Epic!

The Entrepreneurial Proof of Concept and Innovation Center (EPIC) is a mentorship and funding platform for entrepreneurs set up by University of California, Riverside (UCR). The program's mission is to bring concepts and inventions to market as products or services. EPIC's commercialization approach consists of practical entrepreneurial education, individualized mentorship by experienced entrepreneurs, and the provision of capital.

EPIC gives innovators and technology entrepreneurs practical tools and advice to help them understand the process of technology commercialization, particularly transitioning from the idea validation stage to the launch of a venture or product. EPIC's proof of concept methodology is a method of de-risking new products and ventures, which entails innovators working alongside an experienced technology executive to identify market and technical validation steps required to de-risk their technology in order to qualify it for commercial sale.

Startups are given the option of continuing to develop the companies at the ExCITE or the Life Science incubator programs, which provide the participants with the infrastructure, structured mentorship, and access to EPIC's entrepreneurial ecosystem through partnerships. The participating companies are also given access to capital through the Highlander Fund, other partner VCs, and Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer program support through the SBIR/STTR Resource Center.

UCR teams of faculty, graduate, and post-doctoral researchers can apply for proof of concept grants valued at $25,000 to $50,000 for prototype development and pertinent data to cultivate market interest. Upon completion of the UCR's I-Corps program, participants can qualify for $50,000 in additional funding from the National Science Foundation I-Corps (NSF) and secure special preference for Proof of Concept grant funding of up to $35,000 through the Office of Technology Partnerships. Moreover, companies affiliated with the UCR can apply for venture capital investments between $250,000 and $500,000 through the Highlander Venture Fund.