riverside Technology Partnerships
  • Stacyann P. Russell, Director NSF I-Corps Hub West Region
• 1:00PM - 1:15PM: Break

  Break

• 1:15PM – 2:00PM: SBA Resources for Small Business Growth & Innovation

  Learn about SBA programs and resources that can help small businesses access capital, pursue opportunities, and support continued growth.

  Speakers:

  • Rekha Chawla, Licensing Officer, UC Riverside Technology Partnerships
  • Christapher M. Bess, District Director, Orange County/Inland Empire (Santa Ana Office), U.S. Small Business Administration​
• 2:00PM – 3:00PM: Panel - What Makes a Competitive SBIR/STTR Proposal?

  Hear from experienced SBIR/STTR entrepreneurs about lessons learned, strategies for strengthening proposals, and common pitfalls to avoid.

  Moderator:

  • John Shearer, Entrepreneur-in-Residence, UC Riverside Technology Partnerships

  Panelists:

  • Satheesh B. Ravula, Co-Founder, Epigen Biosciences
  • Ran Carmi, Founder & CEO, Eye-Predict
  • Martin Kleckner, Director, EPIC SBDC, UC Riverside Technology Partnerships
• 3:00PM – 3:15PM: Innovation Ecosystems & Industry Success Stories

  Hear how entrepreneurs have leveraged partnerships, regional resources, and innovation ecosystems to advance technologies and grow their companies.

  Speakers:

  • Grace Yee, Assistant Director, Technology Commercialization, UC Riverside Technology Partnerships
  • Kevin Damoa, Founder & CEO, Glīd
• 3:15PM – 5:00PM: Innovator Showcase Networking Reception

  Meet innovative companies, explore emerging technologies, and connect with founders, industry partners, researchers, investors, and fellow attendees.

   

  Showcase Companies

  4th State Energies

  ArcMetrics Technology Inc.

  Biopico Systems

  CalCompute

  Digital Therapeutix

  Divine Intervention Treatment Solutions

  DoubleLock Healthcare

  Eisel-Power

  Engevity

  Genstar Technologies

  Glīd Technologies

  GoGoDuck

  IADD

  Indrio Technologies

  Kurena

  Mothership Apex

  Music Changing Lives

  NeyroblastGX

  OSK Devices

  Ottersampler

  Phenix Technology

  Piedra Roja Group

  PreQualy

  Robonomy Robotics

  RotorWorks Manufacturing

  Sherman Aeronautics

  Standard TLM

  Super Foam

  Sympler

  TRUCKERPOTTY

  Validus Institute

Day 2: 

From Innovation to Procurement

Explore how innovative technologies move from funded research to federal adoption. Connect with government buyers, prime contractors, and industry partners, gain insights into Department of Defense opportunities, hear entrepreneur success stories, and participate in matchmaking sessions designed to help you build relationships that lead to federal contracting success.

• 8:30AM – 9:00AM: Registration & Breakfast

  Reconnect with attendees over breakfast before opening remarks and another full day of programming focused on procurement, partnerships, and growth.

• 9:00AM – 10:00AM: Welcome Remarks & Opening Keynote

  Kick off SBIR/STTR Con 2026 Day 2 with leaders from IE Tech Bridge and the Department of War.

  Speakers:

  • Troy Clarke, Director, IE Tech Bridge
  • James R. Mismash, Deputy Director of Small Business, Department of War
• 10:00AM – 10:45AM: Defense Innovation Panel

  Hear from industry leaders about their experiences navigating defense innovation, partnerships, and opportunities within the defense ecosystem.

  Moderator:

  • Troy Clarke, Director, IE Tech Bridge

  Panelists:

  • Angel Sanchez, Jr., Phenix Technology
  • Rahul Singh, Marshall Industries
  • Drew Busbee, Alexandria’s Space Division
  • Bryan Went, Matter Labs
• 10:45AM – 11:00AM: Break

  Break

• 11:00AM – 12:00PM: Procurement & Buyer Panel

  Hear directly from government and institutional buyers about procurement opportunities, what they look for in vendors, and how small businesses can better position themselves to compete for contracts.

  Panelists:

  • Marcus Delfin, California Military Department
  • Chad Wright, California Department of General Services (OSB)
  • Rick Duarte, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
  • Jeremy Meadows, UC Riverside
  • Elizabeth Lesniak, California Dept of Forestry and Fire Protection
  • Amanda Vazquez, Riverside Community College District
• 12:00PM – 1:00PM: Luncheon Keynote

  Hear from Julie Santana-Padilla of the Department of the Navy Office of Small Business Programs on opportunities for small businesses to engage with the Navy and federal contracting ecosystem.

  Speaker:

  • Julie Santana-Padilla, NAVSEA Warfare Centers, Small Business Professional, Department of Navy Office of Small Business Programs
• 1:00PM – 3:00PM: Open Networking Session

  Build connections with buyers, prime contractors, strategic partners, and resource organizations that can help open doors to new contracting and business opportunities.

• 3:00PM – 3:15PM: Closing Remarks

  Reflect on key takeaways from SBIR/STTR Con 2026 and the connections, resources, and opportunities available to help move your business forward.

• 3:15PM – 4:00PM: IE APEX 30th Anniversary Celebration & Networking Reception

  Celebrate 30 years of IE APEX supporting small businesses while connecting with partners, clients, and members of the region’s contracting and entrepreneurial ecosystem.