Each year, the Federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program provides more than $4 billion in funding to develop early-stage technological innovations that have commercial potential in a wide range of industries. To help UWM researchers and entrepreneurs explore opportunities to tap into these funds, monthly SBIR office hours are now offered by Brian Walsh, Senior Technology Commercialization Manager, on the 1^st Friday of every month from 8:30am to 10:30am on the second floor at the LEC.

Brian joined UWMRF in September of 2022. Prior to that, he counseled innovators on navigating the SBIR program while working at the Wisconsin Center for Technology Commercialization, where he also managed pre-accelerator and investor readiness programs for startups. In addition, Brian has 15 years of first-hand experience acquiring, turning around, and successfully operating a small business aimed at biotechnology research and education. Brian also served in a biotechnology commercialization role with the US Peace Corps and worked in technology transfer with WiSys Technology Foundation. He has a B.S. in bacteriology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and an M.B.A. in marketing from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.