Nine Startup Companies Present Technologies at the Technology Ventures Deal Stream Summit

February 21, 2012

ALBUQUERQUE- Nine startup companies presented their business cases before investors from all over the nation at the Technology Ventures Deal Stream Summit presented by Technology Ventures Corporation (TVC) in partnership with the Department of Energy, Lockheed Martin Corporation and the International Business Forum, April 3-5, 2012 at the Hyatt Tamaya Resort near Albuquerque.

The annual forum provides investors throughout the U.S. and abroad the opportunity to invest in companies commercializing cutting-edge technologies developed in the national laboratories, universities and other research institutions.

TVC is continuously working with Argonne National Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Idaho National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, and Savannah River National Laboratory and Y-12 to commercialize potential technologies.

This year’s presenters were selected from a pool of nearly forty applicants.  The nine selected worked with TVC project managers and teams of advisors to refine their business case, further develop their business plan, and package their funding proposal.  At the April event, each entrepreneur had ten minutes on stage to present their company’s business case to the assembled investors.

Within the group of nine presenters, seven are commercializing national laboratory or university sourced or related technologies in the areas of industrial energy, electronics/instrumentation, software, biotechnology, semiconductor and telecommunications. 

According to John Freisinger, TVC President and Chief Executive Officer, “Of the entrepreneurs who have presented at TVC symposia since 1993, one in three TVC Symposium presenters have received funding—an unrivaled record."

 

THE PRESENTERS

Multiple Cellular Services and Increased Mobile Coverage

From: Asgard Enterprises, LLC, Albuquerque

What it is: Many people would like the convenience of a single cellular handset with multiple phone lines. The product offers this capability plus the ability to use the coverage areas of the different mobile service providers that are providing the multiple mobile service subscriptions. 

Potential for commercialization: The market includes anyone who has multiple cell phones or would like multiple mobile phone lines on a single handset. 

IP Status: U.S. non-provisional application pending. A PCT application has also been filed for international consideration of patent rights. 

Size of Market: ~ $100 billion.

For more information: Bobby Middleton, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), 843- 425-1930.

  

A Boost For Your Ride

From: Enerpulse, Inc., Albuquerque

What it is:  Bringing to market the first real breakthrough in auto- motive spark plug technology in over 120 years, Enerpulse’s patented PULSTARR Pulse Plug technology uses an integrated capacitor to intensify the ignition spark, substantially increasing engine performance and boosting fuel economy by an average of 6 percent.

Accomplishments:  A through C-round financings have led to development, launch and adoption of the retail product, sold now in AutoZone, Advance Auto Parts, O’Reilly’s and most internet stores, and a performance-ready product for the $7 billion OEM market.

Ask:  Funding is sought to accelerate identified projects with OEMs, develop application specific Pulse Plugs and scale-up production. Company will present this opportunity to help solve the automakers’ increasingly difficult task of improving ICE fuel economy and tailpipe emissions at a compelling low cost.

For more information:  Joseph Gonnella, CEO, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), 505-999-2000, http://www.enerpulse.com

 

Identifying Food Risks

From: Food Sentry, LLC, Albuquerque

What it is: Food Sentry finds problems with food, tells you about them in the store and commercial providers within the supply chain. The globally collected data (140+ countries) is robust and identifies numerous specific risks to consumers in the global food chain, updated daily. The information protects consumers from those risks.

Potential for commercialization: Consumer: Smartphone and tablet apps for in-store grocery decision-making. Web-based vertical information portal with deep data access, supporting food supply- chain decisions.

IP Status: Company owns one patent pending.

Size of market: USA only: $500 million annually, and growing. Worldwide potential is estimated to be a substantial multiple.

For more information: John Cousins, www. food-sentry.com, 505-363-7219  .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

 

Small Is Big

From:  HT Microanalytical, Inc. Albuquerque

What it is:  A unique, patent protected, 3-dimensional technology platform to fabricate high-performance, miniaturized switches and relays for commercial and military electronics markets.

Accomplishments:  Through angel and bootstrap financing and a strong advisory team, HT Micro’s industry-recognized management has worked closely with industry to prototype several high-value added products using a variety of metals and plastics to achieve superior performance.  Those customers are now interested in transitioning to much higher volumes, creating the opportunity for HT Micro to move aggressively into the $800 million small signal and relay switch and fuze markets.

Ask:  HT Micro is seeking investment to scale up manufacturing and design capacity.

