Category Archives: Neurotechnology

Share this story with your network

Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA March 7, 2017 Stryker announced today that its AVAflex Balloon System has received FDA 510(k) clearance and is, for the first time, available with Strykers market-leading bone cements and implants and the AutoPlex Mixing and Delivery System.

Doctors who perform vertebral augmentations are committed to the health and wellness of their patients, and Stryker is committed to empowering those doctors to provide the best possible care, said Chad Ludwig, marketing director at Stryker Instruments. The AVAflex Balloon System enables doctors to achieve bipedicular results with a unipedicular approach to vertebral augmentation.

The AVAflex and AutoPlex systems are used in the treatment of vertebral compression fractures (VCF), which affect an estimated 750,000 Americans each year. VCF patients can suffer from extreme pain and are at an increased risk for serious health problems. Vertebral augmentation, including the use of a balloon system, has been shown to provide patients with significant pain relief and dramatically reduce mortality rates.,

The AVAflex curved balloon systems new 11-gauge size allows surgeons to achieve with one insertion and a smaller needle what had previously required two insertions, making procedures less invasive and potentially reducing the risk of patient trauma. Using a minimally invasive technique, physicians can successfully create a midline cavity for targeted cement placement by accessing one pedicle.

AVAflex is now available with Strykers bone cements and implants and the AutoPlex Mixer and Delivery System, an easy-to-use bone cement mixing and delivery system. The AutoPlex system provides consistent and thorough blending of components, helping eliminate human error and variability.

Stryker has furthered its mission of making health care better for physicians, hospital staff and patients with the addition of the AVAflex portfolio, which it acquired from Becton Dickinson in 2016. Stryker provides the most complete and least invasive portfolio of vertebral compression fracture treatment options.

With an unrivaled collection of balloon catheters and augmentation options, cements, automated mixers and directional delivery systems, Stryker enables care providers to tailor their approach for the treatment of vertebral compression fractures. Stryker is now the exclusive provider of automatic mixing and delivery systems and 11-gauge curved balloons.

About Stryker

Stryker is one of the worlds leading medical technology companies and, together with our customers, we are driven to make healthcare better. The Company offers a diverse array of innovative products and services in Orthopaedics, Medical and Surgical, and Neurotechnology and Spine that help improve patient and hospital outcomes. Stryker is active in over 100 countries around the world. Please contact us for more information atwww.stryker.com.

Josh Sandberg has been an executive search consultant focused exclusively on orthopedic and spine start-ups since 2004. He has had a tremendous impact in helping his clients avoid costly hiring mistakes by his deep industry knowledge and network. In 2010, Josh co-founded Ortho Spine Companies, which is the parent company of Ortho Spine Distributors (OSD), Surg.io and Ortho Sales Partners (OSP). OSD a searchable database that helps ease the frustration of finding orthopedic distributors throughout the country. Surg.io is the ultimate distributor toolkit that offers distributors the tools necessary to build the foundation of a scalable and highly functioning sales organization. OSP is an end-to-end solution that helps companies approach the Global Market in a cost efficient way. Our team has hundreds of years of experience and can help you navigate the many challenges present in bringing new technologies to the market.

Go here to see the original:

Stryker's AVAflex Vertebral Balloon System Receives FDA 510(k) Clearance - OrthoSpineNews

The human brain is the mostcomplex system in the known universe. It is imbued with enormous potential that we have yet to fully understand or to harness. But were making progress, for many good reasons.

By studying how the human brain functions and how it responds to stimuli, we can potentially train our minds for optimal performance and, perhaps, overcome physical disabilities or detect neurological abnormalities for treatment. We stand now on the cusp of what has been called The Fourth Industrial Revolution, a revolution that is growing out of the integration of the physical, digital and biological realms. The ability to directly connect electronic devices to the human organism in order to affect physical objects around us has the potential to drive change forward at an exponentially increasing pace. Our understanding of our limitations will be shattered, and new vistas will open up, as we explore the possibilities that arise when we bring minds, machines, and the material world together.

Put simply, we stand to reap enormous benefits if we can enlighten ourselves as to why and how we think and feel - to improve how we interact with and experience the world around us.

Today, innumerable such efforts proceed in specialised laboratories around the world, with a rather limited number of research subjects. But everyones brain is unique and changing in unique ways. The term neuroplasticity means that our brains change shape and function based on personal biological factors as well as our individual experiences in life. So were likely to gain commensurately greater insights from a broader participation in such studies.

And thats where brain wearables come into the picture.

A market for brain wearables has promised to put neurotechnology into the hands of ordinary people. This is important because of the uniqueness of every brain; the greater the sample, the more robust the insights it yields.

