Supplemental oxygen is often prescribed for patients with respiratory diseases, but current oxygen delivery systems are heavy, high-pressure tanks that can be dangerous and inconvenient to transport. Aeronics developed a portable and convenient oxygen therapy device with a microporous storage container that provides a safe, low-pressure supply of medical oxygen. Aeronics launched commercially in 2019 with a version of its product for veterinary applications. The team from the University of Pittsburgh participated in our E-Team program in 2017, ASPIRE for Life Sciences/MedTech in 2018, and OPEN Minds in 2018. VentureWell invested in October 2018 alongside Blue Tree Allied Angels and Investors’ Circle.

Each year, over 255 million people are affected by natural disasters, leaving them without access to clean water for days. Current relief efforts cannot provide enough clean water to disaster victims in a timely fashion. DayOne Response developed a family-sized water purification backpack with an integrated filter that allows users to collect, store, treat, and transport clean drinking water in just 30 minutes. The product has been deployed in over 20 countries. The team from California Polytechnic University participated in VentureWell’s E-Team program in 2009. VentureWell invested in the company alongside several angel investors in 2013.

dayoneresponse.com

Emergency healthcare providers need precise up-to-the-minute data to ensure patient safety. However, the practicalities of care are increasingly difficult, with more and more attention given to technologies that distract from the patient and the process of providing care. Dock Technologies developed a wearable patient ID band that provides immediate feedback at a glance to better prioritize care. Currently, Dock Technologies has launched the product with early adopters and is collecting real-time usage feedback. The team from the University of Wisconsin-Madison participated in VentureWell’s E-Team program in 2013. VentureWell invested in Dock Technologies in 2015.

docktechnologies.com

Of the 8.6 million US women who rely on birth control pills each year, 775,000 become pregnant unintentionally. EMME developed a pill case with an integrated hardware/software system that improves oral contraceptive pill adherence and offers guidance on how to proceed when a pill is missed. The company launched commercially in 2020 with the launch of its apps on the App Store and Google Play. The team from Stanford University participated in the E-Team program in 2017 and 2018, ASPIRE for Life Sciences/MedTech in 2018, and OPEN Minds in 2018. VentureWell invested in April 2018 in a round led by Bolt. 

Over 30% of produce harvested is never consumed. This means that all of the time, energy, money, and water that are put into cultivation are also wasted all along the supply chain. Hazel Technologies’ innovation controls produce ripeness and reduces spoilage, extending the shelf-life of fruits and vegetables and improving the efficiency of the fresh produce supply chain. DFI Marketing, one of the largest melon grower-marketers in the US, will use Hazel Technologies’ products on all of its melon export containers to Asia starting in 2017. The team from Northwestern University participated in VentureWell’s E-Team Program in 2016. VentureWell invested in Hazel Technologies in 2017 as part of an $800K round led by Rhapsody Venture Partners.

hazeltechnologies.com

Hundreds of millions of people around the world face dire health risks from drinking contaminated water. Current water treatment technologies are costly, requiring frequent filter replacement and chemical additives. HMSolution’s cost-effective, easy-to-use water treatment technology includes a filtering system that can last up to five years without replacement, and does not require additional chemicals. HMSolution has performed 100 laboratory tests to demonstrate effectiveness and is preparing for pilots. The team from Brown University participated in VentureWell’s E-Team Program in 2013. VentureWell invested in HMSolution’s seed round in 2016 alongside Slater Technology Fund.

hmwatersolution.com

Most composite tanks used for transporting natural gas and other fuels are made with a heavy gas-tight liner. These liners take up valuable storage space and add unnecessary weight, making the systems costly and inefficient. Infinite Composites Technologies (ICT) designs, develops, and manufactures advanced gas storage systems to make their transportation more economical. Its proprietary infinite composite pressure vessel (iCPV) is the only high-pressure fuel system able to hold more fuel weight than cylinder weight. This capacity makes transportation of natural gas and other fuels cheaper as the container is lighter and can contain more gas. The company has raised several million dollars to grow its team, facility, and business development efforts, in addition to an Oklahoma Applied Research Support grant from the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) for ongoing R+D. The team from Oklahoma State University participated in VentureWell’s E-Team program in 2012. VentureWell invested in Infinite Composite Technologies in 2015.

