OCTANe connects people and ideas with capital and resources to fuel technology industry growth in Orange County.

Firsty is heading to Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 2nd! Bring your friends & family and enjoy a great baseball game against the Mariners.

Agenda

5:00 - 6:30 p.m.:

Meet at The Catch for hosted appetizers, networking, and Angels game ticket pick-up if you purchased them in advance. (This part of the evening is free to attend)

The Catch is located at 2100 E. Katella Ave. Suite 104, Anaheim 92806.

6:30 p.m.:

Walk over to Angel Stadium for the baseball game

7:05 p.m.:

Angels game begins

Angels Game Tickets are only $30/each, and you'll receive the following:

- 1 Admission ticket to the baseball game. We'll be sitting as a group in the "Field Preferred" 

- 1 voucher for a ballpark hot dog & soda

= $50 value

This is a great opportunity to rally the OCTANe community and support our local Angels! Please purchase tickets in advance as they may sell-out.

About Firsty:

Firsty is an OCTANe Program that focuses on networking and relationship building. It brings together the Orange County technology ecosystem, consisting of executive leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, venture capitalists, academicians, and strategic advisors.

OCTANe connects people and ideas with capital and resources to fuel technology industry growth in Orange County.

A focus on innovation is critical to any medical device business.  Over the past few years, the Neurovascular business of Covidien has experienced significant growth.  A significant part of that growth is due to the ability to identify, develop, and launch innovative products.  Leaders from the Neurovascular business will share insights and strategies on how they successfully identified and commercialized new early-stage treatments, and put internal programs in place to create a culture conducive to innovation.

Speaker bios coming soon!

Light refreshments and appetizers will be provided.

OCTANe connects people and ideas with capital and resources to fuel technology industry growth in Orange County.

     
Octane has teamed with M2Catalyst to create the first annual OCMobile Conference. M2Catalyst is a Mobile App development and global distribution company and they will bring key industry expert speakers to the conference to help generate discussion and debate on the future of the mobile markets.   This half-day program will bring together developers, startups, corporate executives, and investors to examine all aspects of the mobile ecosystem. Keynote address and panels will focus on these topics:Mobile Growth Trends, Global Mobile, Mobile Payments and Commerce, Mobile Success Stories and Mobile Industry Growth – Silicon Valley and Southern California.

Session 1: 2020 Vision- Mobile Growth Trends I Market Research
We are seeking to uncover the latest trends in mobile.  Which types of applications are most popular? What cuttlng-edge technologies are being incorporated to enhance the user's experience? How are applications being leveraged by marketing and entertainment companies to create brand engagement? How are applications being used In the enterprise field to boost productivity?
     
Session 2: Global Mobile- Translation versus Localization
How should mobile software companies think about going global and implementing an international strategy?  Is there a difference In the way apps are conceived, developed and marketed in each type of market?   When is the right time to localize a successful domestic app? What are some of the pitfalls to avoid when trying to market an app Internationally, and who should you be partnering with for distribution? What cultural educational and financial differences affect the way in which apps are adopted?

Session 3: Mobile Payments - Now and Future
Is ISIS the answer?  Where are we at today? Where are we heading? Is NFC a viable option? The strategy of Google, Square, Apple, Visa and Paypal are examined. Who will eventually win? And more importantly, who should you bet on with your apps.
 
Session 4: Mobile Success Stories:  Rapid Development, Disrupt and Exit.
 
Session 5: Mobile Growth in Silicon Valley versus Southern California
A quick comparison of the investment, jobs created and ROI from Mobile.  A review of local resources for mobile software entrepreneurs in Southern California.

Speaker bios added soon

OCTANe connects people and ideas with capital and resources to fuel technology industry growth in Orange County.

Join the OCTANe community for a fun night of networking and bowling.                

About Firsty -  

OCTANe connects people and ideas with capital and resources to fuel technology industry growth in Orange County.

A panel of experts will discuss the concept of “freedom to operate” in the context of evaluating and mitigating third party patent infringement risk. The discussion will focus on startup companies, and the topics will include:

·       How to analyze the third party patent landscape

·       How to set an appropriate budget based on the company’s objectives and milestones

·       Understanding the impact of litigation on the company

·       What to do if the company is sued

Speaker Bios coming soon!

