About the program
The Sierra Accelerator for Growth & Entrepreneurship (SAGE) creates opportunity for tech entrepreneurs in Northern Nevada, providing expertise to help companies secure funding from the U.S. small business innovation research grant programs.
SAGE is a public-private partnership offered through the University of Nevada, Reno’s office of Enterprise & Innovation, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Office of Economic Development and APIO Innovation Transfer (APIOiX), a global innovation ecosystem development firm. SAGE provides onsite training, webinars and one-on-one assistance.
SAGE program leadership (left to right): Michael Batalia, Arundeep Pradhan and Ellen Purpus.
Personnel and leadership
University of Nevada, Reno
Ellen Purpus, Ph.D.
SAGE Director
Assistant Vice President, Enterprise & Innovation
Carlos Cardillo, Ph.D.
Director, Nevada Center for Applied Research
Grace Chou, Ph.D.
Director, Innevation Center
Cara Baird
Technology Manager, Enterprise & Innovation
Jo Sumrall
Administrative Coordinator, Enterprise & Innovation
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Bo Bernhard, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President of Economic Development
Kegan McMullan, MBA
SAGE South Coordinator
APIOiX
Michael Batalia, Ph.D.
SAGE Program Manager
Director, APIOiX
Arundeep Pradhan, M.S.
President, APIOiX
Kristin Rencher, MBA
Managing Director, APIOiX
SAGE Board of Advisors
Mridul Gautam, Ph.D.
Vice President for Research and Innovation, University of Nevada, Reno
Winnie Dowling
Nevada Small Business Development Corporation
Jeff Saling
StartupNV
Staci Emm
University of Nevada Cooperative Extension
Kelly Northridge
Managing Partner at Audacity Institute