UNM IA IMPACT REPORT 2019-2020

IMPACT REPORT 2019/2020 UNM'S INCUBATOR FOR IDEAS, BUSINESSES, AND PEOPLE

ON THE COVER: Fall 2019 Comcast Pitch Deck Competition Finalists UNM'S INCUBATOR FOR IDEAS, BUSINESSES, AND PEOPLE IMPACT REPORT 2019/2020

TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION: WHO ARE WE?................................................................................................................................. 2 STUDENT SNAPSHOT....................................................................................................................... 3 PROGRAMMING: STUDENT PROGRAMS RAINFOREST PITCH COMPETITION.................................................................................................. 4  COMCAST PITCH DECK COMPETITION .......................................................................................... 6 SHOW UP AND SELL ........................................................................................................................ 7 TECH NAVIGATOR CHALLENGE....................................................................................................... 8 I-CORPS .......................................................................................................................................... 9 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PITCH IN COMPETITION................................................................................................................... 10 PITCH & PUBLIC SPEAKING COACH ............................................................................................... 11 IDEA SPRINT & DESIGN THINKING ................................................................................................... 12 NEW MEXICO SMALL BUSINESS RECOVERY .................................................................................. 13 EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING: IA COURSES ................................................................................................................................... 14 INNOVATION SCHOLARS................................................................................................................. 15 2+1+2 STRATEGIC PATHWAY............................................................................................................ 16 INTERNSHIP ACADEMIC CREDIT....................................................................................................... 17 DISNEY COLLEGE PROGRAM.......................................................................................................... 18 FEATURED STUDENTS STUDENT BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: CLASS BUCKS (TM)...................................................................... 19 STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: ALISSA CHAVEZ............................................................................................ 20 IMPACT REPORT 2019/2020 PAGE 1

MEET THE INNOVATION ACADEMY WHO ARE WE? INNOVATION ACADEMY OFFICE STAFF EXECUTIVE PROGRAM STUDENT SUCCESS STUDENT STUDENT DIRECTOR MANAGER SPECIALIST, SR.  OFFICE ASSISTANT  OFFICE ASSISTANT ROBERT TIFFINI REBECCA NICOLETTE STEPHANIE DELCAMPO PORTER-ARAGON RODRIGUEZ SANCHEZ RESENDIZ PHD MPA  MPA The Innovation Academy shares a mindset with the UNM community that asks, “how do we teach and learn best so that students are prepared for life beyond college?” Based on the Rainforest theory of a bottom- up approach to innovation, the Innovation Academy encourages different people and groups to come together to create. It is a cross-pollinating approach to finding solutions to problems and developing new ideas. It is based on the belief that solutions can be found when people with different backgrounds and skills come together to work on real problems, while also addressing needs from companies and the community. This type of experiential, or hands-on, learning prepares students to be successful in careers and work places in the real world and deepens their core subject knowledge. IMPACT REPORT 2019/2020 PAGE 2

STUDENT SNAPSHOT 1050+ STUDENTS >50% >65% >50% 85 MAJORS FEMALE FIRST STUDENTS REPRESENTED STUDENTS GENERATION OF COLOR COLLEGE STUDENTS 243 PITCH COMPETITION STUDENTS RECEIVED 91% PARTICIPANTS ACADEMIC CREDIT CURRENTLY IN BUSINESS TO START THEIR BUSINESS STUDENT 148 217 73COMPANIES IN IA AFFILIATED FACULTY COURSES OPERATION INVOLVED $404,300 1,250 AWARDED TO STUDENTS BY IA 1,000 ACTUAL IA ENROLLMENT PROJECTED IA ENROLLMENT $1.5M 150 AWARDED TO STUDENTS 750 FROM OUTSIDE INVESTORS 100 500 50 250 00 2015 2016 SPRING FALL 0 20 2 G NIRP 0S 2 0 2 LL AF 91 0 2 G NI RP S 810 2 LL AF 81 0 2 G NIRP S 71 0 2 LL AF 710 2 G NIRP S 61 0 2 LL AF 61 0 2 G NIRP S 51 0 2 LL AF FALL 2016 2017 2017 SPRING SPRING FALL 2018 2018 SPRING FALL 2019 IMPACT REPORT 2019/2020 PAGE 3

