June 19th, 2025 – I-Corps alumni company Adialante was awarded a $1.18 million National Science Foundation SBIR Phase II grant, bringing their total funding to $3M. The company, founded by Dr. Efraín Torres and Parker Jenkins, is developing affordable Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines. 90% of the world lacks access to this life-saving technology, and the Adialante team is on a mission to change that. Torres and Jenkins developed their business through innovation programs like I-Corps, and now are poised to make an impact in the MRI industry.
Adialante founders Dr. Efraín Torres and Parker Jenkins
Adialante’s Technology
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a medical technology that utilizes magnets to create images of various parts of patients’ bodies. They have been an indispensable tool for diagnostics and treatment for decades. However, traditional MRI machines are expensive and massive, often taking up an entire room. This is where Torres and Jenkins are making an impact: creating an MRI system that is smaller and more affordable than current offerings.
“Our mission is to develop affordable and effective MRI systems that everyone has access to. MRIs are one of the most powerful and robust diagnostic medical tools that we have. However, 90% of the world lacks access to technology because of its current cost and complexity. The innovation that our team is developing can dramatically drop the cost and size of MRI technology without sacrificing clinical value.” – Dr. Efraín Torres
Model of Adialante’s compact MRI machine
I-Corps and SBIR
Both Marquette University alumni, Torres and Jenkins share a common drive to enhance medical accessibility through innovation. They me during their undergraduate days, where they first met on the same dormitory floor. Drawn together by their shared vision, they immersed themselves in the intricate world of medical imaging technology, eventually setting their sights on MRI systems.
The team first dived into entrepreneurship by participating in Min-Corps, a Great Lakes I-Corps Hub local program hosted by the University of Minnesota. This first experience exposed Torres and Jenkins to business fundamentals. Following the Minnesota program, the team participated in the National NSF I-Corps Program. This rigorous program challenges teams to conduct over 100 customer discovery interviews and validate their business offering.
“The constructive but critical feedback from the instructors was incredibly valuable. They challenged us and our assumptions about our technology and what customers wanted… At the end of the program, the teams present in front of the entire cohort and need to answer the question: is this a sustainable business model and something you could build a startup around? Around 50% of the teams have to say no because, through the I-Corps experience, they’ve realized that either the technology’s not ready or the customer base won’t be ready. Although there were many unknowns, after the program, we were excited about our technology and believed there was a sustainable business model.” -Parker Jenkins
Building upon their I-Corps experience, Torres and Jenkins successfully secured a Phase I SBIR grant, bolstering their mission to make MRI technology accessible worldwide. Recently, Adialante was awarded a Phase II SBIR grant. This milestone can allow them to develop a preclinical MRI product, serving as a way to secure additional financial backing. Another step forward for Adialante was joining Fogarty Innovation, a leading medtech incubator. Here, they benefit from mentorship by seasoned professionals who guide them through navigating the complexities of scaling a medtech startup.
Torres and Jenkins’ journey is a testament to how passion for innovation, structured guidance from programs like I-Corps, and a strong support network can transform groundbreaking ideas into potential global solutions. As they continue to chart their path, the Adialante team remains steadfast in their mission: accessible, affordable MRI for every corner of the world.
Image Credits:
Adialante
University of Minnesota Clinical and Translational Science Institute
Interested in starting your innovation journey? Learn more about I-Corps here: https://greatlakesicorps.org/programs/
Quotes Edited for Clarity
Written by Chris Eakin
NSF I-Corps Hub: Great Lakes Region, 2025
