Issue 3
University of Florida Prepares for 7th Annual "Celebration of Innovation" Showcase Programs to Feature Startups and Companies with $100M Exits
UF's 7th annual technology showcase will take place on March 14, 2013 at the UF Hilton Conference Center in Gainesville. The event will feature 14 presenting companies that have either licensed technology developed at UF, or located in one of UF business incubators. Many of the presenting companies have participated in the Institute’s company building and company funding programs, including: Constellation Research, Encephalodynamics, Enterade, NeuroNet Learning, OB Medical, Sun BioPharma, and TrueMotion Spine.
In addition to company presentations, the program also includes a panel discussion entitled “UF Startups With $100 Million Exits”. Moderated by Institute CEO and serial entrepreneur Jamie Grooms, the panelists include Lou Oberndorf, Medical Education Technologies, Inc., Randy Scott, NovaMin Technology, and Al Kern, Pasteuria Bioscience
UF conducts more than $644 million in research annually, and the annual Showcase offers a unique chance to see early-stage startups based on the latest in cutting-edge technologies, as well as companies that have achieved sustained growth and success.
Florida Institute Provides Seed Funding to Tallahassee-based Prevacus Seed-Stage Company Focused on Concussion Prevention and Treatment
The Institute finalized a funding agreement with Prevacus, Inc., an early stage drug development company spun out of Florida State University to address the mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) market. Every year 4-6 million people suffer from mTBIs many of which do not reach an emergency room and go unreported. Outcomes can range from complete recovery to permanent disability or death. Apart from analgesics for associated pain and anti-depressants, there are no approved pharmaceutical therapies for mTBI. Prevacus is formulating therapeutics for nasal delivery to ease use in the field and to maximize delivery to the brain. The funding, paired with additional private investment capital raised, will enable Prevacus to complete preclinical proof of concept studies, develop a drug safety profile and enter into large animal toxicology studies.
Bioscience Report Shows Continued Industry Growth: Florida outpacing national growth
Florida’s bioscience industry continued to show steady growth during 2012, outpacing the national average. Florida’s biotechnology sector grew by 60 percent over the past five years compared to a nationwide increase of less than 5 percent over the same period according to the report released today by BioFlorida. Furthermore, Florida has experienced a 13.5 percent increase in the number of biotech companies since the first quarter of 2012. The second edition of Florida’s BioPulse, titled “A Snapshot of Bio Business and Talent,” provides top-level insight on the growth of the industry by the University of Florida’s Sid Martin Biotechnology Incubator. The snapshot is based on its Florida BioDatabase plus a selection of talent development programs at top academic and learning institutions in Florida. Please click link to view full article provided by BioFlorida