BRINGING NEW IDEAS TO LIFE Each semester, in partnership with STC.UNM, the Innovation Academy hosts the Rainforest Pitch Competition at Bow and Arrow Brewing Company in Downtown Albuquerque. Students pitch for a live audience and judges, hoping to earn votes and win seed funding for their business idea.  In Spring 2020, we had to pivot and created the Rainforest Pitch Competition: Social Distancing Edition; and online-only competition designed to be accessible for our students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rainforest Pitch Competition winners have gone on to create legitimate businesses and are continuing to produce revenue streams.  THANK  YOU TO OUR RPC SPONSORS: 91% OF PITCH COMPETITION PARTICIPANTS ARE CURRENTLY IN BUSINESS IMPACT REPORT 2019/2020 PAGE 4

FALL 2019 FINALIST PITCHES AND AWARD PRESENTATIONS SPRING 2020 SCREEN CAPTURES FROM SEVERAL OF OUR FINALISTS' ONLINE PITCHES IMPACT REPORT 2019/2020 PAGE 5

Comcast Pitch Deck Competition In December 2019, we were grateful to partner with Comcast, Nusenda, and STC.UNM to hold the first-ever Comcast Pitch Deck Competition. This event provided a platform for student entrepreneurs who are contemplating, starting, or operating an early stage venture to showcase their innovations and hone their pitching skills in front of investors. Students first submitted a preliminary video with a pitch deck of 15 slides or less. The top five finalists pitched live in front of an audience and judges at the Lobo Rainforest to compete for their share of a $20,000 prize pool! IMPACT REPORT 2019/2020 PAGE 6

SHOW UP & SELL In February of 2020 we hosted our first Show Up & Sell event featuring Innovation Academy alum, and successful entrepreneur, Kyle Guin. Kyle gave students and community members an inside look at the logistics of e-commerce businesses. Kyle built an online storefront from scratch to sales in an hour and helped attendees learn how to create their own. \"I'm grateful for the Innovation Academy's constant support, they have helped me become the entrepreneur I am today. This event was extremely rewarding, I enjoy mentoring students wanting to learn about the world of e-commerce.\" - Kyle Guin IMPACT REPORT 2019/2020 PAGE 7

POSTPONED UNTIL SPRING 2021 DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC FACILITATED BY: TRANSFORM EXISTING TECHNOLOGIES INTO PRODUCTS! This annual team competition is open to all UNM & CNM students. Create a commercialization plan for an existing technology from one of our partners. A background in business is not necessary, your team will be given a mentor for guidance. 3 academic credit hours available for participating! Ask us how! 1st Place: $10,000 2nd Place: $5,000 3rd Place: $3,000 KICKOFF - Postponed until Spring 2021 due to COVID-19 Discover your technology and meet your mentor while enjoying some refreshments. FINALS - Postponed until Spring 2021 due to COVID-19 Pitch to judges, enjoy lunch, and celebrate the winning teams. IMPACT REPORT 2019/2020 PAGE 8

In this program, teams of students, entrepreneurs, and mentors receive funding to develop an idea, and complete extensive customer discovery, in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics area supported by the National Science Foundation. The UNM Lobo Rainforest I-Corps Site recently completed its third year of operation.  It has trained 74 teams over the past three years (two cohorts per year). Overall, the teams have been successful, generating over 30 new businesses, attracting capital from angel investors, VCs, SBIR/STTR funding programs, as well as other university and community resources.   More than 20 of these teams have won prizes in UNM pitch competitions over the past 3 years. The Spring 2020 cohort faced some unique challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program typically consists of in-person training, group meetings, and presentations, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic the program had to take a creative approach to collaboration. Utilizing online tools, teams quickly adapted to virtual teamwork and presentations. Throughout the history of our I-Corps site, 83.8% of our teams have at least one member of an underrepresented minority group. We are also proud of the gender diversity in our cohorts with 55.4% of our teams having at least one female participant. IMPACT REPORT 2019/2020 PAGE 9

