Issue 14- February 2014
New UCF NanoScience Center Program to Create Graphene Spray to Fight Corrosion
Sudipta Seal, director of the UCF NanoScience Technology Center
Coefficient, Inc. Receives Florida Institute Funding
Funds will Accelerate Product and Business Development Activities
The Institute has finalized a funding agreement with Gainesville-based Coefficient, providers of real-time consumer intelligence that allows companies to put consumers at the center of their business decisions. With the proliferation of social media and consumer trends changing at unprecedented rates, it is challenging for companies to gauge the return on investment of their marketing efforts. Companies must create more customer value from research and consumer data, and the Coefficient system, based on technology developed at the University of Florida, allows them to group their audiences into consumer segments and monitor changes and growth in real time. Coefficient’s system removes the need for large, expensive research studies that are static and outdated quickly, and the easy-to-use web application enables retailers and consumer brand managers to identify consumer types, how habits change over time, and how to provide better products that truly meet consumer needs.
StyledWel Wins Governor’s Award 
Institute Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Lawrence Tinker accepted the Governor’s 2013 Innovative Business Award for “Major Market Rising Star” on behalf of Mary Marshall. Pictured left to right are Grey Swope, Enterprise Florida, Lawrence Tinker, First Lady Ann Scott and Governor Rick Scott.
New Member Joins Institute Leadership Circle
The Institute welcomes Duane Morris as the newest member of the Leadership Circle. Duane Morris LLP, is a law firm with more than 700 attorneys in offices across the United States and internationally to provide innovative solutions to today’s legal and business challenges. Evolving from a partnership of prominent lawyers in Philadelphia a century ago, Duane Morris now has offices in many major markets and continues to expand across the country and overseas.
Duane Morris venture capital attorneys provide entrepreneurs, startups, early-stage and emerging growth companies an opportunity to introduce their companies, present their business plans and discuss financing needs. They have developed relationships over time with top-tier lenders, investment banks, venture capital firms, private equity firms and their portfolio companies, emerging and middle-market companies, large and small cap companies, individual investors and entrepreneurs.
BioFlorida Day Ignites Inspiration and Action
Members of BioFlorida, the statewide trade association for the bioscience industry, convened in Tallahassee on February 4th for BioFlorida Legislative Day. Members participated in legislator briefings to discuss the impact of the Life Sciences industry on Florida’s economy, as well as timely issues facing the biopharmaceutical and biomedical sectors and future needs of Florida companies. BioFlorida serves its membership by providing a network to exchange information, as well as regional and statewide industry-specific programs and educational forums covering topics such as the regulatory environment, licensing, and funding for research, development and commercialization of new products.
Karl Zawoy Departs Institute, Joins TruVitals
Former Institute Entrepreneur- in- Residence Karl Zawoy has gone back to his startup roots and joined TruVitals, a University of Florida spinout, as Chief Technology Officer. Karl will take over twenty-five years of experience working with executives, investors, entrepreneurs, and business leaders to advance TruVitals' vision of developing a non-contact, continuous heartbeat and respiratory technology to improve healthcare worldwide.
Karl is a registered technology transfer professional and an inventor on eight patents in the medical device and high technology fields, with experience in directing numerous product development teams for companies such as Novoste, Johnson & Johnson, 2C Optics and Cordis Dow Medical. The Institute wishes Karl and TruVitals continued success.
Institute-Supported Company Receives Follow-on Funding
The Institute finalized a follow-on funding agreement through the Florida Technology Seed Capital Fund with Shadow Health, educational software developers of rich, interactive learning environments including the Digital Clinical Experience for nursing and allied health education programs. The company was one of the first to receive funding from the Institute in 2011, and in the first 18 months of commercial operation the company achieved significant milestones, enhancing its product offering which is now offered to more than 200 organizations and used by over 12,000 students. The company has built an outstanding multidisciplinary team of programmers, educators and sales professionals, and has hired more than 50 employees to support its growth.
About Us
The Institute delivers company building and funding programs to facilitate new venture and job creation through commercially-viable technologies in major industries that are driving the global economy. In addition to providing company support services, the Institute manages the Seed Capital Accelerator Program launched in 2011, and the Florida Technology Seed Capital Fund launching in 2013. For more information, visit www.florida-institute.com.