December 17 , 2009

bwtech@UMBC Welcomes New Companies


This summer and fall have been a busy time for bwtech@UMBC. Both our Research Park and Incubator and Accelerator welcomed new companies, along with two specialty incubators. We are excited about our new tenants and their growth potential, and wish them much success in the years ahead.

 

  • Pearl Life Science Partners, on the 2nd floor of the Incubator, is working on developing a platform that uses a modified viral particle vaccine technology to increase the efficacy of vaccines. CEO Mark Pittenger reports that the company is in the process of applying for grants and looking for larger investors. Its goal is to secure $1 million of financing that will allow it to complete the pre-clinical studies needed to obtain grants for human research and testing.

  • Quantum Medical Metrics, also located on the 2nd floor of the Incubator, is developing an advanced dual energy x-ray imaging system that can measure bone strength using three-dimensional engineering analysis and will be able to image patients whether they are lying down or standing up. CTO Tom Beck pointed out that this technology has applications for children as well as adults, because of the low radiation the system will use. In addition to measuring bone density to diagnose conditions such as osteoporosis, the system could also be used to evaluate problems in the growing skeleton. The company has licensed technology from Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Lab and is seeking development funds from NIH, the U.S. Army, NASA and other sources.

  • Amidus, located on the Incubator’s 4th floor, is a consultancy offering marketing and technology services, focusing on conferences and other business events. Co-founder Pranay Kohli says the company’s goal is to “offer a fresh, unique and personalized user experience.” He noted that there are over 13,000 business events each year in the U.S. and that Amidus is in a position to offer much value.

  • StormCenter Communications, also a resident of the Incubator’s 4th floor, specializes in weather and climate communications technologies. The company is currently working with NASA to develop a product that can be used by both TV stations and emergency planning agencies to predict and plan for catastrophic weather and climate events. UMBC’s existing relationship with NASA was a key factor in CEO Dave Jones’s decision to relocate his company from Howard County; another was the opportunity to collaborate with UMBC faculty on upcoming StormCenter projects and hire UMBC student interns.

  • Advantage Incubator@bwtech, with four founding tenants, opened in August in an office suite on the first floor of the Research Park’s 5523 building.  The new incubator, located in space formerly used by UMBC’s Erickson School, is designed for early-stage companies that are minority-, women- or veteran-owned and have substantial business activities aimed at providing technology-related products and services to state and federal agencies. Founding companies are Premier Management Corporation, CardioMed Device Consultants, Farfield Systems and Nixon Group.

  • Maryland Clean Energy Technology Incubator@bwtech is located in the Biotechnology Building adjacent to the main Incubator and Accelerator building. We are currently recruiting and interviewing prospective tenants. Founded in partnership with the Maryland Clean Energy Center, the incubator is designed for early-stage companies working with solar power, wind power, geothermal, hydro-power, biofuels, as well as energy management and storage technologies. A part-time Entrepreneur-in-Residence and an advisory board of experienced researchers and executives in the clean energy sector will also provide tenant companies with assistance. This is the first site in a planned statewide network of clean energy incubators.

 

“bwtech@UMBC is delighted to welcome these new companies as well as expand our incubator program. We are proud of our success over the years of developing successful companies and look forward to working with our newest tenants to help them achieve success,” said Ellen Hemmerly, executive director of bwtech@UMBC.