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UC Berkeley Law’s New Business Practicum 
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Starting a business is risky, but these risks can be mitigated or managed when entrepreneurs have access to legal help. Veteran entrepreneurs may have resources to get legal help but new entrepreneurs often have not. But there is help to find. Since 2007, UC Berkeley's Laws Business Practicum has been connecting entrepreneurs, who need legal advice with students, and the opportunity to practice law. The Practicum begun to provide office hours and workshops on legal issues to businesses in Berkeley and Merced, but this year will expand legal help to serve the Central Valley.
For each term 12 Juris Doctor (JD) students provide assistance to 25 start-up entrepreneurs and train about 100 others in the community workshops, they organize and host. Students offer office hours to local businesses through an array of local organizations, among other business incubators and economic development organizations. The legal assistance the students are providing are supervised by full-time attorney that has more than 25 years of law experience. Also, MBA students consult with JD students on the businesses they are assisting and help the future lawyers look at business systems and evaluate the entrepreneurs evolving business plans. In addition to online, in person and workshops, the Practicum will be developing a new online self-help legal library that will help entrepreneurs spot and solve legal issues.
Over the years, the Practicum has provided legal assistance to over 300 start-ups; and trained and consulted over 400 entrepreneurs and business owners.
The Practicum experience has always shown that a fourth element should always be added "legal-help". With new fundings available they will begin a long-terms study of effects of early stage lawyering on start-up survival.
If you are an entrepreneur with a water, energy or agricultural technology, you can be referred to legal services and advice. The session will be a 40-minute phone or video conference consultation.
To sign up for the next set of office hours please email Helle Petersen: hellep@csufresno.edu
For more information , check out UCB Law's New Business Practicum at https://www.law.berkeley.edu/new-business-practicum
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Dynamax Inc.
 For over 25 years, Dynamax Inc. of Houston, Texas has been a provider of weather and water management equipment including sap flow and soil moisture sensors.In 2014 Dynamax opened a new office in the Water, Energy and Technology (WET) Center on Fresno State's campus. Spearheaded by agricultural sales engineer Megan Tucker, Dynamax looks to help California farmers increase crop production while balancing water use efficiency.
Megan Tucker stated that, "The WET Center is a great institution that has helped new doors for Dynamax with everybody working together with their companies and selling the Dynamax brand." Dynamax roles within the Central Valley is to have their sensors and able to tell how much water plants are up taking; leading to better irrigation practices using the sap flow sensors. The sap flow sensors are great for almonds, pistachios, corn, peach, plums, and many other crops.
With plans to grow in the future, Dynamax is optimistic about having access to California farmers giving them a hands-on approach on how to determine water needs and application rates. To learn more about their sensor and systems visit www.dynamax.com |
| Team Member Highlight |
David Zoldoske
Director- Center for Irrigation Technology
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I serve as the director for the Center for Irrigation Technology and the California Water Institute at Fresno State, where I have been focusing my efforts on water use efficiency and water technology for 35 years. We are actively involved in most of water issues facing the San Joaquin Valley, including policy, the environment, water for agriculture, urban water use, and disadvantaged communities.
We established the Water Cluster in 2001 with the support of the water industry, government agencies and Fresno State to advance economic development and address critical water issues through the adoption of new technology. We established the water cluster by bringing together 50 water industry companies in three facilitated meetings. Later we branded our region the "BlueTechValley" to identify ourselves as focusing on water and technology. Finally, we were recently awarded $5 million to establish the Central Valley Innovation Cluster by the California Energy Commission. Our efforts are supported by the Water/Energy/Technology (WET) Incubator where we house start-up companies and assist them in the their path forward to commercialization.
One of my guiding quotes to success
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Upcoming Events |
ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit 
Feb 27- Mar 1, 2017
The ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit is an annual conference and technology showcase that brings together experts from different technical disciplines and professional communities to think about America's energy challenge in new and innovative ways. The Summit offers a three day program aimed at moving transformational energy technologies out of the lab and into the market.
2017 Summit Registration
Water Stress & A Changing San Joaquin Valley 
March 7, 2017 9:00-1:30 PM
The Public Policy Institute of California and California Water Institute at Fresno State present a free, half day event to discuss key water issues facing the region. Panel of local leaders and experts will review findings from PPIC reports that highlight options for addressing challenges facing farms, ecosystems, and communities. Registration is free, but space is limited. Visit http://ppic.org/main/event.asp?i=2213 for more information.
2017 CITRIS Agricultural Technology Fair
March 8, 2017
Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society and University Extension invite you to there 2nd annual event held during UC Merced's Research Week.
CITRIS Ag Tech Fair Info
The Common Good: Working Together for a Secure Water Future Panel
March 13, 2017
Join us for signature leader panel co-hosted by Sustainable Conservation. Hear diverse expert, perspectives on various water issues stakeholders face in the San Joaquin Valley. For more information on the panel Common Good Panel .
Getting Water Tech Flowing for Agriculture
March 27, 2017
Join a live discussion to explore opportunities that drives innovation and collaboration in water management technology. For more info and register for the discussion visit:
Get Water Tech Flowing for Ag
Thriving in the Valley- Manufacturing Summit
April 20, 2017
Registration
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