April 2025. Life Science Works announces a Preferred Partnership with Ravelin US LLC, offering our clients a discounted rate to expert services in Foreign Ownership, Control, or Interest (FOCI) risk management.
FOCI concerns are receiving heightened scrutiny by federal agencies, including those that fund the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, and by Congressional oversight committees.
“An important part of our mission is to help entrepreneurs secure non-dilutive SBIR and STTR funding,” said Dr. Sharon Hrynkow, Life Science Works’ President and CEO. “It is devastating for entrepreneurial scientists to go through the labor-intensive SBIR/STTR grant preparation process, only to learn that their highly competitive grant could not ultimately be funded due to FOCI concerns. Federal agencies do not/rarely share with the applicant what the specific FOCI concern(s) were which caused grant disqualification, nor that there is a rehabilitation process, so innovators are left wondering whether to re-apply or pivot. Good science may well be left uncommercialized. Our partnership with Ravelin US empowers our clients to proactively address and resolve potential FOCI risks before applications are submitted, or to find ways to cure them after the fact if needed.”
Cyrus Miryekta, CEO of Ravelin US LLC, notes, “Ravelin US LLC has a track record of success in helping companies find and cure FOCI risks. We look forward to expanding our work in the healthcare sector with Life Science Works — building on our success in the defense sector.”