PITCH IN NEW MEXICO'S SOCIAL ENTERPRISE CHALLENGE In April of 2020, we partnered with Bernalillo County, Nusenda Credit Union, and Sandia National Labs Center for Collaboration and Commercialization (C3) to host \"Pitch In,\" a pitch competition designed to find innovative ideas to help address the immediate and long-term economic impacts of COVID-19 in New Mexico. This competition provided an opportunity for anyone in the state to pitch their ideas for a chance to win from a prize pool of $10,000, and receive follow-on support from economic development professionals. Participants were asked to submit a 90 second video pitch. We had over 60 entries and were thrilled at the creative and helpful ideas our community developed to help each other during this difficult time. IMPACT REPORT 2019/2020 PAGE 10

PITCH & PUBLIC SPEAKING COACH GAVIN LEACH Innovation Academy graduate student and expert extrovert, Gavin Leach, is our resident pitch and PITCH & PUBLIC SPEAKING COACH public speaking coach. Gavin assists students in IA GRADUATE ASSISTANT perfecting pitches for their entrepreneurial ventures, \"Being a pitch coach for Innovation Academy as well as overall public speaking skills, which are has been one of the best experiences I've transferable to many aspects of their lives. ever had at UNM. I LOVE collaborating with Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Gavin offered open students on their \"passion projects.\" office hours at The Press Room cafe inside the Lobo Innovation Academy allows students to Rainforest three times a week for students and experience the life of an entrepreneur in a community members to stop by and work on their truly nurturing and supportive environment.  presentation skills. Gavin is still assisting students What could be better than to work on and community members via email and through something you love while attending UNM!\" online meeting platforms such as Zoom. - Gavin Leach Finally, Gavin has also taken his coaching to other places in our UNM  community and beyond. He has given presentations on UNM's North Campus, and presented for many classes at UNM. In addition, Gavin helps with multiple high school pitch competitions and has provided pitch support presentations for the Air Force Research Laboratory and Sandia National Labs.  IMPACT REPORT 2019/2020 PAGE 11

IDEA SPRINT The Sandia Idea Sprint, created in partnership with Sandia National Labs Center for Collaboration and Commercialization (C3), provided crucial skills to staff members interested in commercializing science and engineering innovations. Over the online four-week short course offered in June 2020, a core team of commercialization specialists work with participants to model, test, and develop opportunities for exciting new ventures. The program will culminate in a virtual pitch competition. Zoom \"Pitching Your Idea\" presentation by Gavin Leach DESIGN THINKING TRAINING In February 2020, we provided an introductory NANCY LEWIS Design Thinking training and its application to the Kirtland Air Force Base 58 SOW. This training was presented by design thinking pioneer Nancy Lewis. This program was created to help foster the development of commercialization of ideas for AFRL scientists. The goal is to encourage scientists to get out of the lab and into the economic community! IMPACT REPORT 2019/2020 PAGE 12

