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Errol Arkilic is the Chief Innovation Officer at the University of California, Irvine, Executive Director of Beall Applied Innovation, and Managing Partner at M34 Capital in Irvine, California. He previously served as the founding Program Director for the National Science Foundation's I-Corps program, helping to train thousands of academic entrepreneurial teams. Before his tenure at the NSF, Arkilic was the founder and Chief Executive Officer of StrataGent Lifesciences, which was acquired by Corium International. Through M34 Capital, he directs early-stage investments ranging from $500,000 to $750,000 into deep tech projects spun out of academic and corporate research laboratories. He holds a doctorate in aerospace engineering from MIT and a bachelor's in mechanical engineering from George Washington University. His current career focuses on bridging science, engineering, and business through technology transfer and academic research commercialization.
Errol Arkilic stands as a prominent figure in the venture capital landscape, serving as the Managing Partner at M34 Capital. At M34 Capital, Errol leads investments in early-stage deep technology and frontier science companies, focusing on transforming complex scientific and engineering breakthroughs into viable commercial enterprises. His work at M34 Capital is characterized by a keen eye for innovation emerging from university research and government laboratories, a testament to his unique background.
Arkilic's investment focus spans a broad spectrum of cutting-edge fields, including artificial intelligence, robotics, advanced materials, biotechnology, space technology, and quantum computing. He is particularly drawn to ventures that tackle significant technical challenges and possess the potential for disruptive market impact. M34 Capital, under his guidance, seeks out founders who are not only brilliant scientists and engineers but also possess the vision to scale their innovations.
Prior to co-founding M34 Capital, Errol Arkilic held a distinguished career that profoundly shaped his approach to venture investing. Most notably, he served as a Program Director at the National Science Foundation (NSF), where he was instrumental in creating and leading the highly successful Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program. I-Corps revolutionized how academic research could be commercialized by providing scientists and engineers with entrepreneurial training and mentorship. This initiative has since become a cornerstone for technology transfer and startup creation across the United States. His experience at NSF provided him with unparalleled insight into the challenges and opportunities inherent in bringing fundamental research to market.
Following his tenure at the NSF, Arkilic also served as a Venture Partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners, further honing his skills in identifying and nurturing high-potential startups. This diverse background, combining government innovation policy with hands-on venture capital experience, positions Errol Arkilic as a uniquely qualified investor in the deep tech space. He is dedicated to supporting the next generation of innovators who are building the foundational technologies of tomorrow, ensuring that scientific progress translates into tangible societal and economic value. His leadership at M34 Capital continues to drive investment into the most promising and impactful deep technology ventures.
Errol Arkilic is the Managing Partner at M34 Capital, a venture capital firm specializing in early-stage deep technology investments. He is also widely recognized for founding the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program.
Errol Arkilic invests in early-stage deep technology and frontier science companies. His focus areas include artificial intelligence, robotics, advanced materials, biotechnology, space technology, and quantum computing, often targeting innovations emerging from university research and government labs.
Errol Arkilic works as the Managing Partner at M34 Capital, a venture capital firm he co-founded that focuses on deep technology and frontier science investments.