Building Companies, Changing Lives
Issue 48- November 2016
Three Companies Receive Institute Funding
The Institute has finalized first-round funding agreements with SegAna, an Orlando-based company with technology developed at the University of Central Florida and Omninox, a Gainesville-based company with technology developed at the University of Florida. Additionally, Pensacola-based Intelligent Retinal Imaging Systems (IRIS) with technology developed at the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition, received follow-on funding for achieving significant development milestones since initial financing.
SegAna is a medical technology company that is creating a four-dimensional lung phantom and simulator to improve radiotherapy outcomes. Omninox is developing software solutions using a question recommendation engine that increases teacher productivity and improves educational outcomes. IRIS is developing tests for the early detection and diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma, to prevent blindness.
peerfit Closes $400K Investment
Peerfit, a Tampa-based company that provides personalization of the wellness experience through a streamlined flexible platform tailored to the exploding wellness market, closed a $400K investment from Florida Funders. The capital raised will allow the company to expand and shorten the timeline to deliver its products in order to meet new opportunities and expand on a national scale. Peerfit received funding follow-on round funding from the Institute in December 2015.
Jane Teague, Florida Institute, participated on a panel entitled "Practical Aspects of Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Structure and Angel Funding" at the Brazil-Florida Summit. Fellow participants included Andrew Duffell, The Research Park at FAU, Rafael Salles, Sales Management, Inc., Russell Marcus, Florida Department of Economic Opportunity and Moderator Pierre Taschereau, Greater Ft. Lauderdale Alliance.
Don’t Miss BioFlorida’s Annual Conference
December 11-13, 2016
Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront
Register today for the 2016 BioFlorida Conference - Florida's premier event for the life sciences community, where you will:
- hear from life science executives and industry thought leaders
- connect with hundreds of professionals in the life sciences
- meet potential investors and discuss your business plans and financing needs.
The program, Connecting the Dots from Idea to Commercialization, will bring together Florida’s life sciences community and showcase current science advancements, business achievements and public policy affecting the life sciences industry. More details and the agenda may be viewed here.
Register today for the Florida Venture Capital Conference
Join the Florida Venture Forum for the 26th Annual Florida Venture Capital Conference being held on February 2-3, 2017 at the Waldorf Astoria in Orlando, FL. The Florida Venture Capital Conference offers numerous networking opportunities, programming featuring top investors and deal makers active in the state, and 20-25 of Florida’s most innovative and fast growing later stage, private companies. More details and event registration may be viewed here.
Register for the SUP – X: The Start-Up Expo
SUP-X is a two-day international conference and expo that attracts 1500+ startup and early-stage entrepreneurs, angel and VC investors and related service providers from throughout North America. This year’s conference is being held at the Greater Fort Lauderdale-Broward County Convention Center on March 6-7, 2017. More details and event registration may be viewed here.
Save the Date for Innovation Awards 2017
Join Innovation Coast and the Office of Economic Development and Engagement (OEDE) at the University of West Florida for the Innovation Awards being held on April 12-13, 2017 at the Pensacola Beach Hilton. Registration is now open for companies willing to compete. Selected companies will compete for cash prizes ranging from $5,000 to $100,000 before a live audience of entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and potential investors. More details and event registration may be viewed here.
About Us
Formed by the Florida Legislature in 2007, the Florida Institute for the Commercialization of Public Research is a non-profit organization that works collaboratively with the technology licensing and commercialization offices of Florida’s state universities and private research institutions to leverage a $2B+ research base and form investable companies that create clean jobs in new industries that are driving the global economy. The Institute provides company building services, and seed funding through the Florida Technology Seed Capital Fund, to promising Florida startups. Sixty-one companies have been funded to date, and the Institute’s economic impact through June 30, 2016 was $630 million, with an annual return on investment of 22 times to the State of Florida.