Lunch will be provided. 

OCTANe connects people and ideas with capital and resources to fuel technology industry growth in Orange County.

Whether you’re a MedTech industry professional, entrepreneur, or investor, you won’t want to miss this revealing panel discussion populated by a cross-section of prominent physicians, interventionalists, surgeons, and administrators. You’ll gain valuable insights into:

    •    Technology acquisition and reimbursement issues
    •    The role of product demos
    •    Purchasing policies, practices, and priorities
    •    Advertising and marketing that’s getting noticed  

You’ll also benefit from an in-depth question-and-answer session. And much more.

In weeks to come, you’ll even receive email updates regarding the latest additions to our distinguished panel of industry experts. So don’t miss out. Please reserve a seat today at Eventbrite.

And don’t be surprised if you find yourself sitting next to some of your best customers. And competitors.

OCTANe connects people and ideas with capital and resources to fuel technology industry growth in Orange County.

Join the OCTANe community for Firsty in February at Mesa Restaurant in Costa Mesa. Located in the hip, non traditional shopping center The Camp, Mesa is a unique lounge offering fresh American food and  exquisite cocktails.

5 other great reasons why you should attend:

1) Expand your network 

2) Meet and greet over 200 business executives

3) Discuss innovation and entrepreneurship in OC

4) Access the best technical talent in Southern California

5) Because Mesa has a retractable roof!

About Firsty -  

 As always, enjoy some light appetizers and happy hour priced cocktails.

OCTANe connects people and ideas with capital and resources to fuel technology industry growth in Orange County.

If you're an entrepreneur looking to get funding or an investor looking to make your next big deal, come to the LaunchPad Open House to learn more about how we can help you. We will take a deep dive into the highly tested and effective LaunchPad process as well as open up the floor to Q&A.

TechSpace will also be giving tours of their office space and are extending reduced rates to the OCTANe network for a limited time.

Agenda: If you would like more information please contact Marek Mandau at marek@octaneoc.org

There will be 3 different sessions you can attend. Each session will include a LaunchPad Overview and a TechSpace tour. Please register for one of the below times:

2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

3:00 - 4:00 p.m.

4:00 - 5:00 p.m.

About LaunchPad

LaunchPad is OCTANe’s hand’s-on, pro-bono accelerator for start-up companies in the technology, life science, and clean tech industries. LaunchPad helps entrepreneurs turn ideas into successful businesses. OCTANe’s goal is to help new companies get started, help start-ups get funded, help funded companies grow, and help growing companies get to liquidity exits, and create new jobs. LaunchPad is one of the ways we get that done. With LaunchPad’s help, over 40 companies have raised more than $80 million in Seed and Series A investments. www.octaneoc.org/launchpad

About TechSpace Costa Mesa

TechSpace delivers flexible, on-demand, “alternative office space”, integrated technology and business services that give today’s small- to mid-sized businesses a powerful platform from which to operate. With multiple facilities across the United States, TechSpace serves both onsite and virtual clients with an innovative business solution that provides everything from advanced voice and data telecommunications and Tier 1 IT infrastructure to workstation furniture, mail room services, reception services and office supplies. Smartly designed modular workspace floor plans and innovative, modular office suites, combined with flexible, low-commitment agreements allow room for growth or downsizing as necessary without the high cost of moving. This formula preserves capital, keeps overhead to a minimum, and frees up companies to focus on their core competencies while more effectively managing their businesses. www.techspace.com

The LaunchPad SBDC hosted by OCTANe is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration and California State University Fullerton and extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. SBA and California State University Fullerton cannot endorse any products, opinions, or services of any external parties or activities.

OCTANe connects people and ideas with capital and resources to fuel technology industry growth in Orange County.

