Start-ups won $350,000 in prizes after pitching to advance the development of their technologies
(Albany, NY – November 10, 2021) — FuzeHub, a not-for-profit organization responsible for assisting small and medium-sized manufacturing companies in New York State, announced the seven winners of the 2021 Commercialization Competition during the New York State Innovation Summit, held November 8-9 at the Turning Stone Resort in Verona, NY. The was the fifth annual competition, part of FuzeHub’s Jeff Lawrence Innovation Fund. Twelve entrepreneurs from across New York State pitched their ideas before three expert judges and a live audience. The winners are developing promising technologies in the fields of Cleantech, Energy, and Environmental Innovations, Advanced Materials, Advanced Manufacturing, and Life Sciences.
“We congratulate the winners for their success in the competition and for their contributions to the future of critical industries in New York State,” said FuzeHub Executive Director Elena Garuc. “We had an extremely strong cohort of competitors this year, and look forward to working with these young companies as they continue to build their products and businesses.“
During the Summit, finalists and attendees networked with peers as well as experts and resources for commercialization and manufacturing. The Summit also featured an Exhibit Hall of cutting edge products developed in New York State, as well as panel sessions on topics such as disruptive technology, national trends, and economic development. Keynote speakers and a CEO roundtable completed the event, which FuzeHub and Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology & Innovation (NYSTAR) present to showcase emerging industries and foster collaboration throughout New York State’s innovation ecosystem. More than 500 people were in attendance.
Empire State Development Senior Vice President and NYSTAR Executive Director Matt Watson said, “This annual Commercialization Competition is an exciting moment to take the pulse of innovation. And it shows New York State’s powerful technology ecosystem in action, supporting the commercialization journey of companies that will help generate future waves of economic growth.”
FuzeHub is pleased to announce this year’s awardees:
DomCat Technologies LLC (Binghamton)
With an expanding desire and need for green energy, DomCat Technologies seeks to expand New York’s manufacturing base with our low platinum content catalysts for fuel cell applications.
Eco-Baggeez LLC (Cazenovia)
Eco-Baggeez LLC is on a mission to do good for the planet while doing good for the people on the planet. Their patented alternative to plastic sandwich bags will help put a dent in the billions of plastic sandwich bags that end up in landfills, waterways, and oceans from U.S. households each year. With a strong social mission, they plan to expand their product line and impact by providing Eco-Baggeez in B2B, B2C, and B2G channels in both retail and wholesale arenas.
IV Wedge LLC (Babylon)
IV catheter placement is the most common invasive hospital procedure in the world; catheter failure rates are often as high as 50%. The driver behind these complications can be attributed to a single cause: the lack of stability. The IV Wedge is an accessory to a catheter that holds IV catheters and other cannula-bearing devices at a secure and fixed position for the entirety of treatment, stabilizing the catheter, supporting the proper insertion angle, and minimizing movement in the vein and kinking. The stabilizing device is simple, usable, and effective enough to be applied globally; reducing reinsertions, workloads, and costs.
Natural Beauty Breast Prosthesis, LLC (Hamilton)
Natural Beauty Breast Prosthesis, LLC, manufactures an organic, all-natural fiber, external breast form for women who have had mastectomies without reconstruction. They help women look, move, and feel like their natural selves while giving them the peace of mind knowing what they’re putting up against their skin will do them no further harm.
Pharmacoustics Technologies, LLC (Potsdam)
The compressed tablet is the most popular pharmaceutical dosage form in use worldwide. Issues in its design and manufacturing have the potential to make significant medical and financial impacts as failures in quality may result in harm to patients, product recalls, and medicine shortages. Pharmacoustics is an ultrasonic characterization/evaluation device startup developing instruments and equipment for assuring and increasing quality in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
PrisAM LLC (Rochester)
PrisAM LLC seeks to disrupt the aerospace industry by bringing down manufacturing costs and material waste when creating complex-curved sandwich panels. Their project is the development of an integrated hardware and software system for additive manufacturing of complex-curved sandwich structures. The hardware includes their proprietary multinozzle additive manufacturing and heating.
SunThru LLC (Scotia)
The EPA is demanding major changes to U.S. buildings to reduce energy consumption. SunThru is uniquely positioned to play a major role in the performance transformation of U.S. windows. Historically, high performance windows have existed as a niche luxury item. SunThru is designing a low-cost, high-performance window feature that will fit seamlessly into existing window infrastructure.
Stay tuned for some exciting news from the Jeff Lawrence Innovation Fund program in 2022 and more opportunities to fund your innovative manufacturing project!
The Jeff Lawrence Innovation Fund, consisting of $1 million annually, supports a set of activities designed to spur technology development and commercialization across New York State. FuzeHub is administering this fund as part of its role as the Empire State Development (ESD)-designated statewide MEP center. For more information about the Jeff Lawrence Innovation Fund, contact Patty Rechberger, Program Specialist at [email protected] or visit Jeff Lawrence Innovation Fund.