FuzeHub Announces 2024 New York State Innovation Summit Commercialization Competition Winners

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Susan Bardack/Buzz Media Solutions
Phone: (518) 867-7940
[email protected]

Patty Rechberger
[email protected]

(Albany, NY) — FuzeHub, a not-for-profit organization that supports small and medium-sized manufacturing companies in New York State, is excited to announce the winners of its eighth annual 2024 Commercialization Competition. This Competition occurs yearly as part of the ESD-supported FuzeHub Jeff Lawrence Innovation Fund. This year, thanks to additional funding from NYS Governor Kathy Hochul’s office, the program was able to award even more startups and introduce a runner-up level. Twelve entrepreneurs from across New York State competed for a chance to win $50,000 by pitching their business plans to a panel of judges, with a grand award of $150,000.

“New York State is investing in the future through programs like the Jeff Lawrence Innovation Fund and its annual Commercialization Competition. It’s obvious that the technologies on display at this year’s finals all have great potential, not only as marketable ideas, but also as cornerstone products for startups contributing to job growth and economic impact in the Empire State,” said Ben Verschueren, Executive Director of Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR). “I look forward to following the progress of these winning projects, and our team at NYSTAR stands ready to help overcome any new hurdles that pop up along the way. Congratulations to all.

“Watching twelve startups present their case on stage is always both enlightening and inspiring,” said Patty Rechberger, Innovation Fund Manager at FuzeHub. “The passion these founders demonstrate for their products reflects their commitment not only to solving problems but also to making a positive impact on the world. I feel truly honored to be part of their journey. Congratulations to the winners, and to all the finalists: your hard work and innovation are commendable!”

 

The first-place team and the winner of the $150,000 grand prize is Anova Biomedical (Southern Tier).

When an artery is blocked, rerouting blood flow with a vascular graft (or blood vessel replacement) can save patient lives and limbs. Anova Biomedical is developing a cutting-edge vascular graft that will revolutionize the standard of care for these patients. Vascular grafts used in hospitals today are made using materials that stay in the body forever, causing problems like infection, clot formation, and inflammation. Each of these problems causes pain and suffering for the patient, requires frequent medical intervention, and puts lives at risk. Anova grafts are made using an entirely new material that is infection resistant and prevents clot formation. Over time this material completely disappears as it is replaced with a new blood vessel, significantly decreasing the risk of future complications. Successful translation of this technology will create a new treatment option for millions of patients every year, and improve the standard of care for millions more. Anova’s growth and commitment to remaining in upstate NY will create quality jobs in the medical device field, a sector that is currently severely lacking in the region.

 

The runner-up team was awarded $100,000: Andiem (New York City).

Andiem solved the most common orthopedic injury in the world. Every year, over 2 million Americans sprain or break their ankle and the estimated economic burden is $4B. It’s a huge problem and none of the “solutions” are working. About 650K of these injuries happen in basketball alone. It’s the most common injury in the sport and responsible for the most missed time, even in the NBA.

Working with orthopedic surgeons, Andiem built a basketball shoe designed to prevent ankle injuries at their root cause. They take a fundamentally different approach than braces by focusing on preventing inversion, rather than reacting to it. This enables their shoe, The Pivot 1.0, to both improve performance and prevent injuries.

Basketball is a huge market, with over 28M playing in the US and over 400M globally. But basketball is just the start. This technology applies across flat-surface sports like volleyball, tennis, squash, pickleball, and handball. Andiem’s vision is to become a global, multi-sport brand, designing function-focused products dedicated to player longevity, health, and performance.

 

In addition, five more teams placed and will receive $50,000 each toward their startup ventures. This includes:

 

Ergami Endoscopy (New York City)

Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the US, with over 50,000 deaths each year in the US (12% of total cancer deaths). Colonoscopy is the most effective procedure for diagnosis and treatment of colon cancer, and over 20 million colonoscopies are performed each year in the US. Screening age reduction from 50 to 45 years and a severe shortage of gastroenterologists have created a significant colonoscopy backlog, and there is an urgent need for drastic productivity improvements. Looping during scope insertion causes significant challenges in colonoscopy including patient pain and the need for sedation; endoscopy related injuries in endoscopists and nurses; and prolonged and variable insertion time. Ergami Endoscopy is developing a low-cost robotic colonoscope insertion solution to improve procedure productivity; reduce patient pain and need for sedation; and reduce endoscopy-related injuries in endoscopists and nurses.

 

Eutrobac (New York City)

Eutrobac’s journey began with co-founder Ellie Sangree, who, at just 16, was deeply concerned about nutrient pollution affecting her community and the environment. Growing up on a farm, she researched ways to combat nitrogen and phosphorus pollution, finding that most existing solutions relied on synthetic chemicals that harmed natural waterways.

