SiLi-ion Makes the Quarterfinals of San Diego Angel Conference (SDAC)

Congrats to Mark R. Hatch, DBA, MBA and Lorenzo Mangolini from SiLi-ion Inc. on making it to the Quarterfinals of the San Diego Angel Conference V. SiLi-ion is a University of California, Riverside labs spinout that produces additives that enable immediate improvement in Lithium-ion battery performance. Another one of the impressive Climate Tech startups coming out of UCR, Riverside, and Inland Southern California.

https://www.thesdangels.com/san-diego-angel-conference-v-announces-quarterfinalists/

Edge Sound Research featured in Billboard Magazine’s Best Innovation of CES 2023

Edge Sound Research’s award-winning ResonX was featured in Billboard Magazine’s Best Innovation of CES 2023 as the “Best Venue Audio Innovation.” Congrats to Founders Valtteri Salomaki and Ethan Castro and the ESR team. 
ESR has invented a new kind of experiential sound in the labs at University of California, Riverside for pro sports stadiums, music, and gaming.

https://www.billboard.com/lists/ces-2023-best-products-billboard/best-venue-audio-innovation-edge-sound-resonx/

Edge Sound Research’s award-winning ResonX was featured in Billboard Magazine's Best Innovation of CES 2023 as the "Best Venue Audio Innovation."

Ag robotics startup Pharm Robotics starting to scale

Another day with another of our amazing Agtech startups from Riverside County making things happen on the national stage as they start to scale. If you are an Agtech Angel investor or Seed Stage VC get in touch with me, you should meet the team from Pharm Robotics.


Elevator pitch:
We are revolutionizing the inoculation process for dairy and beef cows with robotics. The automated system administers and records when vital pharmaceuticals are given. We send this info to the cloud, where farmers with real-time data can make informed decisions pertaining to herd health and labor usage. This leads to an increase in immunization/pregnancy rates, reduced labor/replacement costs, and better milk quality.

UC Riverside startups at Born in California

I’m looking forward to seeing 5 of the startups we mentor at UCR’s Office of Technology Partnerships pitching investors for their Seed and Series A rounds at the Born in California event today at The Cove in Irvine. Thanks to UC Irvine and Joseph Hensley from U.S. Bank for putting on and sponsoring this amazing event.
Investors – check out Basilard Biotech, Apsidal, Edge Sound Research, FarmSense, Sensorygen and GattaCo. If you need pitch decks or more info, please get in touch.

Riverside Angel Summit announces 11 Semi-Finalists

Congrats to our 11 Riverside Angel Summit Semi-Finalists. Together we can build a strong local ecosystem in Riverside and the larger Inland Empire region where innovation and entrepreneurship can thrive. 

Some really impressive tech startups across Agtech, Cleantech, B2B SaaS and Healthtech. I look forward to seeing who the Citrus Seeds investors choose as the Finalists for Riverside Angel Summit this week.

The Semi-Finalists are:

Edge Sound Research : [Gaming, Consumer Hardware]: Audio experiences have stayed stagnant over the past three decades, while all other forms of content have evolved. It’s time that new innovation in audio moves the industry forward and gets us closer to the experiences we crave. At EDGE Sound Research, our dedication is not only to make existing audio experiences better but also to simultaneously redefine how we experience sound as a whole.

Vinduino : [Agtech, IoT]: Vinduino provides predictive intelligence and control services to help farmers manage their crops better under changing climate conditions.

FarmSense : [Agtech]: FarmSense is poised to revolutionize pest management. Our patented digital FlightSensor platform utilizes autonomous intelligent insect sensors providing real-time species identification and field intelligence mated to a machine earning AI database. This real time data provides solutions for agricultural, vector disease, and animal health applications. Our technology decreases pesticides dependence and increases food security.

MIplus Solar : [Cleantech, Clean Energy]: MIplus Solar Inc. is a start-up, spun-out from the University of California Riverside. MIplus Solar is a group of engineers, communications and business specialists based out of the University of California, Riverside who are developing the MIplus Solar Battery: A technology with the potential to revolutionize solar energy, making it a reliable and affordable energy source for every family and community.

UAV-IQ : [Agtech, Drones]: UAV-IQ, which stands for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Intelligence, is an agricultural technology company that leverages deep experience in large-scale drone operations and precision agriculture to develop and scale solutions for growers. UAV-IQ now stands poised to scale a groundbreaking new service of drone-based biological control which releases beneficial insects to control pest populations as an effective alternative to pesticides.

Clearpol : [Healthtech, B2B SaaS]: Healthcare compliance made simple.

SiLi-ion : [Cleantech, Battery]: SiLi-ion is perfecting a patented silicon carbon-shell nanoparticle powder additive that will enable immediate improvements to lithium-ion batteries. Our customers will be Li-ion battery manufacturers, allowing them to expand their product lines to include a high energy density segment without the need to change their current equipment or processes. This approach leverages the existing manufacturing base, applications, and sales channels.

GattaCo : [Med Device]: GattaCo developed a revolutionary new technologies that enabled clinical quality blood/plasma sampling at patients’ homes and decentralized testing. GattaCo is initially pursuing a B2B business model that will allow us to enable dozens of new products by integrating patented Cap-Reset™ material with partners’ diagnostic tests. We generate revenue through sales of A-PON™ Kits and pipeline products to multiple 3rd party labs supporting DTC services, and through funded development projects leading to licensing fees and royalties. GattaCo may pursue B2C opportunities at a later stage of growth.

Pharm Robotics : [Agtech, Robotics]: We are revolutionizing the inoculation process for dairy and beef cows with robotics. The automated system administers and records when vital pharmaceuticals are given. We send this info to the cloud, where farmers with real-time data can make informed decisions pertaining to herd health and labor usage. Leading to an increase in immunization/pregnancy rates, reduced labor/replacement costs, and better milk quality.

Pulse360 : [Fintech, B2B SaaS]: Financial advisors use a hodge-podge of tech/processes to capture their meeting notes & convert that to follow-up with their clients – wasting 50-minutes for every 1 meeting. With our software, advisors are already saving over 50% of the time and gives them the capacity to grow. By integrating with industry CRMs, we are tapping into their user base. We have already proven this channel works. We are excited to transform wealth management.

Swellter : [Healthtech, B2B SaaS]: Swellter is a platform as a service providing licensing opportunities to pharmaceutical companies and diagnostic laboratories for delivering educational content, via mobile and web enabled applications, to physicians and patients. Today, industry struggles to get in front of patients and physicians. Swellter augments the sales and educational teams by providing targeted and disease specific information at the point of care and beyond.

Riverside Angel Summit announces 11 Semi-Finalists
Riverside Angel Summit 11 Semi-Finalists

A strong year ahead for Riverside tech startups

I am bullish on 2021 for the Riverside tech startups we are bringing out of the labs at University of California, Riverside as well as the community startups we mentor in Riverside, Inland Empire and the larger SoCal region. One of the startups I have mentored for 2 years just raised a million dollar round (for a total of $1.75M raised). We have 6 other amazing Riverside tech startups raising capital right now. New high paying jobs are being created by these Founders. 

2021 to be a banner year for the Riverside tech startups we are bringing out of the labs at UC Riverside.
Shailendra Singh, left, and Eamonn Keogh are the co-founders of FarmSense, a UC Riverside-based tech startup that aims to help farmers target pests more effectively. (Courtesy FarmSense)

The Riverside region is becoming known for AgtechCleantech, Logistics tech and Life Sciences innovation.

Angel investors and VCs – get in touch with me for high quality, vetted deal flow.