Building a Rainforest in the Desert | November 2023

On October 5, the UNM Rainforest Innovations Tribal Entrepreneurship Enhancement Program hosted the first, of what is hoped to be many, Entrepreneur and Community Engagement events. The event was co-hosted with the Santa Clara Library and Intergovernmental Department as an effort to bring together current and aspiring entrepreneurs at Santa Clara Pueblo. The goal of these events is to create and nurture an environment and local “entrepreneurial ecosystem” for tribal entrepreneurs where they can feel supported and connected to the right resources available to them in New Mexico’s greater entrepreneurial ecosystem.

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Albuquerque Business First and New Mexico Inno have announced their annual Inno Under 25 List which recognizes young innovators making big efforts to advance the state’s growing innovation ecosystem.

Former UNMRI Intern Tina Memarian Makes the Inno Under 25 List

Among the five honorees chosen this year was Tina Memarian, a former Innovation Intern for UNM Rainforest Innovations. Recently graduating with a dual Bachelor of Arts degree in chemistry and international relations, Tina has been a productive student at the University of New Mexico and participated in many of UNMRI’s programs and activities, including Rainforest Student Pitch Competitions, Comcast Pitch Deck Competition, the 2023 Lobo Hackathon, the UNM I-Corps program, and the NM Rainforest University Center earning her Entrepreneurial Capabilities Certificate in 2020.

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Chris Fetrow of Flow Aluminum Makes the Inno Under 25 List

Chris Fetrow, a doctoral student at UNM, has worked with UNM assistant professor Shuya Wei, PhD, to develop aluminum batteries as an alternative to lithium-ion batteries. In partnership with Tom Chepucavage, the company Flow Aluminum has been formed to commercialize the technology. Chris has participated in many of UNM Rainforest Innovations’ programs over the years, including the 2022 Pitch Deck Competition where the team won first place and a $10,000 cash prize; technology proposal was awarded $25,000 through the Gap Fund @ UNM program; and Chris participated in the Rainforest Accelerator Program which teaches UNM teams of entrepreneurial-minded faculty and students on how to transition their STEM-related technology to the marketplace.

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In this Rezonomics episode, Zachariah Ben, Owner of Bidii Baby Foods, LLC, shares how trust land & policy issues have impacted him as an agricultural entrepreneur running his business on tribal land.

Zachariah Ben is a member of the Navajo Nation and is a sixth-generation traditional farmer and sand painter in Shiprock, New Mexico. He is of the “Giant People,” born for the “Red Running into Water” clan. His maternal grandfather’s clan is the “Red House People,” and his paternal grandfather is of the “Salt People.” Zach has over 10 years of experience in traditional farming and is the owner and founder of Bidii Baby Foods, LLC, a Navajo-registered business that sells organic, indigenous baby foods. In addition to working as a Tribal Liaison for the New Mexico Tribal Entrepreneurship Enhancement Program, he is a member of the state-led Family Leadership Council where he works with other families to address early childhood issues through action and advocacy.

You can also listen on Spotify!

UNM Rainforest Innovations first interacted with Dr. Denise Gabaldon-Thronas in September 2022. Denise was attending the annual American Indian Business Enterprise Conference hosted by Arrowhead Center. Denise, a Doctor of Naprapathy from the Pueblo of Ohkay Owingeh, was participating in the conference’s pitch competition where she shared about her Naprapathic Medicine Practice and desire to bring holistic health and healing to her community. After hearing Denise’s pitch, UNMRI connected Denise with, Tribal Liaison, Scott Tafoya.

Learn more about Denise’s Entrepreneurial Journey and Successes in this interview with her and Scott Tafoya.

The purpose of the 2024 University of New Mexico Business and Economic Summit is to Envision New Mexico’s Future Entrepreneurial Economy.

8:30 - 9:00 a.m. – Networking and refreshments

9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. – Program

4:30 - 5:00 p.m. – Reception

Location: Lobo Rainforest Building, 101 Broadway Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102.

Full agenda details will be posted soon!