infinitecomposites.com

One in eight women in the US will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime, yet 20-50% of breast tumor removal procedures are unsuccessful, requiring patients to undergo a second surgical procedure or ionizing radiation therapy. Innoblative is developing Sira™, a saline-assisted Intraoperative Radiofrequency Ablation device, that uses bipolar current to intraoperatively create a controlled zone of ablation. Sira’s unique design and saline microinfusion system allows it to have maximum contact with target tissue and to be powered with existing electrosurgical generators. Innoblative Designs, Inc. has completed a National Science Foundation STTR Phase I grant and is working towards obtaining FDA 510(k) clearance. The team from Northwestern University first participated in VentureWell’s E-Team Program in 2013, and was also the first-place winner at the 2014 BMEidea competition. VentureWell invested in Innoblative Designs, Inc. in 2014.

innoblativedesigns.com

Pushing a standard manual wheelchair takes a great deal of strength and can cause arm pain and hand cramping. Solutions to make pushing easier are expensive and can inhibit one’s ability to brake. IntelliWheels Inc. designed Fit Grips, an accessory that increases the circumference of the hand rim to minimize the strain on your hand, while the improved grip allows users to push with less effort. The company’s patent-pending design is now sold by over 36 distributors around the globe. The team from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign participated in VentureWell’s E-Team program in 2010. VentureWell invested in the company in 2012.

www.intelliwheels.net

Transparent disinfectant bleach does not fully adhere to personal protective equipment, leaving healthcare workers vulnerable to infectious diseases. This notably intensified during the 2014 Ebola outbreak, which served as initial inspiration for the Columbia University E-Team, Kinnos. The team created ‘Highlight’, a powdered color additive for disinfectants like bleach. The additive provides visualization of treated regions of the protective gear and fades when disinfection is completed, eliminating uncertainty of thorough coverage. Kinnos raised $1 million in seed round funding in 2016 to support sales and additional product development. The team participated in VentureWell’s E-Team Program in 2016. VentureWell invested in Kinnos’ $1M seed round led by Georgica Advisors.

kinnos.us

Fiber-reinforced composites tend to fracture and delaminate under stress, causing severe mechanical failures during a machine’s lifetime. MITO Material Solutions developed a revolutionary nano-filler additive that can toughen fiber-reinforced composites by one hundred percent. In 2020, the team startup closed a $1M Series Seed funding round led by Dipalo Ventures and Clean Energy Trust. The team from Oklahoma State University participated in our E-Team program in 2015 and 2016, ASPIRE in 2017, and OPEN Minds in 2018. VentureWell invested in March 2018.

Stanford University, $20,000

For the 4 million people suffering from palmar hyperhidrosis—excessive sweating of the hands—treatment is costly and time consuming. palmm developed a convenient at-home treatment using a wearable electrical current delivery system. The company is projecting to attract three percent of 1.8 million potential customers within their third year of sales. The team from Stanford University participated in our E-Team program in 2016 and 2017, ASPIRE for Life Sciences/MedTech in 2018, and OPEN Minds in 2018. VentureWell invested in the company in 2019 alongside individual angels.

Biopsies frequently come back inconclusive due to poor sample quality. Pathware created software solutions to simplify digital pathology workflows and reduce the rate of repeat procedures. Bioptic™, a cloud-based sample management platform, returns a biopsy quality determination in minutes, verifying that a viable biopsy was collected with greater than 90% certainty. The original team included members from the University of Alabama and University of Michigan. They participated in the National Science Foundation I-Corps program in 2016, the E-Team program in 2017, ASPIRE Healthcare at TechTown in 2017, and OPEN Minds in 2018. VentureWell invested in the company in February 2019 alongside Valley Venture Mentors and Unity Point Health.

