4 Startups Gain $55K Prototype Development Funds from Innovation Hub
The Innovation Hub is excited to present the recipients of the 2024 Prototype Fund. A total of $55,000 has been awarded to four startups that will enhance their creations and help them develop their prototypes!
The awarded teams are committed to tackling diverse challenges, they aim to improve health, sustainability, safety, and education. Funding is being awarded to students, faculty, and members of the local community, empowering them to advance their projects and develop prototypes that drive the commercialization process and foster entrepreneurship.
“The Prototype Fund gives entrepreneurs the resources to take their visions to the next level,” says Taysha Williams, Managing Director. “It’s a pivotal moment where ideas transition into real-world solutions, driving progress and growth for startups.”
Faculty, students, and community entrepreneurs with established startups are given the chance to receive funding that will help them develop products with the highest growth and development potential. The Prototype Fund not only assists in the development of innovative technologies but also in the development of intellectual property and technology validation. The awardees are as follows:
Cardio Intelligent Systems, LLC ($20,000) | Offers AI solutions to accelerate the healthcare industry's transition to preventive
and value-based care.
Team: Nandini Nair, CEO; Dongping Du, CTO; Tara Winsor, Customer Liaison Officer
LocShark ($15,000) | An innovative technology company that provides patented anti-theft devices/cases
to customers and enterprises nationwide, offering security and protection for locating
lost or stolen assets.
Team: Armani Williams, CEO; Rex Rose, CMO; Chad Galvez, COO
CrossLinguistics ($10,000) | An English language-learning app specifically designed for native speakers of Mandarin
Chinese, tailored for their exact pronunciation, grammar, and culture-based needs.
Team: Katie Weiss, Ph.D. Student in the Department of English, and Rebekah Fan, Ph.D. Student
in the College of Education
MicroMed ($10,000) | Design and innovation of microvascular anastomosis couplers for higher surgery
efficiency and improved patient outcomes.
Team: Paul Egan, Assistant Professor and Lab Director in the Department of Mechanical Engineering