Albuquerque, New Mexico – On January 14, UNM Rainforest Innovations hosted its annual UNM Business & Economic Summit centered around the theme “New Mexico: A National Leader in Entrepreneurship.” There were over 230 attendees gathered, both in-person at the Lobo Rainforest and online via Zoom, to hear seven panel discussions and three guest speakers.
To view recordings of the event, learn more about the speakers, panelists and moderators involved, please visit: https://innovations.unm.edu/unm-business-and-economic-summit/
Lisa Kuuttila, CEO & Chief Economic Development Officer of UNM Rainforest Innovations, stated: “We are proud to showcase New Mexico’s incredible potential as a national leader in entrepreneurship. From Indigenous businesses to cutting-edge technologies, New Mexico’s diverse innovation ecosystem is a powerful force for economic growth. This summit has once again highlighted how the unique perspectives, backgrounds, and ideas of our entrepreneurs are fueling positive change, and we’re excited to see what we accomplish together in the years to come.”
Welcome Remarks
UNM President Garnett S. Stokes, Ph.D. kicked off the event with welcome remarks highlighting New Mexico’s growing leadership in entrepreneurship and innovations. Recent initiatives such as the creation of an Office of Entrepreneurship and the expansion of funding opportunities for research collaboration to support local entrepreneurs are key to the state’s economic growth. The state is ranked highly for its entrepreneurial ecosystem, with Albuquerque recognized as a top city for affordability and creativity. InnovateABQ, with its focus on fostering innovation, is a prime example of the state’s efforts. The University of New Mexico is committed to driving entrepreneurship, with partnerships aimed at increasing access and opportunities for all communities, including tribal areas. Her talk concluded with an introduction to the first panel focused on Indigenous companies.
Panel Discussions:
Following the UNM President’s welcome remarks were seven different panel discussions with leaders, researchers, entrepreneurs, and business owners from across the state.
First Panel: Indigenous Companies, moderated by Lisa Kuuttila, CEO & Chief Economic Development Officer of UNMRI, and Nicole Johnny, Investment Associate of Raven Capital. Members of the panel included:
- Zachariah Ben, Owner of Bidii Baby Foods, LLC
- Bernina Gray, Founder of nDigitize
- Cece Meadows, Owner of Prados Beauty
Second Panel: Small Business, moderated by Maria Griego-Raby, Founder of Contract Associates. Members of the panel included:
- Adam Halpern, Founder & CEO of WaveOn Health
- Caley Shoemaker, Co-Founder/Master Distiller of As Above So Below
- Rick VanNess, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Wuscott, LLC
Third Panel: Arts, moderated by Brianna Figueroa, Director of Strategic Innovation at Creative Startups. Members of the panel included:
- Jared Tarbell, Co-Founder of Etsy/Levitated
- Rikki Quintana, Owner of HoonArts
- Zoe Zou, Owner of Zoe Can Patch It, LLC
Fourth Panel: Technology, moderated by Stu Rose, Entrepreneur, Investor and Founder of The BioScience Center. Members of the panel included:
- Mark Fidel, Principal Consultant of Fidel Consulting Group
- Josh Fristoe, CTO of Tec|3|4 Solutions
- Charles Rath, President & CEO of Resilient Solutions 21
Fifth Panel: Biosciences, moderated by Greg Byrnes, Executive Director of NMBio. Members of the panel included:
- Paul Laur, President & Chief Operating Officer of Mercury Bio
- Nikolas Mellios, Chief Scientific Officer of Circular Genomics
- Jeff Bauer, President and CEO of Palladium Diagnostics
Sixth Panel: Engineering, moderated by Steve Graves, Co-Founder & Scientific Advisor of BennuBio, Inc. Members of the panel included:
- Paul Short, Board Chair & Co-Founder of Pajarito Powder
- Chris Fetrow, Co-Founder & Chief Technology Officer of Flow Aluminum
- Hunter McDaniel, Founder & CEO of UbiQD
Seventh Panel: The Role that Government plays in Continuing Entrepreneurial Economic Development in New Mexico moderated by Johanna Nelson, Director of the Office of Economic Development at the City of Santa Fe. Members of the panel included:
- Isaac Romero, Deputy Secretary of the New Mexico Economic Development Department
- Representative Meredith Dixon of District 20, State of New Mexico
- Emerson Horace, III, Chief Financial Officer of the Division of Economic Development, Navajo Nation
Keynote Speaker:
The keynote speaker was Victor Hwang, Founder & CEO of Victory & Company, an economic growth consultancy, and the Founder & CEO of Right to Start, a campaign fighting to expand entrepreneurial activity for all and lift the voices of everyday entrepreneurs. Through Right to Start, Victor is leading the charge to build an entrepreneurial ecosystem where everyone, regardless of their background, has the chance to innovate, create, and succeed.
One of Victor’s significant contributions is his concept of the “rainforest,” a metaphor he pioneered to describe how successful innovation ecosystems, like Silicon Valley, thrive through interconnected elements, diverse ideas, and perspectives work in harmony. Victor’s work has inspired global leaders to rethink how to foster entrepreneurship, and his philosophy is embodied in the name of the very building where the Summit took place, the Lobo Rainforest, a symbol of the dynamic innovation ecosystem in New Mexico.
Closing Remarks & Adjourn:
As the 2025 UNM Business & Economic Summit came to a close, James Holloway, PhD, Provost & Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at UNM, took the stage to deliver closing remarks and reflect on the discussions that took place throughout the day, acknowledging the robust conversations and insights shared.
On behalf of UNM Rainforest Innovations, we would like to thank all the speakers, panelists, moderators, and guests for their attendance and participation at the 2025 UNM Business and Economic Summit. To view recordings of the event, learn more about the speakers, panelists and moderators involved, please visit: https://innovations.unm.edu/unm-business-and-economic-summit/
