The ASCEND Business Advising Cohort was a valuable experience for my company. I received great feedback and advice on my pitch, which was very timely as it prepared me for the Alaska Angel Conference final event where I won the people’s choice award. I am also grateful for the opportunity to attend the BIO Digital conference, where I made several new connections for future prototyping and collaborative grant applications.
Bahareh Barati, PhD Barati Medical, LLC
University of Alaska Fairbanks
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
[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
The Ascend 2.0 Program 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 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
ASCEND FOOTPRINT
ASCEND SUPPORT
In order to receive technology review, business advising, technology development, and mentoring services through Ascend2.0 Program please fill out the application form at the link below. For more information on the resources and services offered by Ascend2.0 Program refer to the Program Resources tab. Ascend2.0 Program is only able to consider submissions from those located in the Hub's district -- Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, and Wyoming.
