The Challenge
Too often, promising technologies stall not from technical failure, but because teams lack the strategy, structure, and storytelling to secure funding, partners, or pathways to scale.
Our Mission
Our Evolution
What began as business scaling support has evolved into a full lifecycle commercialization practice serving first-time founders, university spinouts, enterprise R&D groups, and SBIR-funded researchers.
Our Impact
Across hundreds of engagements, we’ve helped clients raise capital, win grants, secure partnerships, and navigate from discovery to exit. Our cross-disciplinary approach combines understanding of regulatory hurdles, capital markets, deep tech timelines, and customer psychology.
Meet The Team
A diverse collective of experts dedicated to transforming science into scalable business success
Our Founder
Shaun Sanders is a nationally recognized commercialization strategist and a global speaker on venture capital and deep tech investment. With a career spanning over two decades, Shaun has advised hundreds of innovation-driven organizations, helping them turn scientific breakthroughs into scalable businesses.
His experience bridges technical disciplines and capital markets. He has served as legal counsel, startup COO, brand strategist, and cybersecurity lead, working across sectors and growth stages. As an Adjunct Professor of Business Law at the University of Southern California, Shaun also contributes to the next generation of legal and venture professionals.
He previously led one of the nation’s highest-performing SBDC-funded startup accelerators, where he developed programs and methodologies still in use by top-tier entrepreneurial ecosystems today. Shaun is widely regarded for his ability to translate highly technical concepts into investor-ready narratives.
Shaun Sanders, J.D.
Managing Partner
The Syndicate
Our team consists of a network of experienced operators, researchers, analysts, and sector specialists with decades of commercialization experience across industry, government, academia, and capital markets.
Ahmed Zobi
Managing Partner
ArkaNova Partners
Managing Partner of ArkaNova Partners and founder of Syntr Health Technologies, a medtech company behind the FDA-cleared SyntrFuge System. Biomedical engineer and SBIR-funded entrepreneur with expertise in microfluidics, biomechanics, and federal funding strategy. Recognized by Forbes for his leadership in advancing early-stage medical technologies.
Earle Hager
Managing Partner
The Neutrino Donut
Managing Partner of The Neutrino Donut, a consultancy focused on the management and commercialization of science. Thought leader with an understanding of commercialization processes from early-stage technologies through the development of business models and execution.
Tim Raines
CEO and Founder
Rare Innovation
CEO and founder of Rare Innovation, a consulting firm for new ventures offering full service Business Development strategy and execution with a focus on market approach strategies and Go-to-Market partnerships. Tim is the author of Amazon #1 New Release, "The Handbook for Commercializing Alien Technologies".
Ben Bickerstaff
Entrepreneur & Consultant
Catalyzing Concepts
Techstars-backed entrepreneur and founder of Catalyzing Concepts, a consulting firm guiding startups, non-profits, and R&D teams through funding and commercialization. Creator of GrantMatch and CEO of SIPP, Ben brings deep expertise in federal funding strategy and has supported over 200 innovation projects across agencies like DOE, DOD, NIH, and USDA.
Dr. Emilie Clemmens
Principal and Founder
Artemis Editing
Grant reviewer, scientist, and educator with extensive experience preparing competitive SBIR/STTR applications for federal R&D funding.
Christopher J. Allen, P.E.
Licensed Professional Engineer
CJA Systems
Licensed professional engineer and Managing Member of CJA Systems, a consultancy specializing in innovation commercialization. Brings over 20 years of cross-sector experience—from Fortune 500s to startups—spanning aerospace, energy, and consumer goods, with expertise in R&D, project management, and go-to-market strategy.
BreAnn Brown
CEO and Founder
Orange Canyon Consulting
CEO and Founder of Orange Canyon Consulting, a consulting firm that specializes in helping early stage companies commercialize new technologies through the development of business plans, commercialization plans and funding strategies.
Adam Bates
CEO
Caliham
Commercializes advanced energy, medical, and ICT technologies with a strong track record guiding innovations to market across the U.S. and Asia.
Len Denton
Founder
Boost Innovation Group
Founder of Boost Innovation Group, a consultancy supporting high-tech startups and university research through SBIR/STTR and DOE Energywerx programs. Global technology commercialization strategist with 30+ years of executive leadership at companies like GE and MCI. Has led innovation programs across six countries and worked with over 1,500 emerging technologies and ventures.