Technology Commercialization Grant Winners!
WINNERS CHOSEN FROM SEVEN COMPETING FINALISTS
The ’Elevator Pitch Night’ Event, culminating in the awarding of two $15,000 Technology Commercialization Grants, was a huge success! Held at the Governors Club on May 21, 2013, the event proved to be a gathering of many of Tallahassee’s most distinguished community business leaders and academics. Thank you to everyone who took time out of their busy days to join us.
Thanks especially to our esteemed panel of judges, who donated their expertise and time to help evaluate these start-up companies.
OUR JUDGES:
Michael Kramer ~ C.O.O., Desloge Home Oxygen & Medical Equipment
Dean Minardi ~ C.F.O., Bing Energy International
Jan Powell ~ President/C.E.O., Megas, LLC
Jacob VanLandingham ~ Founder, Prevacus, Inc.
LaTanya White ~ Visiting Instructor, FAMU School of Business & Industry
Congratulations to our two winning companies for excellent preparation and presentations! In addition to $15,000, each company will receive a scholarship for two members of their organization to attend the Entrepreneurial Excellence Program hosted by the Economic Development Council of Tallahassee/Leon County.
OUR WINNERS:
LIGAND DYNAMICS RESEARCH COMPANY: an early-stage company in the process of formation that is commercializing the FSU-proprietary Ligand Free Energy Analysis software, or LigandFEA, for use in the pharmaceutical industry. This software is capable of rapidly and accurately predicting binding affinities between ligands, or drug compounds, with disease-causing proteins. The drug development process can require 7-12 years and up to $1.2 billion to deliver a single drug to market. Ligand Dynamics’ software can reduce the overall cost of drug development by improving the success rate of candidate drugs. LigandFEA provides the most information needed to guide the drug discovery process. It is the only computer-aided drug discovery software that can provide a quantitative evaluation of ligand-protein binding, and it is the only software that can efficiently account for all complex molecular interactions. These unique capabilities will enable LIgand Dynamics Research Company to quickly capture and establish market share.
SPECIALIZED CRYSTAL PROCESSING, INC.: an advanced materials processing & manufacturing technology-based spin out company from the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. Currently, SCPI produces single crystals (synthetically grown materials that are near perfectly organized at the atomic scale) products for sale to a growing market of businesses & scientists in both industry & academia. SCPI focuses on applications of crystal growth method innovation & manufacturing, leveraging a dramatically lowered cost of production by using a patent-pending crystal growth process licensed from The Florida State University.
Congratulations, and thank you!
The mission of the Leon County Research and Development Authority is to work in affiliation with Florida State University, Florida A&M University, and Tallahassee Community College to:
- Promote scientific research and development activities.
- Foster economic development and broaden the economic base of Leon County.
The Leon County Research and Development Authority owns and manages Innovation Park by an appointed Board of Governors, comprised of prominent business and community leaders, working together to guide the growth and development of Innovation Park.
Board of Governors
Chair: Kristin Dozier, Leon County Commissioner
Vice-Chair: Barney T. Bishop III, Barney Bishop Consulting, LLC
Treasurer: Tom Allen, Capital City Bank Group
Keith Bowers, Alternate Designee, Florida A&M University
Timothy Edmond, The Edmond Group
Dr. W. Ross Ellington, Florida State University
Dr. Shawnta Friday-Stroud, Florida A&M University
Dr. Jim Murdaugh, President, Tallahassee Community College
David Ramsay, (Retired) SunTrust Bank
Gil Ziffer, City of Tallahassee Commissioner
Innovation Park is a research and development park located in Florida’s Capital City. It is located on 208 acres of scenic woods and rolling terrain with building sites available for immediate development.
For the past 25 years, Innovation Park has been the heart of Tallahassee’s technology future. The university-related research park was established as a unique location for technology industry and government scientists to work hand-in-hand with Florida A&M University and Florida State University
Innovation Park is home to a wealth of high-tech and research-based organizations that are creating the technology of tomorrow. Community members represent the university, governmental and industrial sectors. To learn more about the community please click here.
With the technological infrastructure already in place and a positive business climate supported by state and local government, Innovation Park is a prime location for companies seeking an edge over the competition.
For additional information:
Julia P. Matson, Office Manager
Phone: 850-575-0343
Email: jpmatson@inn-park.com