Now a PhD candidate at UC Santa Cruz, Ellie co-founded Eutrobac to bring innovative solutions to life. Eutrobac’s flagship technology, the NutriFilter™, is an affordable, groundbreaking solution for removing nitrogen from manure lagoons. This patent-pending device uses a unique pump and substrate material that dissolves nitrogen, transforming it into a harmless gas—making up 70% of the air we breathe.

Solving nitrogen pollution is vital not only for water quality but also for the health of ecosystems that depend on it. Eutrobac’s approach empowers farmers to reduce their environmental impact and navigate regulatory challenges more effectively, paving the way for sustainable agricultural practices that benefit the entire country.

 

FASS Syringe (Mid-Hudson)

FASS is a unique syringe system that uses a rotating mechanism to switch between two needles in a single device, eliminating the need for manual switching of needles. Developed by an ER nurse after witnessing the dangers of needlestick injuries firsthand, FASS is designed to improve safety and efficiency in high-pressure environments like the ER and psychiatric units, where patients can be agitated. In these settings, medications often require needle switching—one to withdraw from a vial and another to inject—due to their thickness or the need for mixing. Traditional manual switching wastes time and increases the risk of needlestick injuries, which still occur in 1 out of every 6,000 injections, often from uncapped needles in chaotic environments. FASS solves this by allowing a simple twist of the barrel to switch between needles, much like a color pen. It also features a safety mechanism that hides the needle after use and reduces plastic waste, offering a safer, faster, and more sustainable solution in acute care settings.

 

IsoGuardian (Capital Region)

IsoGuardian is transforming healthcare with an innovative reusable medical gown that offers 89% cost savings compared to disposable alternatives and provides 5 times the safety standard. Tested for over 300 washes, Iso can save the medical industry 57% over reusable gowns. Unlike all the other disposable and reusable gowns on the market, IsoGuardian gowns are breathable, cool, and lightweight, allowing healthcare workers to stay comfortable during long shifts. This product is ideal for use in hospitals, clinics, and various medical settings where both safety and cost efficiency are crucial.

With our FDA registration nearing completion, IsoGuardian is poised to deliver a solution that addresses the challenges of rising healthcare costs while enhancing safety and comfort for medical professionals.

 

Triton Bio (Central New York)

Imagine having a front-row seat to the hidden drama of microbial life – that’s what Triton Bio delivers. Their newly launched Mira Smart Incubator captures microorganisms in action and in stunning detail over days or even weeks.

Using the Mira system, microbiologists will gain an unprecedented view into the dynamic world of microorganisms. With this revolutionary product, microbiologists will discover new antibiotics and probiotics, improve food preservation and safety measures, engineer microbes that clean up pollution or produce sustainable materials, and optimize brewing and fermentation processes.

Triton Bio’s Mira System brings the microscopic world into focus, enabling research that can improve our daily lives -from the food we eat to the environment we live in. By advancing our understanding of microbes, Triton bio is helping to build a healthier, more sustainable future.

 

The New York State Innovation Summit celebrates New York State leadership in technology-led economic growth. Companies and researchers at the forefront of emerging technologies and new advancements in production capabilities were showcased while current technology convergence opportunities, ways to accelerate commercialization, and issues of manufacturing sustainability were be explored.

During the Summit, finalists demonstrated the commercialization potential of their product or technology and competed against each other for one out of seven awards. Award funds must be used to improve an existing prototype, enabling the company to pursue additional investments and customers, and leading to the commercialization of their product.

 

About Jeff Lawrence

During his more than 20 years at the Center for Economic Growth, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) affiliate in the Capital Region where he served as executive vice president, and MEP Center Director, Jeff Lawrence directed programs of direct assistance to manufacturers and technology companies to increase their competitiveness. He is remembered for being an invaluable and generous mentor to many in the area’s business community and a tireless advocate for manufacturing innovation throughout New York.

About FuzeHub

FuzeHub is a not-for-profit organization that connects New York’s small and mid-sized manufacturing companies to the resources, programs and expertise they need for technology commercialization, innovation, and business growth. Through our custom assessment, matching, and referral platform, we help companies navigate New York’s robust network of industry experts at Manufacturing Extension Partners centers, universities, economic development organizations, and other providers. FuzeHub is the statewide New York Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program (MEP) center, supported by Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology & Innovation.

About Empire State Development

Empire State Development is New York’s chief economic development agency. The mission of ESD is to promote a vigorous and growing economy, encourage the creation of new job and economic opportunities, increase revenues to the State and its municipalities, and achieve stable and diversified local economies. Through the use of loans, grants, tax credits and other forms of financial assistance, ESD strives to enhance private business investment and growth to spur job creation and support prosperous communities across New York State. ESD is also the primary administrative agency overseeing the Regional Economic Development Councils and the marketing of “I LOVE NY,” the State’s iconic tourism brand.