Building Companies, Changing Lives


Issue 46- September 2016

 

 

Two Companies Receive Institute Funding

The Institute has finalized first-round funding agreements with Panacea Oyster Co-Op Corporation (POCC), a Crawfordville-based company with technology developed at the Tallahassee Community College Wakulla Environmental Institute, and Social Evidence, LLC, a Gainesville-based company with technology developed at the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC).
 
POCC was founded by a group of oyster ranchers to cultivate a new full water column oyster farming community. This aquaculture method keeps oysters safe from bottom-dwelling predators while taking advantage of the nutrient-rich water surface which is free from pollutants that settle at the bottom. They were recently featured on Jax 4 News as one of the largest oyster ranches in Florida, with the potential to reinvigorate Florida’s oyster production and create hundreds of jobs in the local area. Social Evidence is a cloud-based application that provides attorneys with an efficient method of gathering and evaluating social media as part of the litigation process.



Finalist Selected for BioFlorida Annual Conference BioPitch

 
BioFlorida has selected 13 Seed and Early-Stage Life Science companies to present during BioPitch at the Anual Conference taking place October 9-11, 2016 at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville. Institute-funded Kyndermed was selected as one of the finalists, with additional companies including: Aavet Therapeutics, Auxthera, BDN Factory, MedCyclops, Neuroinitiative, Nonagen, Quorum Innovations, Regener-Eyes, Sharktec, STEM Genesis, Vova Ida, and Neuro Pharmalogics. Many of the finalists are commercializing technologies developed at Florida universities and research institutes, and four finalists will present to a panel of judges during the luncheon session where the winner will be announced. This year's program will bring together the life sciences community in the state, and showcase current science advancements, business achievements and public policy affecting the life sciences industry. More details and event registration may be viewed here.


Institute CEO Featured on ABC 20 Tech Tuesday

 
Institute CEO Jackson Streeter, MD was recently featured on ABC 20 Tech Tuesday for “Connecting Technology and Business” throughout the state. The segment featured highlights of Institute programs and the companies it supports, with a focus on how the Institute works throughout the state to connect publicly-funded research with entrepreneurs, capital and other strategic partners for commercialization success. The full video may be viewed here.


flexReceipts Recognized by National Retail Federation

 
flexReceipts was featured by the National Retail Federation at NRFTech as one of 18 startups poised to disrupt and drive the future of retail. For the second year in a row, attendees at NRFtech heard from promising young companies as part of the “Tour of the Possible” program curated by Iterate Studio, a marketplace of startups indexing more than 135,000 companies focused on digital innovation. The full list and more information may be viewed here.


Florida Patent Pro Bono Program Holds 
Continuing Legal Education Course

 

 
The Institute and the Florida Patent Pro Bono Program, with assistance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, presented "The Ethics of Pro Bono Representation for Patent Practitioners" on Thursday, September 8, 2016 at the University of Miami School of Law. The continuing legal education course covered issues of ethics and professional responsibility in pro bono practice with a focus on patent practitioners, and featured guest speakers John Kirkpatrick, Program Coordinator, USPTO Patent Pro Bono Program, Thomas McBride Jr., Staff Attorney, USPTO Office of Enrollment and Discipline, and Dana Vouglitois, Program Director, Florida Patent Pro Bono Program. Prior to the CLE course, a Patent and Trademark Info Session was held at the University of Miami Launch Pad to inform students, inventors and small business owners about patent and trademark laws and the application process with the USPTO.



Myolyn Selected as Finalist for

6th Annual GAIN ShootOut Business Pitch 

 
Institute-funded Myolyn, a company that is commercializing technology developed at the University of Florida, has been selected as a finalist for the 6th Annual GAIN ShootOut Business Pitch Competition being held at the Harn Museum of Art on October 24, 2016. Myolyn is applying recent advances in robotics, automation, and control theory to rehabilitation and therapy products for individuals with neurological disorders, and presenting companies have the opportunity to win $15,000+ in cash and prizes. More details and event registration may be viewed here.  


Register Today for Innovation Connection Conference

 
Register for the Innovation Connection Conference (ICC) being held on October 15, 2016 at Prim Osborn Convention Center. This year the ICC is the centerpiece of the inaugural Jax Innovation Week and will feature several national keynote speakers, panel discussions, community dialogue, networking and exhibits for entrepreneurs, organizational leaders, investors, educators, students, policy makers, service providers, inventors and all innovation enthusiasts. Other highlights include a civic hackathon, urban murals, a 'Shark Tank' pitch event, an investor showcase, mentor madness, workshops, art, food, tours and exhibits. More details and event registration may be viewedhere.



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-seven companies have been funded to date, and the Institute’s economic impact through June 30, 2015 was $630 million, a return on investment of 22 times to the State of Florida.