On Premise? Outsourced? Dedicated? Cloud? Harness the Power of “Hybrid” for a True “All-of-the-Above” Approach to IT Infrastructure

With so much focus on—and hype around—the cloud, we seem to have forgotten that for most businesses IT infrastructure remains a mix of on-premise, outsourced, physical and virtual components that must be optimized into a seamless hybrid environment. In this session we’ll look at how CIOs and CTOs are allocating workloads, applications and data across a diverse infrastructure today—using every tool in their arsenal in an effort to maximize legacy assets, optimize limited IT budgets and leverage technology advancements to make their business more effective and responsive.

We’ll examine how the role of the CIO and CTO has evolved and unpack the pitfalls, opportunities and imperatives for tomorrow. We’ll also look hard at the cloud—specifically the emergence of “cloud, your way” as a realistic, right-sized enhancement to existing IT environments—as opposed to the “rip and replace”,  complete cloud convergence that has been discussed for years.

Speaker Bios coming soon...

OCTANe connects people and ideas with capital and resources to fuel technology industry growth in Orange County.

It seems that realism, rather than optimism, is the shared sentiment of many VCs in today's economy. At this program, Southern California investors will recap the major events of 2012 and discuss the venture capital market and the factors that will shape the 2013 landscape.

The program will also feature a PriceWaterhouseCoopers MoneyTree report.

Peter Lee - Partner, Baroda Ventures
Peter Lee is a Partner at Baroda Ventures and actively manages Baroda's new investments and current portfolio. Previously, he was an investor at Clearstone Ventures and Prism Ventures.Prior to entering venture capital, he was the Vice President of Operations and Product Management at Goldpocket (acquired by Ericsson), a startup developing a platform for creating, distributing and managing interactive TV digital media systems. Earlier, Peter was a manager with McKinsey, where he focused on the digital media, consumer electronics, and internet industries. He also worked as a product manager at Microsoft in their wireless device group as well as at Virtual Ink (acquired by Dymo Corp), a venture-backed startup in the consumer electronics and collaborative online meeting space.

Eric Manlunas - Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Siemer Ventures
Eric Manlunas is a co-Founder and Managing Partner of Siemer Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm headquartered in Los Angeles. Eric co-founded Siemer Ventures in 2011 following its merger with Frontera Group, a prior early-stage boutique venture capital firm he founded in 2002. He is a two-time start-up entrepreneur turned venture capitalist who has a proven track record as an early investor in over 75 early-stage businesses. Prior to becoming a venture capitalist, Eric founded two start-ups, one in e-Commerce in 1996 and the other in Internet services in 1999, both of which were successfully built and eventually sold to strategic buyers. Eric began his career as a consulting associate with Arthur Andersen’s retail management consulting division from 1991-1995. He earned an MBA from Pepperdine University in 1995 and an undergraduate degree in Communications from Florida International University in 1990. Eric is also involved with a number of philanthropic organizations and is currently a Senior Fellow for Entrepreneurship for Pepperdine University.

John Ryan - Partner, ONSET Ventures

Nimesh Shah - Principal, Domain Associates
Mr. Shah joined Domain in 2006 and became a Principal in 2008. He serves as a co-founder and on the board of Zyga Technology, on the boards of Apnex Medical, Benvenue Medical, Foundry Newco XII, Miramar Labs, and Sequent Medical, and as an observer at NeuroPace, ReVision Optics and Tandem Diabetes Care. He had previously been involved as an observer with REVA Medical and Zogenix, both of which completed successful public offerings. From 2002 to 2006, Mr. Shah was a part of the investment team at venture firm Cutlass Capital where he was involved with that firm’s investments in Apneon, GI Dynamics, Titan Health, and TranS1. From 1998 to 2002, Mr. Shah worked at Alex. Brown & Sons (now Deutsche Bank) serving as a member of the medical device equity research team. He covered the full spectrum of the medical device industry, with a particular emphasis on the cardiovascular, orthopedics/spine, and respiratory segments of the market. While in school, Mr. Shah worked supporting the investment team at Alex. Brown Capital Advisory & Trust. He also spent time at Johns Hopkins Hospital involved in a project that aimed to map the functional areas of the brain.

