Building Companies, Changing Lives
Issue 45- August 2016
Three Companies Receive Institute Funding
The Institute has finalized first-round funding agreements with Auxadyne, a Keystone Heights-based company with technology developed at Florida State University, Ovation Diagnostics, a Boca Raton-based company with technology developed at University of South Florida, and DigiGroup Holdings, LLC, a Pensacola-based company with technology developed at the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC).
Auxadyne is commercializing Xylafoam, a revolutionary auxetic polyurethane foam technology with initial applications in the athletic equipment and medical device markets. Ovation Diagnostics is developing a laboratory test which will offer women an efficient, noninvasive and affordable method of detection with potentially higher specificity and sensitivity for ovarian cancer compared to existing methods of detection. DigiGroup is a full-service technology and digital marketing firm that creates business solutions that are scalable, simple to understand, cost effective and accessible to any business owner.
Deadline Extended 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 window has been extended to September 2, 2016 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 healthcare: including life sciences, medical devices, diagnostics, healthcare IT, healthcare services and plant/animal sciences
- Seeking seed and early-stage investment.
Don’t miss this opportunity to network with seed and early stage investors!
Register Today for Free Legal Ethics Seminar and
Earn 2 CLE Credits
Join the Institute, The Florida Patent Pro Bono Program, and representatives from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for "The Ethics of Pro Bono Representation for Patent Practitioners" on Thursday, September 8, 2016 at 6:00 pm at the University of Miami School of Law.
This continuing legal education (CLE) course will cover issues of ethics and professional responsibility in pro bono practice with a focus on patent practitioners. Using statutes, case law and examples from the Patent Pro Bono Program, speakers will review best practices in representing pro bono clients, and provide techniques for avoiding ethical missteps throughout the course of the representation. More details and event registration can 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 in Congress. More details and event registration may be viewed here.
Register Today for 6th Annual GAIN ShootOut Business Pitch
Join GAIN and SharpSpring as they sponsor the 6th Annual GAIN ShootOut Business Pitch Competition being held at the Harm Museum of Art on October 24, 2016. GAIN's mission is to inspire, connect, educate and showcase companies who aim to change the world. Don't miss this opportunity to present your company's business plan to a panel of investors and raise capital. Presenting companies have the opportunity to win $15,000+ in cash and prizes. Selected applicants will have 50 minutes to present and discuss their business plans, markets, and product development needs one-on-one. Judges will evaluate the quality of the presentations. More details and event registration may be viewed here.
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-six 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.