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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.

Your Entrepreneur-in-Residence Liaison

Martin Kleckner                       

Director, EPIC SBDC
Entrepreneurship & Innovation

619-892-2565
martin.kleckner@ucr.edu

Mr. Kleckner 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. Mr. Kleckner has been instrumental in supporting faculty and small businesses submit winning SBIR/STTR proposals through the EPIC SBDC SBIR/STTR Resource Center.

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Our EIR Team

Isabelle Bart

Isabelle Bart

Entrepreneur-in-Residence
EPIC
Scott Brovsky

Scott Brovsky

Entrepreneur in Residence
SBDC
Nicole Cleary

Nicole Cleary

Entrepreneur in Residence
Technology Partnerships
Scott Eliasof

Scott Eliasof

Entrepreneur-in-Residence
EPIC
Shomit

Shomit Ghose

Entrepreneur-in-Residence
EPIC
Jay Gilberg

Jay Gilberg

Lead I-Corps Instructor
Entrepreneur-in-Residence
EPIC
Eric Gosink

Eric Gosink

Entrepreneur-in-Residence
EPIC
Ken Gruys

Ken Gruys

Sr. Advisor
Entrepreneur-in-Residence
Corporate and Strategic Partnerships
Jay Kadowaki

Jay Kadowaki

Entrepreneur-in-Residence
EPIC
Doug Kollmyer

Doug Kollmyer

Entrepreneur-in-Residence
EPIC
Michael Lombardo

Michael Lombardo

Entrepreneur-in-Residence
EPIC
Kevin Meredith

Kevin Meredith

Entrepreneur-in-Residence
EPIC
Ram Rajagopalan

Ramachandran Rajagopalan

Entrepreneur-in-Residence
EPIC
Frank Rexach

Frank Rexach

Entrepreneur-in-Residence
EPIC
Francis Reyes

Francis Reyes

Blackstone LaunchPad
Entrepreneur-in-Residence
EPIC
Art Salyer

Art Salyer

Entrepreneur-in-Residence
EPIC
Steve Sharp

Steve Sharp

Entrepreneur-in-Residence
EPIC
John Shearer

John Shearer

Entrepreneur-in-Residence
EPIC
Philip Topham

Philip Topham

Entrepreneur-in-Residence
EPIC
Bill Waldo

BIll Waldo

Entrepreneur-in-Residence
EPIC
Tariq Warsi

Tariq Warsi

Entrepreneur-in-Residence
EPIC
Galen Williams

Galen Williams

Entrepreneur-in-Residence
EPIC