Building Companies, Changing Lives


Issue 44- July 2016


    
Four Companies Receive Institute Funding

                                                                                                                                                                                          
The Institute has finalized first-round funding agreements with Mine Survival, Inc. (MSI), a Panama City Beach-based company with technology developed at Gulf Coast State College, and Mend VIP and Schoolflow, two Orlando-based companies with technologies developed at the University of Central Florida. Additionally, Tampa-based peerfit, with technology developed at the University of Florida, received follow-on funding for achieving significant development milestones since initial financing.
 
MSI is the premier manufacturer of cutting edge surface rebreathers that enable breathing in toxic environments. Mend VIP provides proprietary triage, no-wait, and telemedicine technology that virtualizes a large percentage of care where an in-person exam is not needed. Schoolflow is an automatic organizational app for college students that allows them to sync directly with their university to track and get notified about homework, grades, exams, etc. Peerfit provides personalization of the wellness experience through a streamlined flexible platform.



Vigilant Biosciences Raises $5 Million
Second Round Series B Financing

 
Vigilant Biosciences, Inc., a leading innovator and developer of solutions that aid in the early detection and intervention of cancer, announced the successful completion of a $5 million round of financing through its Series B2 offering, bringing the total Series B financing raise to $10.5 million and the total amount of funding raised to date to $12.5 million. Existing investors participating in the Series B2 financing included White Owl Capital Partners, venVelo and others, as well as a group of private and angel investors with a commitment to the life sciences.



flexReceipts Featured in the Wall Street Journal

 
flexReceipts, the leading enhanced digital receipts solution that offers retailers a post-sale opportunity to communicate with their customers, was recently featured in the Wall Street Journal for closing $2.5 million in seed financing. Point Judith Capital led the round, with participation from Synchrony Financial, as well as Y Combinator, Struck Capital and Altair Venture Capital. The full article may be viewed here


Florida Universities Rank Top for Utility Patents Worldwide

 
Three Florida universities ranked among the top institutions worldwide by the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) and the Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO) for the number of utility patents granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in 2015. The University of Florida Research Foundation (UFRF) ranked 12th with 107 patents, University of South Florida (USF) ranked 21st with 90 patents, and University of Central Florida (UCF) ranked 40th with 50 patents. The full list may be viewed here.



Register Today for University Startups Demo Day

 
The National Council of Entrepreneurial Tech Transfer (NCET2) will hold its inaugural University Startups Demo Day (USDD) at the National Press Club and Congress in Washington, DC on September 20, 2016. The USDD provides an unprecedented opportunity for corporate open innovation and venturing groups, VCs, and angels to discover, review, partner with, and fund university startups.
 
The USDD will showcase thirty-five of the best university startups in specific technology areas. Selected by their universities, and scored by corporates, angels, and VCs, the top scoring university startups will be invited to present at the National Press Club in the first part of the day. During the second part of the day, the companies will meet and have photo ops with their senators and representatives at Congress. More details and event registration may be viewed here.



Call for BioFlorida Annual Conference BioPitch Applications

BioFlorida is now accepting applications from seed stage companies seeking to present at BioFlorida's 2016 Annual Conference taking place October 9-11, 2016 at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront. The BioPitch Application is available and accepted companies will pitch to individual investors on the morning of Tuesday, October 11th. Selected finalists will present to a panel of judges during the luncheon session where the winner will be announced. Companies that meet the following criteria are encouraged to apply, and those selected to participate will be notified in September:

  • Developing products in any area of the Life Sciences
  • Seeking outside investment (pre-A Round but post-friends and family)
  • Prior capital raised does not exceed $250,000 (excluding grants)
  • Current amount seeking does not exceed $5MM.

Don’t miss this opportunity to network with seed and early stage investors! 



Save the Date for 18th Annual HHS SBIR/STTR Conference

 
The 18th Annual HHS SBIR/STTR Conference will be held on November 15-17, 2016 at the DoubleTree by Hilton at SeaWorld in Orlando, FL. The HHS/STTR Conference helps small businesses in the life science sector learn more about over $870 million dollars of annual HHS funding that is available to forge academic partnerships and build new businesses based on recently developed biotechnology. Attendees will discover how to successfully submit an application; gain tips for approaching partners and investors; discover the types of technical assistance programs HHS offers to awardees; and have the chance to discuss specific questions with HHS SBIR and STTR subject-matter experts. 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. Fifty-three companies have been funded to date, and the Institute’s economic impact through June 30, 2015 was $379 million, a return on investment of 14 times to the State of Florida.