Jack Young - Director, Qualcomm Life Fund
Jack heads up the $100M Qualcomm Life Fund (QLF) at Qualcomm Ventures. His investment interest is focused on the emerging wireless health space including wellness and fitness, chronic disease care, remote diagnosis and monitoring, healing and aging in place, health informatics, etc. Jack currently serves as a board observer at QLF portfolio companies including Airstrip, AliveCor and Telcare. In addition, he serves as a board observer at Jana, uCIRRUS, Validity and Visage Mobile.

Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres will be served.

Networking Opportunities: OCTANe programs provide some of the best networking opportunities available in Southern California. Attendees include entrepreneurs, researchers, inventors, investors, corporate executives, and strategic service providers. 

OCTANe connects people and ideas with capital and resources to fuel technology industry growth in Orange County.

"You never get a second chance to make a first impression". Your resume should give a powerful message about you and your experience. Devon & Devon will be hosting a "Lunch and Learn" program to assist you in building a resume that will grab the attention of your future employer. Come join us as we discuss tips and tricks to help you secure your next interview.

Bring your resume for a one on one consultation.

Karen Lustman, Director, Business Development, Devon & Devon

Karen joined Devon & Devon in September of 2004—bringing with her over 25 years of staffing industry experience. As Director of Business Development and a visionary at heart, Karen has always been interested in working with start up companies. Her experience with these new businesses has allowed her the opportunity to participate as a staffing resource in the growth and development of many of Orange County’s top employers.

As a staffing professional, Karen is committed to helping her clients reach their goals by finding the “perfect match”. Karen makes it her responsibility to fully understand the needs of her clients. Each hire is predicated not only by the skills and experience necessary to do the job, but a careful assessment of the profile, vision and mission of the company to ensure a symbiotic fit between the two.   

As a Gold Level Sponsor of OCTANe, it is Karen’s belief that being a contributing member is essential to build a solid network of associates and businesses that will allow all of us to grow and prosper in Orange County. You can meet Karen and her team of award-winning recruiters at any of the OCTANe functions.

Karen enjoys showing her Champion Keeshonds, traveling to “any” beach with her husband, and writing. She is the author of “What’s Working” and “The Job Mob Blog.”

Lunch will be provided.

OCTANe connects people and ideas with capital and resources to fuel technology industry growth in Orange County.

Orange County's top CES Recap program.

The 2013 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is held in Las Vegas, Nevada, January 8-11, 2013.

The International CES is owned and produced by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and is the largest consumer technology trade show in the world. The 2013 International CES featured more than 2,700 exhibitors across the 1.7 million net square feet of exhibit space.

With this many exhibitors, products, and attendees, it was almost impossible to see it all. That is where OCTANe and CEA can help. The 2013 International CES Recap presented by OCTANe will give you the opportunity to hear and discuss the trends, topics, hot products, and latest news that was announced at the International CES. Whether you attended CES or not, you will find this fun and intereractive program a great way to pull it all together and stay ahead of the tech news of 2013.  

Ken Lowe - Vice President and Co-Founder, VIZIO Inc.
VIZIO Inc. is a leading Consumer Electronics company in Flat Panel HDTVs, Surround Sound Bars and BluRay players. With 40 years of experience in television and monitor design, Mr. Lowe has a proven record of developing innovative, cost effective designs to meet consumer requirements. His passion for picture quality in lower energy sustainable designs has earned him the reputation as an industry leader. Prior to founding VIZIO Inc., a leading Consumer Electronics company in Flat Panel HDTVs, Surround Sound Bars and BluRay players, he held key management and design positions with Princeton Graphic Systems and MAG Innovision in the USA, Philips and Electrohome in Canada, Philips Television and Decca Radio & TV in the UK. A member of the Video Board Division and the Board of Industry Leaders in the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), the Board of the Washington Materials Management and Financial Authority (e-Recycling), the Advisory Board of the California Plug Load Research Center (CalPlug) initiative of Calit2 at the University of California Irvine (UCI), Mr. Lowe holds a bachelor’s degree in Electronic Engineering from Middlesex University, London, England, and is a member of the Institution of Engineering Technology (IET), Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

Jon Rettinger - President, TechnoBuffalo
Jon Rettinger is a regular face in the tech world, as a commentator on CNBC and Fox Business, as well as a contributing writer to Wireless Week. As President of TechnoBuffalo, he brings consumer electronic news to over 15 million viewers per month.  He ranks in the top 5% globally in social media influence, and was one of OC Metro’s top 40 under 40 for 2010.  Jon brings a business oriented approach to TechnoBuffalo, having earned his MBA from the University of California at Irvine.