Today these devices fall into two main categories. One uses electroencephalograms (EEGs) essentially, surface brain wave activity in a non-invasive, read-only mode, which can provide data on the wearers mental and emotional state. The other basic approach relies on transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS), which sends electrical signals to the brain for neuro-priming, which is intended to promote hyper-learning.

I work in the EEG-related field of brain wearables, which offer a means to further our understanding of the human brain in a useful form factor and at a reasonable price point.

We are using brain wearables to conduct longitudinal studies over time in more than 120 countries to discern how different stimuli and situations affect different brains, helping us understand, for instance, how different people react to handling stress or how we can assist them in achieving optimal performance.

In practical terms, understanding and encouraging high performance is one focus of our work, which would have obvious benefits for athletes, soldiers, professionals, artists nearly everyone, really. And the broadest possible application would be to gain a better understanding of how various stimuli and our own, often very individual responses affect our thoughts and feelings. The end result could be to inform an improved self-awareness and a better understanding of ourselves to mitigate irrational or unproductive behaviour.

Ultimately, those of us in the brain wearables field would like to make progress on the early detection of neurological issues and overall brain health.

One in three people, of the more than seven billion on Earth, are affected by brain-related illnesses, including depression, anxiety, dementia, autism, attention-deficit disorder (ADD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), stroke or trauma. Apart from widespread human suffering, these disorders are estimated to cost the global economy some $2 trillion per year. In the U.S., specifically, an aging population has the potential for extended lives, for which quality-of-life will require healthy brains.

Brain health is also considered a key factor in many other bioinformatics advances. I think of it as a quintessential 21st century issue.

Though Im positively buoyant about the known and potential benefits of brain wearables, it is also our duty to be vigilant about the potential risks.

Data privacy and security are perennial concerns for everyone. These concerns are heightened when personal health-related matters are at stake. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) provides legal protections and it is up to technologists to ensure that data privacy and security protections are state of the art.

Currently we are careful to apply significant effort and care to user consent issues for participation in studies we conduct. The critical issue, in my view, is preserving individual choice and the personal integrity of every individual.

I have few real concerns at this stage, because wearables are just that; you can put them on or take them off and anonymising data in studies is standard practice. But if brain wearables or related technologies were to become embedded in the human body, theres an obvious risk of abuse. Today, arguably, our thoughts and feelings are our own, but we know that chemical reactions govern these and thus they could be manipulated, leading to a loss of individuality.

Our approach is the opposite of a dystopian use of brain monitoring technology. Our philosophy is to democratize technology and make tools such as brain wearables more affordable, easier to use. Our technology platform is based on open access software (e.g., extensible APIs), aimed at both broad uptake (if the market finds them useful), and the broadest possible base of innovation to benefit all. We want to avoid creating another aspect of a digital divide, with brain wearables available only to a few who can afford them. We believe this approach is in step with societys shared values.

We work with partners across many domains and more than 120 countries, an open acknowledgement that we dont have all the answers. The direction that brain wearables take is not up to us as pioneers in the field. Its an open conversation. We simply want to position the technology and raise awareness for the greatest breadth and depth of potential contributions to the field. The more participants in brain wearable trials the more we learn about the behavior of the human brain and ways in which its health and optimal use can be encouraged.

Widespread adoption is the crux of our success. A broad and diverse dialogue on the issues of brain health and technology will enable the enhancement of healthy brains and detect signs of cognitive decline and disorders.

Continued here:

How 'brain wearables' can address 21st century needs - IoT Tech News

In a report released on 03/03/2017 RBC Capital Markets bumped up the target of Stryker Corporation (NYSE:SYK) from $129.00 to $135.00 indicating a possible upside of 0.04%.

Previously on 1/25/2017, Canaccord reported about Stryker Corporation (NYSE:SYK) increased the target price from $127.00 to $137.00. At the time, this indicated a possible upside of 0.13%.

Yesterday Stryker Corporation (NYSE:SYK) traded -0.20% lower at $130.24. Stryker Corporations 50-day average is $124.46 and its two hundred day average is $117.54. With the last stock price up 11.27% relative to the two hundred day average, compared with the Standard & Poor's 500 Index which has increased 0.05% over the same period. Trade Volume was down over the average, with 940,446 shares of SYK changing hands under the typical 1,320,280

With a total market value of $0, Stryker Corporation has price-earnings ratio of 30.07 with a one year low of $98.00 and a one year high of $131.36 .

A total of 24 analysts have released a research note on SYK. Nine analysts rating the company a strong buy, eight analysts rating the company a buy, nine analysts rating the company a hold, two analysts rating the company a underperform, and finally 1 firm rating the stock a sell with a consensus target price of $116.50.