For more information:  Todd Christenson, founder and CEO, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), 505-341-0446  http://www.htmicro.com

 

A Machine to Clean Produced Water

From: IX Power, LLC, Los Alamos, N.M.

What It Is: Power OrganiClear is a scalable, low-cost, component-based system for eliminating dangerous organic compounds from water produced in oil and gas production and other industrial processes, turning a liability (produced water) into an asset (water for drinking, irrigation and livestock) without increasing the waste stream.

Potential for Commercialization: The high cost to handle the 200 million gallons of produced water generated daily is curtailing oil and gas production. IX Power OrganiClear solves this problem, cleaning water in any environment.

IP Status: Patent license from Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Size of Market:  $17 billion worldwide.

For more information: John R. Grizz Deal, CEO, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), 505-661-1000, http://www.IXPower.com

 

Safer and Higher Performance Biomedical Devices

From: OBI, Inc, Chicago

What it is:  A new generation of biomedical devices based on two advanced material technologies, ultrananocrystalline diamond coatings, and a series of particle (diamond and oxides/ polymer composites) that will provide longer life, safer and better performance than current biomedical devices.  Dental implants are the initial focus of OBI, then expansion into all areas of healthcare implants.

Potential for commercialization:  The market for implantable medical devices is rapidly expanding with the need to address a growing number of medical problems, including restoration of human body functions.

IP status: OBI negotiated exclusive cross-license of ANL patents on UNCD film technology with ANL and Advanced Diamond Technologies, a company founded by O. Auciello and a colleague from Argonne in 2003, and now commercializing the UNCD technology for industrial components and devices. OBI and ADT are discussing commercial collaboration. In addition, OBI will have exclusive license of a new patent on a new diamond/oxide nanoparticles/polymer matrix composite that will be exclusive.

Size of market:  Dental implants alone are over a billion dollars.

For more information:  Orlando Auceillo, Ph.D.  (630) 252-1685, 9700 Cass Avenue, Bldg 212, Argonne, IL 60439-4838

 

Intelligence in the Cloud

From: Rival Theory, Inc., Albuquerque

What it is:  After bringing to market the number one artificial intelligence solution for the Unity 3D video game engine, Rival is ready to launch Legion™, a marketplace platform for the creation, sharing and distribution of AI characters.  The cloud- based solution supports community development, re-use and monetization of AI characters.  Legion also supports consumer offerings of major entertainment providers through live deployment, thus overcoming shortcomings of competitive offerings while massively expanding market reach.

Size of market:  The $90 billion global markets for video games, digital interactive media and smart toys create the opportunity for Rival Theory to move aggressively and capture key segments.

Ask:  Rival Theory’s industry-experienced management team seeks investment for a 3-phase commercialization strategy.

For more information:  William Klein, Ph.D., CEO, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address),  505-450-8805 http://www.rivaltheory.com

 

A Green Solution to Paint and Adhesive Removal

From: Teknikem, LLC, Clinton, S.C.

What it is:  RonJohn, a compound created specifically to overcome increasing health and safety requirements in the coatings and adhesive industry imposed by federal agencies. The current standard for stripping, methylene chloride, is designated as a hazardous air pollutant, toxic waste and carcinogen.  RonJohn will be the alternative for the industry.

Potential for Commercialization: RonJohn has a wide range of commercial applications in both conventional and green solvent markets for the government and private sectors with high potential for product line expansion into other uses beyond paint and adhesive removal.

IP Status: Teknikem has exclusive patent rights for the product from the DOE Y-12 Complex.

Size of Market: Over $15 billion by 2017. For more information: Scott Manley, scott. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), 888-812-5001

 

Revolutionary “Light Engines”

From: TriLumina, Inc., Albuquerque

What it is:  TriLumina’s new semiconductor lasers, known as “light engines,” are on target to revolutionize natural user interface (NUI) and LIDAR markets and wireless connectivity markets providing data rate speeds of 10Gbps.  TriLumina rests squarely upon the convergence of billions of data-hungry devices and evolving gesture controlled platforms.

Potential for commercialization:  The universe of NUI units, displays, tablets, peripherals, wireless and mobile internet devices are candidates for integration and initial design wins.  HDMI, USB3.0 and Thunderbolt® ports provide an installed “Plug and Play” market.

IP Status:  The company owns three patents and two international patents with additional applications in process.

Size of market:  Annual worldwide markets include over $10 billion for NUI/LIDAR and shipments of a billion high-speed ports.

For more information:  Gary Oppedahl, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), 505-977-4841