George Stepancich – Executive Board and Industry Board of Leaders of Consumer Electronics Association; CEO of Invisionate. 
George Stepancich is the CEO of Invisionate, LLC a Sourcing Advisory Consulting Company located in Dana Point, CA. Previously, he ran GoldLantern, LLC, and a Consumer Electronics Company and was the chief architect of vision and strategy for a start up venture funded by Goldman Sachs. Prior to that Stepancich was Director of Business Development for the Telecom division of Siemens AG that generated $2 billion in sales. Mr. Stepancich joined Siemens from NETCOM an Internet Service Provider which was acquired for $256 million. Before that he developed and directed GTE’s Internet Services strategy and served as Associate Director of Telecommunications for the University of California at San Diego. Mr. Stepancich received a BA degree in Business from Cal State Long Beach and attended courses from faculty and staff associated with Harvard, MIT, Stanford, and Yale. Mr. Stepancich is presently serving on the CEA Consumer Electronics Association Accessory Board, Wireless Division Board, CEA Executive Board, and Industry Board of Leaders. 

Moderator, Luis Vasquez - VP Entrepreneurship at OCTANe
Luis is responsible for OCTANe’s LaunchPad initiative. In this role, he brings together OCTANe’s resources and network to evaluate, mentor, and guide entrepreneurs and start-up companies. He has worked with over 700 companies and developed a network of over 800 people who are eager to provide resources to help LaunchPad companies achieve success. Prior to joining OCTANe, Luis was the CEO of a start-up nanotechnology sensor company created to commercialize technology developed at Caltech. He also has extensive experience in sales development, marketing, and operations in the defense, industrial, and energy markets. Luis has a BS from UC Riverside and an MBA from UC Irvine. 

Denise Yohn - President, Denise Lee Yohn, Inc.
Ms. Yohn has been inspiring and teaching companies how to operationalize their brands to grow their businesses for over 20 years.  World-class brands and leading CE, health, and fitness companies including Sony, Denon, ANT+, New Balance, and Road Runner Sports have called on Denise, an established speaker, author, and consulting partner.

Additional speakers coming soon...

OCTANe connects people and ideas with capital and resources to fuel technology industry growth in Orange County.

Join the OCTANe community for our biggest Firsty of year! Bring a coworker or friend and start the new year off right by making new connections at the Island Hotel in Newport Beach. We will also be raffling off great prizes from the hottest restaurants and venues in town! Be sure to sign up today.          

About Firsty -  

OCTANe connects people and ideas with capital and resources to fuel technology industry growth in Orange County.

VC in the OC showcases the best of Orange County innovation. From investment presentations to keynote speakers to industry discussions, this is OC's premier venture capital conference.

OCTANe connects people and ideas with capital and resources to fuel technology growth in Orange County. Each year, OCTANe hosts two Signature Events to showcase and promote innovation in Orange County. These conferences attract nearly 2,000 people, and are designed to provide the latest industry trends, spotlight high-growth companies, and facilitate powerful networking connections.

For information and details, please visit www.vcintheoc2013.com

OCTANe connects people and ideas with capital and resources to fuel technology industry growth in Orange County.

Join the OCTANe community and the CHI network at Tommy Bahamas in Newport Beach for Firsty on Firsty 7. Network with over 200 people and meet members of the organization that focuses on fueling innovation in the OC and the organization that is devoted to advancing biomedical research and innovation.

About Firsty -  

About CHI -

CHI represents more than 275 leading biotechnology, medical device, diagnostics, and pharmaceutical companies, and public and private academic biomedical research organizations, and the legal, accounting, consulting and financial service organizations that support them. CHI’s mission is to advance responsible public policies that foster medical innovation and promote scientific discovery. CHI’s website is www.chi.org. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. 