New Mexico Small Business Recovery Take and Expand your Business Online In partnership with STC.UNM, we offered a special course in spring and summer 2020 to help New Mexico business at this critical time for our state's economic recovery. The UNM online course for the community, New Mexico Small Business Recovery: Take and Expand your Business Online, taught businesses e-commerce techniques including developing storefronts. This course assisted businesses in building or increasing their online presence to offset a decline in retail in-person traffic, as well as grow business beyond New Mexico borders. This course was offered for $17 (the cost to run the program, the UNM Innovation Academy and STC.UNM did not profit from this course). This course was made possible by a grant from the Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration called the NM EDA Rainforest University Center, and was open to anyone in the community and available completely online. \"When the pandemic struck, life came to a standstill. My family was in the middle of opening a restaurant. There were tests to take, and inspections to pass, but we couldn't do a thing. This course was a lifeline. Bill provides you with the best, most comprehensive resources for any kind of entrepreneur to succeed in today's market. While it focuses on building an online presence, it presents underlying principles for marketing in general. I'm so grateful. I loved the flexible structure and that you're rewarded by the amount of work you put into it. Bill and the TAs we're also so helpful and accommodating, imparting guidance specific to your unique business situation, even though they were overseeing so many students. We just received a bill of good health from the city for our restaurant to finally open after months of preparing, and we couldn't be more stoked. Yes, this market is still super scary, but I feel so much more confident in our ability to succeed with the skills and direction offered by this great class.\" - Uphoria Blackham, Tio David's \"This is the best CE course that has intrigued me to dig deep into my business philosophy and to implement the ideas that I have learned to transform my business with a visible online presence. This instructor Professor Bill [Szaroletta] is on top of his game and showing us individually how we can dissect the issues that hinder us and ways to propel us in the right direction.\" - Ralph Constancia, Infinity Digilab IMPACT REPORT 2019/2020 PAGE 13

INNOVATION ACADEMY COURSES Innovation & Japanese Culture Design, Build, Bank! LAIS 309 - Special Topics LAIS 309 - Special Topics Instructors: Tiffini Porter-Aragon & Instructor: Daniel Wolfskehl Rebecca Rodriguez This course is designed to prepare students for Design sprint class where students create an immersive two-week trip through Japan a product/service business idea from scratch to that will showcase the rich Japanese culture pitch in a week time frame. This class is an through a lens of innovation and creativity. Due interactive project-based course. Open to all to the COVID-19 pandemic the study abroad students in any major, including dual enrollment component of this class was postponed until students and graduate students. summer 2021. Innovation Academy - Create, Sell, Bank! Idea Incubator LAIS 342 LAIS 341 Instructor: Bill Szaroletta Instructor: Rebecca Rodriguez In this class, students plan and establish This class encourages students to think like an multiple streams of income from their entrepreneur and solve problems by developing a product/service utilizing e-commerce, business/product/service idea. This class is search engine optimization, and affiliate nontraditional, and is instructed in an independent study marketing techniques. format. The majority of students' time in this course will be dedicated to researching what steps are required to turn their business idea into reality. IMPACT REPORT 2019/2020 PAGE 14

INNOVATION SCHOLARS In Fall 2019 we created the Innovation Scholars designation, which is designed to award students with an academic honor for infusing innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship into their time at UNM.   The Innovation Scholars designation is available for all graduating Innovation Academy students in all academic levels (undergraduate/graduate). There are no specific requirements to earn an Innovation Scholars designation, students are just asked to apply during their last year/semester of their degree program. The application asks students to list which Innovation Academy programs/classes they have participated in, and how they have included innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship in their degree.  Students who are awarded the honor will be given turquoise and black honors cords to proudly display at graduation. DONALD THORNTON IMPACT REPORT FALL 2019 INNOVATION SCHOLAR 2019/2020 PAGE 15

EXPLORE A PATHWAY TO THREE DEGREES IN FIVE YEARS 2+1+2 DEFINED: The UNM Innovation Academy,  in partnership with CNM and UNM, provides an unexpected route to a  graduate degree. The 2+1+2 Program strategically utilizes already established academic programs at two of New Mexico's finest higher education institutions and helps students navigate them in a faster and more affordable way.  Students can transition from an associate degree, through a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts degree, and complete a Master of Business Administration or a Master of Public Administration graduate degree in as little as five years.  100+ ACTIVE STUDENTS PROJECTED SPRING 2021GRADUATION SEMESTER OF FIRST 2+1+2 STUDENT  $40,000 APPROXIMATE SAVINGS FOR 2+1+2 STUDENTS WHEN ELIGIBLE FOR NM LOTTERY SCHOLARSHIP IMPACT REPORT $28,000APPROXIMATE SAVINGS FOR 2+1+2 STUDENTS  2019/2020 PAGE 16