Operating cold storage spaces for perishable food is challenging and costly in areas with unreliable grid power. Promethean Power Systems designs and manufactures refrigeration systems for cold-storage and milk-chilling applications in off-grid and partially electrified areas of developing countries. To date, the company has sold over 500 units and served over 25,000 farmers in India. The team from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) participated in VentureWell’s E-Team program in 2007. VentureWell invested in the company in 2012.

promethean-power.com

Food banks discard thousands of pounds of food every year. This waste can take years to fully breakdown in landfills. Additionally, the yield of arable land is not fully realized in many parts of the world. reNature partners with local food banks to rescue food otherwise headed for the landfill, using it to make biostimulants and soil amendments. The company’s microbial bioreactor technology rapidly digests organic food waste into a highly diverse product, containing between 100 and 10,000 times more beneficial microbes than competing products, and eliminates E. coli and Salmonella naturally. The team is selling its soil amendments across the Southwestern United States, and is working to close the loop between food waste and food production. The team from Arizona State University first participated in VentureWell’s E-Team Program in 2012. VentureWell invested in reNature in 2015.

renatureinc.com

Diabetes is a rapidly growing disease; for many patients, especially those who may not have reliable access to quality healthcare, the disease is currently mismanaged. Rimidi Diabetes has developed a software solution focused on safely managing blood glucose, which allows patients and physicians to identify and close gaps in diabetes management. The company’s product has been shown to increase patient adherence to medical advice from fifty to ninety percent. They participated in the Village Capital-VentureWell HEALTH Boston Accelerator in 2014. VentureWell invested in November 2014. Co-investors include Investors’ Circle, Village Capital, Hitachi, Cox Enterprises, and The JumpFund.

Energy and aviation engine operators face costly maintenance issues and downtime because current monitoring practices are unreliable at high temperatures. Sensatek developed a wireless monitoring system that can withstand engines’ high combustion temperatures, providing near-real-time, accurate, and actionable data that can increase efficiencies and the life of engine parts. The team from Embry Riddle University participated in the National Science Foundation I-Corps program in 2017 and 2018, the E-Team program in 2017 and 2018, ASPIRE for CleanTech and Sustainability Startups in 2017, and OPEN Minds in 2018. VentureWell invested in March 2019 in the seed round led by Rhapsody Venture Partners.

Excessive internal tissue attachment can occur following surgery, causing complications such as significant pain, bowel obstruction, and infertility. Additional surgical procedures are required to remove abnormal tissue attachments if this occurs. Sintact Medical Systems developed a polymer film that is implanted into a patient’s body after surgery to ensure tissues remain separate, and to prevent expensive and uncomfortable complications. Sintact has received SBIR Stage 1 and 2 funding from the National Science Foundation. The team from Northwestern University participated in VentureWell’s E-Team program in 2013. VentureWell invested in Sintact Medical Systems in 2016.

sintactmed.com

Current approaches to “smart glass” or “electronic dimming windows” are expensive and impractical. SmarterShade created polarized film for shading windows. Unlike other smart glass technologies, SmarterShade’s patented technology can transition on command, with no electrical power needed, with simple mechanisms for a fraction of the cost. In 2015, VG SmartGlass acquired the IP assets, brand, and key human resources of SmarterShade Inc. to focus on the commercialization of the product. SmarterShade Inc. has re-named to ST Labs and still exists as an R+D entity. The team from the University of Notre Dame received an E-Team grant in 2007. VentureWell invested in SmarterShade in 2013.

smartershade.com

Approximately 70% of patients with spinal deformities who undergo complex and intensive surgeries to improve their quality of life remain malaligned. Spine Align developed a medical device that provides spine surgeons with real-time feedback and minimal workflow disruption during spinal corrective or alignment surgeries. Initial benchtop testing of the device has been completed successfully, and the company is now conducting cadaveric testing and demonstrations with key opinion leaders. The team from Johns Hopkins University participated in the E-Team program in 2018 and 2019, and ASPIRE for MedTech Salt Lake City in 2019. VentureWell invested in Spine Align in July 2020 in a seed round led by Rockies Venture Club.