OCTANe connects people and ideas with capital and resources to fuel technology industry growth in Orange County.

The Affordable Care Act is the law of the land and will impact virtually all companies.

The federal government has recently released major regulations and is moving full speed ahead with implementation of the law. It is imperative that companies do the same. Executives in tax, human resources, information technology, and finance need to become familiar with the impending deadlines and develop a comprehensive strategy for addressing key provisions of the law. The Act will affect companies’ benefit designs, workforce composition, reporting systems, tax administration, and bottom line. Failure to understand an employer’s obligations under the Affordable Care Act could result in fines, unforeseen tax liabilities, and reputational risk.

In this presentation, we will present an overview of the Affordable Care Act, including a discussion of the major employer requirements, key effective dates, and what companies need to know in the short- and long-term.

Short You-tube video: Highlights of the Affordable Care Act

Speakers:

Juliette Meunier - Partner, Ernst & Young

Juliette has 19 years of experience in executive compensation and employee benefits, advising clients on regulatory and operational matters under the Internal Revenue Code and ERISA and assisting them with all stages of development – from growth companies to established, mature companies – as it relates to the financial, cost, tax and risk implications of their compensation and benefits programs.

In Juliette’s role as the HR Cost Leader, she regularly advises clients with respect to savings opportunities within the HR Function.  Her experience in the cost management arena includes reviews as they relate to the financial, actuarial and tax perspective, as well as HR processes and benchmarking against best practices.  In addition to her efforts with HR Cost Management, Juliette regularly advises companies in all industries on the employer implications of Healthcare Reform.  In these engagements, Juliette has worked with companies to understand the impact from a financial perspective, as well as assisting them with operational and compliance issues associated with the new legislation.  She is a frequent speaker in the areas of HR Cost Management and Healthcare Reform.

Juliette often works with companies to manage hidden HR risks that are not traditionally addressed and regularly leads HR risk and internal control reviews, while serving as the key interface with client personnel and managing the Ernst & Young professional team.  She advises clients on the design and administration of qualified and non-qualified deferred compensation plans; executive compensation; equity-based incentives; golden parachutes; savings opportunities within the HR function; financial, actuarial and tax reviews and HR processes and benchmarking.

Juliette is a member of the California Society of CPAs, the Ohio Society of CPAs, WorldatWork, the American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and is on the board of the Orange County chapter of the Western Pension & Benefits Conference.

Lunch will be served.

OCTANe connects people and ideas with capital and resources to fuel technology industry growth in Orange County.

OCTANe’s Medical Device & Investor Forum is the leading medtech industry conference in the West. It’s where industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors come together in the nation’s most dynamic medical device environment to see the latest technologies and investment trends. MDIF 2013 will take place October 22 - 23, and you can view the website here: www.MDIF2013.com.

Registration Information:

Early Registration (on or before July 19, 2013)
OCTANe members - $225
General Public - $495
Admission + Annual Membership* - $550

Regular Registration (from July 20 - October 18, 2013 at 5:00 p.m. PST)
OCTANe members - $275
General Public - $550
Admission + Annual Membership* - $590

Late or On-site Registration (after October 18 at 5:00 p.m. PST if venue capacity has not been reached)
OCTANe members - $325
General Public - $620
Admission + Annual Membership* - $645

Cancellation Policy:
Cancellations must be made in writing (mail, fax, or email) by close of business September 30, 2013. After that time, no refunds will be given, however, registrations are transferable to a replacement from your company if they are eligible for the same ticket type.

*Tickets including Annual Membership do not include member-rate admission to MDIF 2014.

OCTANe connects people and ideas with capital and resources to fuel technology industry growth in Orange County.

VC in the OC showcases the best of Orange County innovation. From investment presentations to keynote speakers to industry discussions, this is OC's premier venture capital conference.

OCTANe connects people and ideas with capital and resources to fuel technology growth in Orange County. Each year, OCTANe hosts two Signature Events to showcase and promote innovation in Orange County. These conferences attract nearly 2,000 people, and are designed to provide the latest industry trends, spotlight high-growth companies, and facilitate powerful networking connections.