Stryker Corporation is a medical technology company. The Company offers a range of medical technologies, including orthopedic, medical and surgical, and neurotechnology and spine products. The Company's segments include Orthopaedics; MedSurg; Neurotechnology and Spine, and Corporate and Other. The Orthopaedics segment includes reconstructive (hip and knee) and trauma implant systems and other related products. The MedSurg segment includes surgical equipment and surgical navigation systems; endoscopic and communications systems; patient handling, emergency medical equipment, intensive care disposable products; reprocessed and remanufactured medical devices, and other related products. The Neurotechnology and Spine segment includes neurovascular products, spinal implant systems and other related products. The Company's products include implants, which are used in joint replacement and trauma surgeries, and other products that are used in a range of medical specialties.

Receive News & Ratings Via Email - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.

Read more:

A report released today by RBC Capital Markets about Stryker Corporation (NYSE:SYK) ups the target price to $135.00 - Breaking Finance News

Yesterday Stryker (NYSE:SYK) traded -0.20% lower at $130.79. The companys 50-day moving average is $124.46 and its 200-day moving average is $117.54. The last stock close price is up 11.27% from the 200-day moving average, compared to the S&P 500 which has increased 0.05% over the same time. 940,446 shares of the stock were exchanged, down from an average trading volume of 1,320,280

Stryker (NYSE:SYK) had its target price raised to $135.00 by RBC Capital in a report released 3/3/2017. The new target price indicates a possible upside of 0.03% based on the company's last stock close price.

Previously on Wednesday January 25, 2017, Canaccord reported about Stryker (NYSE:SYK) raised the target price from $127.00 to $137.00. At the time, this indicated a possible upside of 0.13%.

Stryker has a price-earnings ratio of 30.07 with a one year low of $98.00 and a one year high of $131.36 The companys market cap is currently $0.

In addition to RBC Capital reporting its stock price target, a total of 24 analysts have released a research note on SYK. The one year target is $116.50 with nine analysts rating the company a strong buy, eight equity analysts rating the company a buy, nine equity analysts rating the company a hold, 2 brokers rating the stock a underperform, and finally 1 broker rating the stock a sell.

Stryker Corporation is a medical technology company. The Company offers a range of medical technologies, including orthopedic, medical and surgical, and neurotechnology and spine products. The Company's segments include Orthopaedics; MedSurg; Neurotechnology and Spine, and Corporate and Other. The Orthopaedics segment includes reconstructive (hip and knee) and trauma implant systems and other related products. The MedSurg segment includes surgical equipment and surgical navigation systems; endoscopic and communications systems; patient handling, emergency medical equipment, intensive care disposable products; reprocessed and remanufactured medical devices, and other related products. The Neurotechnology and Spine segment includes neurovascular products, spinal implant systems and other related products. The Company's products include implants, which are used in joint replacement and trauma surgeries, and other products that are used in a range of medical specialties.

Receive News & Ratings Via Email - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.

Go here to see the original:

Stryker (NYSE:SYK) target price raised to $135.00, reported today ... - Breaking Finance News

Wall Street Journal (subscription) (blog)

What Health Care Can Learn from Wal-Mart Wall Street Journal (subscription) (blog) Consumer companies avail themselves of psychology, anthropology and even neurotechnology, ironically using medical principles and equipment to influence our behaviors in a way the medical world is not. I'm not one to systematically dismiss surveys, ...

Read more:

What Health Care Can Learn from Wal-Mart - Wall Street Journal (subscription) (blog)

BOSTON, March 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- BioDirection, Inc., a privately held medical device company developing novel and rapid point-of-care products for the objective detection and monitoring of traumatic brain injury (TBI), announced today that the company will participate in the International Brain Injury Association's 12th World Congress on Brain Injury to be held March 29 April 1, 2017 at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Sergey Dryga, PhD, MBA, chief scientific officer of BioDirection, will present results from a pre-clinical study of the company's Tbit System for detection of TBI during the Neurotechnology in Rehabilitation session Friday, March 31st from 3:15-4:45pm CT in the Grand Chenier Room. In addition, BioDirection will present a poster titled, "Development of Silicon Nanowire Technology for Biomarker Testing."

"We are excited to be able to present the results of our human frozen serum sample study at the World Congress," said Dr. Dryga. "Participants in this conference include many of the leading clinicians in the field, allowing us to demonstrate the potential of the Tbit System to be used as a flexible and objective tool for diagnosing and monitoring brain injury."

