Written By Amanda Mollindo
2019 has turned out to be a big year for CEI. But for us, the real heroes of this story will always be our clients. Over the last 12 months, we’ve had lots of amazing new entrepreneurs walk through our doors and many of our long-term residents have hit major milestones!
Keep reading to meet our new clients and find out about all the exciting things that are happening in the hallways of CEI.
New Clients
eTrack’s IoT-enabled SaaS solution delivers predictive real-time notifications. Unlike other tracking or OEM IoT solutions, eTrack works for rolling stock and stationary equipment across brands, ages, and technology levels, vastly simplifying asset management. Reports provide business leaders with strategic insights on topics from safety and training needs to fleet utilization and cost of ownership, helping the workplace work better.
In addition to proprietary software and other IP, eTrack Tech’s unfair advantage is the team’s deep operational experience with the problem of equipment breakdown from both a technical and operational perspective, ensuring practical, actionable insights.
Equus Innovations is an emerging developer of novel equine birth tissue-derived products. Their mission is to develop and provide innovative products to maximize the health and performance of horses across all breeds and athletic disciplines. They are the market leader in the development of advanced equine allografts derived from equine amniotic tissue. Equus Innovations works closely with its national partner (Equine Amnio Solutions, Argyle, Texas) to distribute its products.
After decades in the cytogenetics and IT industries, Allie and Gary Johns set out to create a better solution for laboratories to meet their demands. Focused on high-quality cytogenetic technologists, top-notch analyses, and industry-leading turnaround times (TAT) through the development of AI process automation, the pair developed a flexible lab testing solution built in a virtual environment. Their efficient process emulates the staff and specifications of their clients to reduce costs.
OxByEl is commercializing a cost-effective, sustainable, and scalable electrochemical technology to treat and destroy recalcitrant constituents across many vertical markets including PFAS in water and wastewater.
Xcellerate was conceived to help research companies transition into revenue. They design operational, marketing and strategic plans in conjunction with their brands and partner companies to facilitate growth, develop key markets, implement a sales strategy, and ultimately plan for acquisition or exit. Their team offers diverse backgrounds that help founders reach peak performance.
Their CEO, Ben Smith has committed is to grow his company and create a thriving epicenter for more bio-med and wellness headquarters to consider Phoenix versus LA or NYC.
ReSuture has developed the first comprehensive vascular surgical simulator for surgical education. Using a novel silicone-based material that accurately simulates the physical properties of vascular tissue, they are the first company to develop a highly realistic simulation of vascular surgery procedures. Their product will improve the psychomotor skills of future surgeons and reduce the burden of surgical complications.
Client Graduations
NanoCheQ
NanoCheQ were accepted into Y Combinator, one of the top startup accelerators in the country. This required a relocate of their company to Silicon Valley in May 2019. They are in the market and closing a $3M round.
RexPay
RexPay’s team outgrew CEI pretty quickly, and we wish them all the best as they continue to expand!
Client News
bioSyntagma Validated Their Technology & Made a New Discovery
Fall 2019
bioSyntagma went through a rigorous technology due diligence with a partner and passed. They aimed to validate their technology and in the process, discovered a new way to screen breast cancer patients. They will be presenting their findings at a conference in October.
Neolight Receives $2.5 Million in Investment From NFL Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger
August 2019
Neolight received a $2.5 million investment from NFL quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and wife Ashley Roethlisberger. This followed an expansion of NeoLight’s executive team to include Arik Anderson as president and Jeff Bradford as Chief Commercial Officer. Read more about this story in the Phoenix Business Journal and Forbes.
Barbra Timm-Brock & Rachel Mertensmyer join StartupAZ Collective’s 2019 Cohort
July 2019
The StartupAZ Collective is the organization’s signature initiative designed to increase the success rate and growth of the region’s highest potential startup companies. It’s where entrepreneurs combine their talent, network, and resources to help each other achieve success in growing their companies and creating a lasting impact in the community. Learn more about this year’s cohort and how founders benefit from this program in this Medium article by Lisa Glenn Nobles.
ReSuture Was Accepted into VentureWell’s E-Team Grant Program
Summer 2019
The VentureWell E-Team Grant Program supports students who have an idea or invention that has the potential to solve a significant social, health, or environmental challenge. their E-Team grants give student teams the opportunity to receive up to $25k in funding, along with the training, networking opportunities, and national recognition they need to launch their venture. ReSuture received a State 1 grant, as well as peer networking, expert coaching, national recognition, and hands-on workshops to help move their innovations forward. Read more about the program here.
eTrack Was Featured in the Phoenix Business Journal
May 2019
Read the article by Hayley Ringle here: Phoenix industrial tech startup provides real-time equipment tracking to prevent downtime
bioSyntagma Was a Finalist for Katerva Awards in the Category of Human Development
April 2019
Well over 1500 nominees were identified by Katerva’s researchers and spotters, all of whom volunteer to help Katerva achieve its mission. About half of those identified were invited to participate in the 2-stage submission process which generates a ranking within each of the ten awards categories which in turn informs the choice of Finalists. The categories, which include Behaviour Change, Economy, Gender Equality, and Smart Cities, build on the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Click here to learn more about bioSyntagma’s award-winning technology, mPrint, and find out about the Katerva Awards here.
Beacon Biomedical Was Featured on Arizona family
April 2019
Read the article here: Blood test flags colon cancer warning signs
Beacon Biomedical Was Featured in USA Today
March 2019
Read the article here: There’s a new blood test to screen for colon cancer. So should you skip the colonoscopy?
Beacon Biomedical Teams with National Phlebotomy Providers Network To Launch a Nationwide Blood-Draw Service to Support BeScreened™-CRC
March 2019
Beacon Biomedical teamed up with The National Phlebotomy Provider Network (NPPN), a professional 501c6 non-profit organization for the collection and delivery of blood specimens, to provide Beacon with nationwide at-home and in-office blood-draw services in support of Beacon’s recently launched colorectal cancer screening test, BeScreened™-CRC. Read more about this partnership here.
Botanisol Joins the Techstars Air Force Accelerator’s Class of 2019
February 2019
The Air Force Accelerator Powered by Techstars program was originally brought to market in partnership with the Air Force, who at the time was focused on increasing its engagement with early stage innovative startups and altering their approach to how they interface with and buy from startup organizations—without turning them into full-fledged defense contractors. Learn more about Botanisol Analytics achievement here.
4 CEI Clients were Finalists in the Fall 2019 Arizona Innovation Challenge
December 20, 2018
BioSyntagma, Flora Coatings, RexPay all finalists for the Fall 2018 Arizona Innovation Challenge and eTrack Tech was awarded a grant to grow their business. Read about the Arizona Innovation Challenge here.
Botanisol Analytics was Featured in the Phoenix Business Journal
November 2018
Read the article by Hayley Ringle here: Phoenix startup’s product to help farmers boost crop output
NanoCheQ Wins the 2018 IdeaFunding Pitch Competition
November 5, 2018
Last fall, NanoCheQ won the $25,000 grand prize at the IdeaFunding Pitch Competition. IdeaFunding is the business and entrepreneurship event inside of TENWEST Impact Festival, Startup Tucson’s signature ten day festival in October. IdeaFunding is one of Arizona’s largest conferences for entrepreneurs. It is a full day of pitch competitions, panels, discussions, speakers and networking around best practices, key lessons and next steps to launch a company. Read more about NanoCheQ’s win by clicking here.