For information and details, please visit www.vcintheoc2013.com

OCTANe connects people and ideas with capital and resources to fuel technology industry growth in Orange County.

Investments in innovative small businesses are one of the critical aspects of economic development and recovery.  Over the past 3-4 years, Orange County has failed to take advantage of the non-dilutive public funds available for early stage capitalization of new companies and, as such, has not capitalized on an opportunity to develop and support our local high technology ecosystem.

OCTANe and the Henry Samueli School of Engineering (HSSoE) have formed a collaborative partnership in an effort to bring more small business innovation research grants to Orange County and the UCI campus. In addition to HSSoE, UCI participation includes faculty from the Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, and School of Physical Sciences. 

The program will provide a combination of educational sessions and direct coaching and submission support to assist up to six start-up companies to target, create, and submit grant applications for small business innovative research funding and it is expected that a significant number of these will receive this non-dilutive funding.  The funding ultimately is used to build new companies, create jobs, and stimulate the economy.

Greg Washington, Dean of the Henry Samueli School of Engineering, William Tang, Associate Dean for Research and professor of Biomedical Engineering and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and OCTANe, a non-profit organization focused on connecting people and ideas with resources and capital to fuel the high technology ecosystem in Orange County will be coordinating the program.

We will kick off with an introductory seminar on 10 April 2013, quickly followed by a “hands-on” workshop for all interested groups that are considering applying for an SBIR or STTR grant.  The aim is to select up to six companies that match well with the expertise available on campus for direct consulting support in targeted agencies and creating grant submissions for the 2013 grant cycle.

Agenda:

4:00 - 4:30pm  Registration and Networking

4:30 - 5:00       “The importance of SBIR’s to the Innovation Economy and the University of CA, Irvine.

5:00 - 5:20       Overview of SBIR/STTR Process and opportunities to secure research funding and    initial seed.                

5:20 - 5:40       How SBIR Funding has been used to build and commercialize innovative  technologies.

5:40 - 6:00       SBIR Initiative: Process and Next Steps

Matthew Jenusaitis - President & CEO, OCTANe

Matthew Jenusaitis joined as the president and CEO of OCTANe in June 2009. Prior to OCTANE, Matthew spent 15 years at Boston Scientific, where he served in numerous executive marketing and general management positions. Matthew was also an executive in residence for the private equity firm Warburg Pincus. This led to Matthew assuming the role of president of ev3 Neurovascular, one of Warburg’s portfolio companies. Matthew sits on the boards of Avantis Medical in Sunnyvale, California; Creagh Medical in Galway, Ireland; NeuroInterventional Therapeutics in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Pulsar Vascular in San Jose, California. He also sits on the advisory boards of Cornell’s School of Biomedical Engineering, the University of California Bren School of Information and Computer Science, and the Keck Graduate Institute of Applied Life Sciences. Matthew holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, cum laude, from Cornell University, a Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering from Arizona State University, and a Master of Business Administration from University of California, Irvine.

William Tang -  Professor, University California Irvine

William C. Tang received his BS, MS, and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering & Computer Sciences from the University of California at Berkeley in 1980,1982, and 1990, respectively. His seminal thesis work on the electrostatic comb drive has become a crucial building block for many microactuator and microsensor research in the field.

Since his graduation, he continued his contribution to the MEMS field first in the automotive industry as a Research Senior at Ford Research Laboratory in Dearborn, Michigan, and as the Sensor Research Manager at Ford Microelectronics, Inc., in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In 1996, he joined the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, where he was the Supervisor of the MEMS Technology Group, leading the pursuit of MEMS technology for space applications. In July 1999, he assumed the responsibilities as a Program Manager at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. He took over the MEMS and Micro Power Generation programs, and established new programs in Nano Mechanical Array Signal Processors and Chip-Scale Atomic Clock.