INTERNSHIP ACADEMIC CREDIT HELPING STUDENTS EARN CREDIT FOR ANY INTERNSHIP: PAID OR UNPAID The Innovation Academy Internship Academic Credit Program helps students apply the knowledge they have learned in the classroom and build transferable skills not easily taught in the traditional academic setting. Internships also help students understand the process needed to find a job after graduation. FIND AN INTERNSHIP  FIND AN INTERNSHIP THAT COMPLEMENTS YOUR INTERESTS AND/OR CAREER GOALS AGREEMENT & CLASS COMPLETE IA STUDENT LEARNING AGREEMENT REGISTER FOR LAIS 311 COMPLETE REQUIREMENTS COMPLETE 100 HOURS COMPLETE DELIVERABLES OF WORK IN THE FOR LAIS 311 COURSE BY END SEMESTER OF THE SEMESTER IMPACT REPORT 2019/2020 PAGE 17

DISNEY COLLEGE PROGRAM  PAID INTERNSHIPS AT THE WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT IN FLORIDA OR DISNEYLAND RESORT IN CALIFORNIA LOBOS MAKING MAGIC This year, the Disney College Program (DCP) at UNM has expanded to include even more students and alumni. Students from UNM continue to spend a semester or school year on internships with Disney Parks and Resorts, where they live with students from all over the world, learn hands-on from Disney experts, and earn a paycheck too! Students can earn up to six credit hours for their participation in the program, dependent on the length of internship. They can also earn three hours for completing the iA-DCP Reflective Learning Course taught by our program manager, Tiffini Porter-Aragon, upon their return to UNM. Many of our Disney College Program students have gone on to work for the Walt Disney Company in roles ranging from Entertainment and Merchandising, to Theme Park Management and Imagineering. In addition, the Innovation Academy facilitates a credit program for students from other universities who are unable to earn credit from their home institution. This program offers students a $100 per credit hour tuition rate for up to nine hours of credits. In early March 2020 members of the IA staff were able to visit Disney College Program students at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland. In addition, they also had the opportunity to experience Disney educational offerings at the Disneyland Resort, and meet with the Disney Internships & Programs team on both coasts. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic students were sent home from their programs in late March. We are hopeful that the DCP will be able to start again in Fall 2020. IMPACT REPORT 2019/2020 PAGE 18

STUDENT BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT With the combined passion for learning and innovation, a group of dedicated educators created and formed Class Bucks (TM). Leveraging their collective 70 years of teaching and leadership experience in schools in addition to their diverse background, they have developed a one-of-a-kind web and app-based program that gamifies the learning process for students. With Class Bucks (TM) teachers can increase engagement, reduce distractions, and promote financial literacy skills. These “edupreneurs” met and built meaningful friendships through UNM Anderson’s MBA in Educational Leadership program. They continue to passionately advocate for equity in education and society, while making a positive contribution to New Mexico's economy and communities.  \"The Innovation Academy has played a key role in the preparation of our product launch. The student pitch competitions—as well as the pitch/presentation coaching—helped us to formulate and express our idea effectively while building our confidence, momentum and affirmation. Through the coursework and mentorship of the I-Corps experience, we were able to conduct an extensive market analysis; fine tune our current and projected budget; validate, enhance and add features of/to our product design; and develop our strategic management procedures. Thanks to the Innovation Academy, their continued support and access to valuable resources, Class Bucks (TM) is well-positioned to become a game- changer in education and a benefit to students everywhere.\" - Class Bucks (TM) Team IMPACT REPORT 2019/2020 PAGE 19

