The UCR EPIC team of Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EIRs) are senior business leaders that want to give back to the community and help build a strong and resilient local economy.
The EIRs at UCR EPIC are experts in business formation and development who have been successful entrepreneurs or seasoned executives from large corporations with experience in an entrepreneurial setting. Most EIRs have either founded a company or joined a startup early on. Our EIRs offer entrepreneurs valuable industry connections and expertise in the areas of agriculture, biotech, clean energy, water, medicine, transportation, entertainment, IT, and sustainability among others.
EIRs work with UCR and community entrepreneurs through the EPIC SBDC to provide mentorship and guidance to develop and grow their business as well as prepare to seek investment. EIRs also mentor participants in the I-Corps entrepreneurship workshop taught quarterly on campus.
We always welcome new EIRs and Mentors into our programs. To learn more about becoming an EIR or a Mentor contact Martin Kleckner.
CEO-in-Residence
OTP implemented a new “CEO-in-Residence” program with the goal to review the portfolio of UCR technology, selecting those with the greatest commercial potential and accelerate their path to market.
Mr. Brynley Lee, the initial CEO-in-Residence, identified Professor Masaru Rao’s research as the leading candidate for 2 reasons: 1) the potential of its innovative SoloPore™ cellular engineering technology to transform the growing field of cell therapy, 2) the strong engagement of the entrepreneurial scientific founder from UCR’s Biomedical Microdevices Laboratory. Following customer research with potential users of the technology and discussions with venture capital providers, including UCR’s Highlander Venture Fund, Brynley joined Basilard BioTech as its founding CEO, incorporated the company, and negotiated a license from UCR to secure Dr. Rao’s technology for Basilard’s development.
Contact
Martin Kleckner
Interim Director, EPIC SBDC
Entrepreneurship and Innovation
619-892-2562
martin.kleckner@ucr.edu
Our EIR Team
Jay Gilberg
Entrepreneur-in-Residence
Ken Gruys
Entrepreneur-in-Residence
David Pearson
Entrepreneur-in-Residence
Ramachandran Rajagopalan
Francis Reyes
Entrepreneur-in-Residence
Your Entrepreneur-in-Residence Liaison
Martin Kleckner
Interim Director, EPIC SBDC 619-892-2565
Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Martin has 28 years experience in operations and business development in life sciences, healthcare, oil & gas, and cable television. He has advised over 115 emerging and Fortune 100 companies with corporate planning and strategy, commercialization and public policy throughout Europe, Asia & the Americas. He participated as founder or early-stage employee in five venture start-ups with two successful exits. He was a co-founder/Senior Vice President of RefluxMD.com, a Health 2.0 Internet company specializing in gastroesophageal reflux disease and Senior Advisor to Respiratory Technology Corporation (ResTech). He was co-founder of U P Laboratories in San Diego. Earlier he was an investor and lead business development for RegeneMed, a company creating three dimensional (3D) engineered liver tissue for use in drug discovery research; co-founder and Chief Business Officer for Salvino-Flex LLC wherein he managed the research and development of a chest tube insertion device, ultimately selling the company. He was also Director of Development for Science & Engineering Associates for the commercialization of a companion diagnostic technology for cervical, ovarian and oral/pharyngeal cancers and SpyFinder, a hidden camera locator (used in a 2004 episode of CSI Miami). He has also provided commercialization advisory support and grant proposal review for the National Institutes of Health, Drexel Foundation, and Coulter Foundation. He received his PhD and MA in Public Policy from the University of California and MBA at the UCLA Anderson School.