Fall 2019 Awardees

Texas Tech University President's Awards

NemaLife: A company that developed a platform technology for high throughput drug discovery and toxicology in small animals.
CEO Founder – Siva Vanapalli
$25,000 awarded

BaoNano: A company that will significantly downscale the power circuit profile and enhance the lifetime and functionality of electronic devices.
CEO Founder – Zhaoyang Fan
$15,000 awarded

iNoon: A company with a novel diagnostics method of detecting eye diseases using a smartphone.
CEO Founder – Jo Woon Chong
$10,000 awarded

TTUHSC President's Awards

VxMed: The company transforms medical school textbooks and lecture content into a virtual reality training experience for first- and second-year medical students.
CEO Founders – Anthony Betteridge and Nathan Lloyd
$25,000 awarded

Performance Fasteners: A company that manufactures automotive-styling accessories along with a new line of custom-off parts and accessories for the discriminating automotive enthusiast.
CEO Founder – Toby Brooks
$15,000 awarded

PCOS Diet: A company that developed a novel dietary approach to managing polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) that has resulted in successful weight loss and improved metabolic parameters with no caloric restriction, carb counting, fat counting, portion limitation or exercise.
CEO Founder – Jennifer Phy
Awarded $5,000 plus an additional $5,000 to develop app

 

Application Call Coming Fall 2020

Texas Tech University has partnered with Market Lubbock, Inc. to establish the Presidents' Innovation Award. The objectives of the grant from Market Lubbock include: 1) programs for students and entrepreneurs; 2) seed-stage funding for startups; and 3) seed grants for startups to support equipment and rental expense at the Innovation Hub at Research Park (Hub).

A committee of TTUS faculty, Hub staff, and TTUS facility staff determine the top applicant startups that exemplify innovation and commercialization. The committee will review applicant budgets and make a recommendation that may or may not be reflective of the budget submitted in the application. Final decisions for awards are made by the TTU President and TTUHSC President.

The awardees of this prestigious Presidential grant will be announced December 1. There are four awards by each President in the following categories:  

1- $25,000 award
1- $15,000 award
2- $5,000 awards or 1- $10,000 award

The lease contract for these awards will begin in January and run through the calendar year.

Eligibility: All TTUS students, faculty, and staff are eligible. All community members are eligible. Prior awardees of the PIA grant are ineligible to submit unless application is for a different startup company.