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT ALISSA CHAVEZ Alissa Chavez is University of New Mexico student and entrepreneur best known for her product, Hot Seat, an alarm system that prevents children from being accidentally left in a hot car. Alissa started her company, Assila, Alissa’s name backwards (which was inspired by Oprah’s Harpo) at age 17. Hot Seat started as a project for her school science fair after she heard too many tragic stories about children being accidentally left in a hot car. Since starting her company, Alissa and her company have received national recognition and accolades. She was named one of Glamour Magazine’s Women of the Year, American Business Award Startup of the Year, Albuquerque Business First 40 Under 40 and many more. Alissa has continued to grow her company based in Albuquerque, NM introducing a new product, EasyFlo in 2018. EasyFlo is an eco-friendly baby bottle designed to prevent the waste of single use, plastic water bottles and storage containers.   EasyFlo has already gained national recognition. Alissa was featured in “Funded in America,” a series produced by T-Mobile, SoulPancake, Indiegogo and Lala Anthony following female entrepreneurs from around the United States as they build their companies. EasyFlo has also won several awards this year including second place in Texas Christian University’s Values and Venture International Business Plan competition, second place in Comcast Pitch Deck Competition,  third place in Future Founder’s National Pitch competition and “Judge’s Choice” in the Lobo Rainforest Pitch competition. Since starting her company she has also become and ambassador for Technolochicas, an organization that promotes young Latinas to explore careers in STEM and an ambassador for Celebrities Who Give, raising awareness for a variety of social causes. She plans to continue her philanthropic work, visiting schools and encouraging other young girls to reach their dreams. Alissa is also a TEDX speaker and patent holder. She was also recently featured in the book “Girl’s Think of Everything” written by award -winning author Catherine Thimmesh. The book tells the story of female inventors from the 1800’s to now. Alissa plans to continue to build her company with hopes of leaving a positive impact on our community and our world. IMPACT REPORT 2019/2020 PAGE 20

ALISSA ON IA'S IMPACT: \"The University of New Mexico’s Innovation Academy has been very beneficial to my company. In 2018, I introduced my newest product EasyFlo, at the Rainforest Pitch Competition. This was the first live pitch of my new product so I was so excited to have the opportunity to share my new product and get feedback from the audience and judges. I won Judge’s choice at the competition. This past year I participated in the Lobo Rainforest I-Corps program where I was given the opportunity to work with mentors and other student entrepreneurs. I found this experience to be so valuable because, being a business owner, while still being a student can be very challenging. This program gave me the opportunity to work with other student business owners who know just how challenging that can be. I also was able to work with my wonderful mentor Bill Szaroletta. It is also to helpful to be able to get feedback from others outside of my team. Rob DelCampo and Cara Michaliszyn were also amazing mentors. Throughout the entire program, there was so much positive, supportive and helpful energy given to all of the entrepreneurs in the program. Just having that support is so meaningful to entrepreneur. I completed the program in the fall of 2019. In December of 2019, I was selected to compete in the Comcast Pitch Deck Competition. That event was so much fun and such a great experience. It was great to be able to pitch my product to so many members of our community, the judges and watch the other students compete. I won second place in that competition which I was so humbled by. UNM’s Innovation Academy has been so valuable to me and my company because of the support that I and other students receive through these programs. For many startups and the founders behind those companies, that type of support can make all the difference.  In the first quarter of 2020, my company was working on finalizing our capital raise and moving into manufacturing with EasyFlo. In March of 2020, like the rest of the world that had to be paused. We are starting to pick up where we left off. I am optimistic about the future of my company. I know that we will be able to continue forward and I look forward to what the future has in store.\" - Alissa Chavez IMPACT REPORT 2019/2020 PAGE 21

THANK YOU GENEROUS SPONSORS: FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ANY OF OUR PROGRAMS PLEASE VISIT: INNOVATIONACADEMY.UNM.EDU IMPACT REPORT PUBLISHED JULY 2020