All Entries in the "Startups" Category

Jim Ryan | CEO| and Peter Rothschild | Co-Founder and CTO | Heuresis Corporation

Heuresis is a high-tech startup up in the Boston area, founded in November 2013 by Peter Rothschild and Hal Grodzins. The company mission is to design and manufacture the world’s most advanced hand-held x-ray instruments for the environmental and security markets. Heuresis released its first instrument almost three years ago. The PB200i is an x-ray based handheld paint analyzer, which can measure the lead content in paint in just a few seconds, allowing the user to determine whether the paint is above or below the level set by the EPA to safeguard children from lead poisoning. This product won the prestigious Advanced Manufacturing award in 2016 from the Advance Australia organization. The second Heuresis product, the HBI-120, is the world’s first handheld “x-ray flashlight” which can
easily image through the steel panels of a vehicle, allowing customs and security personnel to detect a wide range of illegal contraband. After its first year of release, this product is already being extensively used for narcotics interdiction in the United States by numerous law enforcement agencies, resulting in many seizures of smuggled drugs and currency. The HBI-120 contains many high-tech features, including a 120,000 volt x-ray tube, a powerful quad-core processor, and communication capabilities including Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. It also contains an optical camera and GPS capability, allowing the system to automatically create complete reports containing x-ray images, optical images, and critical location and time stamp data, which can be emailed directly from the instrument. Heuresis recently received a multi-year R&D award from the Science & Technology Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security to develop the next-generation handheld instrument to be used by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents. This system will have the ability to image through thicker steel and to scan larger objects, such as shipping containers. Heuresis intends to stay on the cutting edge of technology and innovation, creating advanced x-ray instruments that will make the world a safer and healthier place.

Beckon Ice Cream: Dairy Full, Lactose Free

Katy Flannery & Gwen Burlingame | Co-Founders | Beckon Ice Cream

Co-founded by female entrepreneurs Katy Flannery and Gwen Burlingame, Beckon is the first
premium lactose-free dairy ice cream on the market and has distinguished itself as an ice cream
favorite for those who are lactose intolerant. Beckon’s unique process allows its ice cream to
be made from traditional ice cream ingredients, including milk and cream, but without the
lactose. By using the natural enzyme the body needs to digest lactose, Beckon ice cream can be
both dairy-full and lactose-free, maintaining the creamy, satisfying taste and texture that we
expect from our favorite ice creams.
It is estimated that 65% of the human population is lactose intolerant. Beckon’s mission is to
make real, premium ice cream with a clean label available to anyone, including those with
lactose intolerance. Unlike many ice creams on the market, Beckon does not use any gums,
corn syrup, or artificial stabilizers. Beckon sources high quality dairy from a co-op in the
Northeast that is 100% farmer-owned and sweetens every flavor with non-GMO pure cane
sugar.
“Beckon is here to welcome lactose intolerant ice cream lovers back to real premium ice cream.
We chose the name Beckon to illustrate that invitation or call to join in. Our ice cream is not an
alternative; it’s the real deal. We’re extending deliciously creamy, dairy-full ice cream to an
entire group of individuals who have previously had to compromise,” said Gwen Burlingame,
co-founder of Beckon.
Beckon will be available in five flavors – Sea Salt Chocolate Chip, Vanilla, Mint Chip, Espresso
and Chocolate – starting in June 2018 with an MSRP of $5.99 for a 16oz pint in Whole Foods
Market, Roche Bros, and Big Y throughout New England. Beckon is also expanding distribution
to select retailers in the New York Metro Area.

Evan Butler | President and CEO | Etiometry

In 2010, two aerospace engineers and a physician turned biomedical engineer realized that the
way hospitals handle the deluge of physiologic patient data is inefficient and does not provide
for the best patient care. This is especially true in critical care, where clinicians are often
confronted with a volume and complexity of data that is above the ability of a single human to
realistically process in its entirety, which when combined with the high stress/high stakes
environment of intensive care leads to patient harm and clinicians’ burnout.

Etiometry was founded to apply aerospace based predictive analytics methodology to
physiologic data, thus harvesting the power of technology to optimize clinical decisions and
improve patient outcomes. The Etiometry Platform is an FDA cleared next-generation patient
monitoring Software Platform that provides intensive care units with actionable timely
information. By synthesizing all physiologic data into specific patient risks, the platform raises
the situational awareness of the whole clinical team, thus allowing them to intervene early and
avoid patient harm.

