How it all began with vLC - the first 5 years

To celebrate the 15-year anniversary of the von Liebig Entrepreneurism Center, we will present some highlights from the past 15 Years over the next three issues of this newsletter. The von Liebig Center (vLC) at the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering provides entrepreneurship education, business mentoring and a complete path-to-market platform to transform university research into products that benefit society.  Our experienced technology and business advisors guide inventors throughout the technology assessment, proof-of-concept and early stages of the commercialization process. Once technology feasibility is demonstrated, these innovators are supported as they attract the entrepreneurial talent and capital that they need to advance their technology toward the marketplace. The Center primarily serves the UC San Diego engineering and science community, but many of our programs extend to organizations around the world.



In 2001, the William J. von Liebig Foundation awarded a $10 million gift to UCSD’s Jacobs School of Engineering to launch the William J. von Liebig Center, the first commercialization facility of its kind in the country.  As an inventor, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Mr. von Liebig holds 33 patents for vascular prostheses and his inventions have made significant contributions to the field of vascular surgery. 
 
Companies formed during 2001-2006:

InsilicoMED
Insilicomed creates and licenses cardiac technology geared towards cardiovascular simulation. The company’s founders hold 25 years of experience in cardiac research, and have developed simulators that accurately replicate a human heart’s electrical and mechanical functions. Currently, InsilicoMED’s focus is on clinical applications for patients with heart disease, primarily heart failure.

NetSift
Only a year after its establishment, NetSift was acquired by Cisco Systems, Inc. NetSift was desired for its work in creating security solutions for high-speed communications networks. Created in June 2004, the company was based off of specialized patented research. George Varghese, Computer Science and Engineering professor, led the formation of the company at the Jacobs School of Engineering.

Ortiva Wireless
Ortiva, founded in 2004 through the lab of Professor Sujit Dey, was acquired by Allot Communications in 2012. It was sought after for its unique and innovative solutions that enhanced mobile video management. Ortiva assisted service providers in improving the quality as well as the efficiency of media content delivery. It did this by individualizing each mobile connection through assessing current network conditions. 

Rhevision Technologies
Founded in 2006, the company focuses on the development of premier, high-quality optical tech. One of their most profound inventions is the advanced liquid lens-based Miniature Tunable Camera Lens (also known as an MTCL). One of their other revolutionary products includes their fixed and >3x optical zoom and auto-focus lens system. Their products have gripped the interest of multi billion dollar markets and industries.

Scoperta
San-Diego based Scoperta is renowned for rapidly developing advanced solutions in a variety of industries. Its unique rapid alloy development software allows for constant rebuilding and rethinking of materials science, with each product being more groundbreaking than the last. The skilled metallurgists and scientists develop hardfacing welding wires, thermal spray products, and more.