Since July 2002, Dr. Tang has been on faculty as a professor with the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of California, Irvine, with a joint appointment at the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Between July 2003 and June 2005 and between July 1 and December 31, 2010, he was the Associate Chair for Undergraduate Education of the Biomedical Engineering Department. From July 2005 to June 2006, and from July 2009 to June 2010, he was appointed Interim and Acting Chair for the Department, respectively. Since March 2008, (except July through December 2010) he has been serving as the Associate Dean for Research in the Henry Samueli School of Engineering.

His current research interests are in micro- and nano-scale technologies for wireless medical implants, micro biomechanics, microfabrication technologies, microactuators and microsensors. He is actively involved in international research and development activities through his roles as member or chair of organizing committees of international technical conferences, and member of scientific advisory committee for research institutes oversea. Including the patent on electrostatic comb-drive actuator, Dr. Tang was awarded five U. S. patents and two patents pending on MEMS designs and technologies. He is the author and co-author for over seventy conference articles, refereed journal papers and book chapters in the MEMS field, and is frequently invited to speak in seminars and workshops. Dr. Tang is a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), a Fellow and Chartered Physicist with the Institute of Physics, a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering.

Dean Gregory Washington - Henry Samueli School of Engineering, UCI

Dean Gregory N. Washington, Ph.D., joined The Henry Samueli School of Engineering in August 2011. Prior to his arrival at UC Irvine, he served as the interim dean for the College of Engineering at The Ohio State University, where he provided visionary leadership, oversight and management for one of the nation’s largest and highest ranked engineering programs. He joined the faculty at OSU in 1995, became the associate dean for research in 2005 and then was appointed interim dean in 2008. As a professor of mechanical engineering, his research is in the design and control of smart material systems, the design and control of hybrid electric vehicles and the design of smart electromagnetic systems.

Washington has been involved in multidomain research for the last 20 years. His core area of interest lies in the area of dynamic systems, with an emphasis on modeling and control of smart material systems and devices. He has been involved in the design and control of mechanically actuated antennas, advanced automotive systems incorporating smart materials, hybrid electric vehicles, and structural position and vibration control with smart materials.

He has conducted research for a host of organizations including the National Science Foundation (NSF), NASA, General Motors Company, the Air Force Research Laboratory and the U.S. Army Research Office; and has served as a member of the U.S. Air Force Scientific Advisory Board, NSF Engineering Advisory Committee, Institute for Defense Analyses and numerous other boards. Washington accumulated a long list of research and teaching awards from OSU, including the Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching, the Harrison Faculty Award for Excellence in Engineering Education and the Lumley Research Award. He also is the recipient of the NSF Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award. Washington holds bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in mechanical engineering from North Carolina State University.

Light appetizers and beverages will be served.

OCTANe connects people and ideas with capital and resources to fuel technology industry growth in Orange County.

Orange County is the single most technology rich epicenter for ophthalmology technology. The purpose of the Orange County Ophthalmology Technology Summit (OCOTS) meeting is to create a local forum where leading ophthalmology technologists, researchers, clinicians, and entrepreneurs can come together to discuss current industry trends, unmet clinical needs, and new business opportunities all to fuel the ophthalmology ecosystem in Orange County, California.

The meeting is sponsored by OCTANe and co-chaired by Dr. Bill Link, Managing Director of Versant Ventures; founder, chairman, and CEO of Chiron Corporation; and the founder and CEO of American Medical Optics (AMO). Our other co-chair is James V. Mazzo, Executive Chair of Acufocus, retired President of AMO. Jim is truly one of the most distinguished ophthalmology executives in Orange County. After 22 years at Allergan, Jim led the spin out of AMO from Allergan and successfully grew the company to more than $1.5 Billion and clear leadership in cataract, eye care, and refractive surgery. Jim is also co-founder of OCTANe, chairman of the UCI Foundation, and a trustee of Chapman University.

The plethora of ophthalmologic technologies that have been born and developed in Orange County by these co-chairs, along with the large group of executives that they have mentored in their respective organizations, is staggering and has shaped the vision world as we know it today.

At the same time, this field remains in a period of explosive technological growth. Huge unmet clinical needs remain and the rate of innovation continues to accelerate. From an entrepreneurial perspective, change brings opportunity.

Lunch and appetizers will be served.