Etiometry has 7 of the 10 best pediatric hospitals in the world as clients, which provides a
partnership with the leading thought leaders in the pediatric world. The platform has been
already associated with a 25% reduction of patient length of stay, demonstrating a tremendous
potential impact on the $120B per year ICU expenditures. Moreover, unlike the Electronic
Medical Record with which the majority of clinicians are dissatisfied, the Etiometry Platform is
well embraced among more than 90% of its users.

The company current expansion plans include transitioning to the adult market and exploring
the benefits of the platform through more hospital settings.

SIX FINALISTS SELECTED IN 2018 RHODE ISLAND BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION  

All Will Share Prizes Valued at $265,000

PROVIDENCE – (April 26, 2018) – The Rhode Island Business Plan Competition today announced that six finalists have been chosen in the 2018 Competition, which will award prizes valued at $265,000 when winners are announced next month.

The finalists have proposed businesses that address opportunities in agriculture, document management, energy, health, music recording, and nutrition.

All finalists will briefly present their business idea on May 17 at an Awards Ceremony to be held at the Rhode Island Nursing Education Center, located in South Street Landing on the Providence waterfront, after which the winners will be announced.

Following are the finalists:

FungEye is a rover-based detection system, using multispectral imaging, to identify mold growth before the human eye can, replacing manual inspections which often lack accuracy. Principal applicant: David Katzevich, Brown University.

goTeff is a low sugar, all-natural, nutrition bar that uses Teff, a gluten-free super-grain with low-glycemic index and a superior balance of nutrients, for cardio, nutrition, and health-minded consumers. Principal applicant: Saron Mechale, Brown University.

PowerDocks has created floating platforms, such as moorings and docks, that use renewable energy sources to generate, store, and distribute power at those sites. Principal applicant: Anthony Baro, Newport.

Predictive Optics is developing a portable, inexpensive wearable device that optically evaluates cerebrovascular health by quantifying retinal blood flow dynamic differences between eyes. Principal applicant: Vishnu Dantu, Brown University.

TextUp has developed an encrypted, affordable software package for social workers that increases their efficiency by enabling them to manage all documents and information flows. Principal applicant: Michelle Petersen, Brown University.

Your Heaven Audio has developed a hardware/software technology platform for amplifying and recording acoustic musical instruments accurately and easily. Principal applicant: Prachi Jain, Providence.

Sponsors of the 2018 Competition

The 2018 competition is supported by 58 sponsors, including private businesses, professional firms, banks, investors, colleges and universities, nonprofit and service organizations, and public agencies, as well as five former competitors.

Lead sponsors of the 2018 competition are Bryant University, Cox Business, Everhope Foundation, Hinckley Allen, Integrated Media Group, KLR, Locke Lord, Materials Science Associates (former competitor), MedMates, The Providence Journal Charitable Legacy Fund, and Sprout.

Also sponsoring the 2018 competition are Bank of America, Barlow, Josephs & Holmes, Ltd., Brown University Nelson Center for Entrepreneurship, Center for Women and Enterprise, Cumulus Media, Envision Technology Advisors, FM Global, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses at CCRI, Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, Hatch Entrepreneurial Center, Luminous, RevUp Capital, Roger Williams University, Social Enterprise Greenhouse (former competitor), Tech Collective, and the URI College of Business Administration.

Sponsors also include AAA Northeast, Bank Rhode Island, The Beacon Mutual Insurance Company, Business Development Company, Delta Dental of Rhode Island, Dimeo Construction Company, The Hilb Group of New England, The Idea Turbine, IGT Global Solutions Corporation, Morgan Stanley-Richard Carriere, The Moore Company, Navigant Credit Union, RI Student Loan Authority, Savings Institute Bank and Trust, Slater Technology Fund, Teknor Apex, and The Washington Trust Company.

Additional sponsors include BankNewport, Cherrystone Angel Group, Citizens Bank, Classic Hassocks, CVS Health, Deepwater Wind, Fidelity Investments, Hayes & Sherry Real Estate Services, InsureMyTrip, Johnson & Wales University, Newport Biodiesel (former competitor), Pawtucket Credit Union, StormTree (former competitor), and Virgin Pulse (former competitor).

About the Competition

Established in 2000, the Rhode Island Business Plan Competition has been recognized as one of the top 40 business plan competitions in the country. To date, it has awarded prizes valued at more than $2.3 million to developing companies across many industries. More information is available at www.ri-bizplan.com.