Surya Suncare, 2008 winner of the TVC Lockheed Martin Prize ~ 2nd Place, $10,000
Steve Renfro, President and Chief Executive Officer
Will Reichard, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Miles Nelson, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
Klaus Mueller, Secretary and Chief Information Officer
Says Will Reichard, "Since the competition, our team has been active taking steps to realize the
Surya vision: bringing nanotechnology-based, optically transparent sunscreen agents to market.
We have incorporated in New Mexico under the name Surya Suncare Corporation (the name was revised
slightly from Surya Skincare to better reflect the company's mission). The team has also made
contact with a number of potential funders, and several serious discussions are ongoing. UNM
has been instrumental in this process, as has the prestige of the TVC Lockheed Martin name
attached to the prize we were awarded in the competition.
"Since the competition, Steve Renfro has extensively studied the FDA approval process in Washington, and he and the other members of the team completed a detailed analysis of industry forces. Additionally, we have begun building the professional team needed to handle legal and financial matters.
"Though we have had to refine certain assumptions, the basic outline of our plan has held its shape and will guide us through our next stages. One new area of interest for us includes applying for SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) funding for testing in association with one of New Mexico's national labs."
Will Reichard of Surya Suncare talks about the rigors and rewards of competing and the thrill of winning the TVC Lockheed Martin Prize:
"This is an intense, time-consuming challenge, with fierce competition and tough judging -- and
it's an experience that is worth the effort. This is the real deal, and there is not a more
supportive environment than UNM in which to try. UNM, together with community partners, has
created an arena in which students can experience what it means to struggle through the business
planning process and then to stand before an audience that will poke through every soft spot. It's
an experience unlike any other, and our success in the competition has opened doors for us and given
momentum to our work. This is one of the best opportunities in the state of New Mexico and, in fact,
anywhere."
First, this was a serious and intense competition. Standing in front of those judges, fielding razor-sharp questions from someone like Michael Gallegos, against top-notch competitors, with money on the line, after four months of heart and soul on this plan, well, it's quite a feeling. I know I raised my game as a result.
Second, this is an incredible bonding experience. I can't say enough about what I learned from my teammates. It's awesome to see what a group of highly trained and experienced students can do when they set their minds to it.
Finally, Sherman McCorkle is one of the smartest and most dedicated people in New Mexico -- or anywhere else -- and to get to go on stage after him, to accept a prize from TVC Lockheed Martin and from Mr. McCorkle himself for Surya Suncare, was an unbelievable honor. At every step of this process, amazing people turned up to offer help and encouragement. This competition is one of the best examples I've seen of what is making New Mexico the premier place in the country to create technology-related businesses.
