Catching Up with IdeaFunding Winner Robert Schmid

Earlier this year, the University of Arizona Center for Innovation partnered with Startup Tucson to host IdeaFunding 2026, a pitch competition held during the TENWEST conference. Among an impressive group of founders, Robert Schmid, Founder of Intelligent Clinical Systems, earned the Catalyst Award that recognized a company where funding could spark immediate momentum.

Intelligent Clinical Systems is building Ambient Intelligent Infrastructure™ that makes the physical environment aware, transforming search from a human task into an infrastructure capability. Since taking home the Catalyst Award, Robert and his team have continued to advance that vision and build momentum.

We recently caught up with Robert to discuss the company's progress, key milestones, and what’s next for Intelligent Clinical Systems. Here's what he had to say.

Since winning the Catalyst Award at IdeaFunding 2026, what have been some of the biggest milestones for ICS?

Winning the $10,000 Catalyst Award at IdeaFunding 2026 was a pivotal moment for Intelligent Clinical Systems. The recognition validated both our vision and the market need for our technology, and it accelerated several key initiatives.

One of our most significant accomplishments has been finalizing and filing both our U.S. non-provisional patent application and our international Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) application as of June 10, 2026. Protecting our intellectual property was a major undertaking and an important milestone as we continue building our technology platform and preparing for commercialization. 

With our patent strategy now in place, our focus has shifted to securing non-dilutive funding through the National Science Foundation. We are currently preparing a Phase I STTR proposal in collaboration with the UCI Samueli School of Engineering and remain on track to submit our application in July 2026.

What role have the relationships and visibility gained through IdeaFunding and TENWEST played in ICS's journey since the competition?

The impact of IdeaFunding and TENWEST has been tremendous and continues to influence our growth today. Beyond the financial support, the visibility and credibility gained through the competition have opened doors to meaningful relationships across the Tucson and Phoenix innovation ecosystems. Since the event, we have expanded our network of mentors, investors, entrepreneurs, and strategic partners who share our vision. The exposure has also increased awareness of both our mission and the technical innovation behind our platform, leading to valuable conversations and new opportunities for collaboration.

What progress have you made in bringing your voice-to-visual clinical infrastructure into healthcare settings?

Over the months, we have demonstrated our AMBI platform to nurse leaders & clinicians receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback. One of the most encouraging outcomes has been the consistent validation of the problem we are solving. Frontline clinicians and healthcare leaders repeatedly confirm that time spent searching for supplies remains a significant operational challenge, particularly in high-acuity environments where every second matters. 

Our demonstrations have shown how AMBI can help reduce search time, improve workflow efficiency, and allow clinicians to spend more time focused on patient care. Our current priority is securing our first hospital pilot deployment, where we can evaluate the system in a real-world clinical environment at the unit or floor level.

How have you utilized the support from the University of Arizona Center for Innovation's incubation program?

The support we have received from the University of Arizona Center for Innovation (UACI) has been instrumental in our growth. As an early-stage deep technology startup, having access to experienced subject matter experts across business strategy, technology development, commercialization, marketing, and fundraising has helped us navigate challenges and advance much faster than we could have on our own.

Perhaps most importantly, the incubation program has provided a structured environment that helps us stay focused on the milestones that matter most as we work to bring our technology into healthcare settings. UACI has been a key partner in helping transform our vision into a company that is positioned for long-term impact.

You recently launched a crowdfunding campaign—can you share an update on its progress and what community support has meant for ICS?

We officially launched our WeFunder campaign in June. Raising capital is an important milestone for any startup, and we wanted to ensure we entered the campaign with a strong foundation, clear objectives, and the right team and partners in place.

The response from our community has been incredibly encouraging. One of the most rewarding aspects has been seeing people connect with our mission and recognize the importance of addressing inefficiencies that clinicians face every day. As a founder and former ICU nurse, I have experienced firsthand the time and frustration associated with searching for critical supplies in high-pressure healthcare environments. That challenge is far more common than many people realize.

While the campaign is helping us raise capital to advance our technology, it is also helping us build a community of supporters. Our goal extends beyond launching a product—we are working to eliminate one of the oldest and most persistent barriers to efficient care delivery: helping clinicians locate the supplies they need quickly, accurately, and when every second matters.

To learn more about Intelligent Clinical Systems visit their website at https://www.intelligentclinicalsystems.com/ or connect with Robert Schmid at https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-schmid-cyber/