The Tbit System is based on proprietary nanotechnology biosensors that are capable of providing rapid and accurate measurement of protein biomarkers released from the brain immediately following a head trauma. The company's first Tbit product utilizes a panel of two clinically-validated TBI biomarkers, S100 calcium binding protein B (S100) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). The flexible platform is fully scalable with multiplexing functionality, providing the ability to measure virtually any protein biomarker panel from whole blood. The Tbit System includes a disposable cartridge and portable analyzer capable of generating a test result in less than two minutes from a single drop of blood at the earliest stages of an injury.

The International Brain Injury Association's World Congress on Brain Injury is the largest gathering of international professionals working in the field of traumatic and acquired brain injury including stroke. For more information, visit http://ibia2017.org/.

About BioDirection, Inc.BioDirection, Inc. is a privately held medical device company developing novel and rapid point-of-care technologies for the objective diagnosis and management of concussion and other traumatic brain injury (TBI). The company's lead product, the Tbit blood test, delivers rapid biologically-based results to accurately confirm a traumatic brain injury/concussion. BioDirection's platform system utilizes a patented bio-nanowire technology with the potential for use in a range of applications in point-of-care diagnostics. To learn more about BioDirection visit http://www.biodirection.com.

Contacts:

Adam Daley

Eric Goorno

Berry & Company Public Relations

BioDirection, Inc.

Tel: +1 (212) 253-8881

Tel: +1 (508) 308-8592

Email: adaley@berrypr.com

Email: egoorno@biodirection.com

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/biodirection-to-participate-in-12th-world-congress-on-brain-injury-300415810.html

Excerpt from:

BioDirection to Participate in 12th World Congress on Brain Injury - Yahoo Finance

Edward Boyden is a professor of Biological Engineering and Brain and Cognitive Sciences at the MIT Media Lab and the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT. He leads the Media Labs Synthetic Neurobiology group, which develops tools for analyzing and repairing complex biological systems, such as the brain, and applies them systematically both to reveal ground truth principles of biological function and to repair these systems.

These technologies, often created in interdisciplinary collaborations, include expansion microscopy (which enables complex biological systems to be imaged with nanoscale precision) optogenetic tools (which enable the activation and silencing of neural activity with light,) and optical, nanofabricated, and robotic interfaces (which enable recording and control of neural dynamics).

Boyden has launched an award-winning series of classes at MIT, which teach principles of neuroengineering, starting with the basic principles of how to control and observe neural functions, and culminating with strategies for launching companies in the nascent neurotechnology space. He also co-directs the MIT Center for Neurobiological Engineering, which aims to develop new tools to accelerate neuroscience progress.

Amongst other recognitions, Boyden has received the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences (2016), the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award (2015), the Society for Neuroscience Young Investigator Award (2015), the Carnegie Prize in Mind and Brain Sciences (2015), the Jacob Heskel Gabbay Award (2013), the Grete Lundbeck Brain Prize (2013), the NIH Director's Pioneer Award (2013), the NIH Director's Transformative Research Award (twice, 2012 and 2013), and the Perl/UNC Neuroscience Prize (2011). He was also named to the World Economic Forum Young Scientist list (2013), MIT Technology Reviews international "Top 35 Innovators under Age 35" list (2006), and his work was included in Nature Methods "Method of the Year" in 2010.

Boydens Media Lab group has hosted hundreds of visitors interested in learning how to use new biotechnologies. He also regularly teaches at summer courses and workshops in neuroscience, and delivers lectures to the broader public, including talks at TED (2011) and the World Economic Forum (2012, 2013, 2016).

He received his PhD in neurosciences from Stanford University as a Hertz Fellow, where he discovered that the molecular mechanisms used to store a memory are determined by the content to be learned. Before his doctorate, he received three degrees in electrical engineering, computer science, and physics from MIT. Boyden has contributed to more than 300 peer-reviewed papers, current or pending patents, and articles, and has given over 300 invited talks on the work of the Media Labs Synthetic Neurobiology group.

Read the rest here:

Edward Boyden | Big Think - Big Think

ADVERTISEMENT

The fourth edition of WIRED Health returns on March 9 to shine a light on the big trends, breakthroughs and innovations from the worlds of medicine and healthcare.

As always, a diverse range of speakers will discuss the most critical themes and health technology inventions, and share their compelling stories and visions. Here are seven reasons why you can't afford to miss it:

1. Listen to then meet 19 industry-leading speakers, including Jessica Mega, chief medical officer of Verily, Alphabets medical arm, which is working on a cancer-detecting wristband; Jeremy Freeman, science director of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, which in late 2016 announced a $3 billion investment aimed at ending disease; and Peter Piot, co-discoverer of the Ebola virus and a leading researcher on HIV.

2. Hear from 15 exciting growth-stage companies on the WIRED Health EY Startup Stage, including disease-monitoring app Aparito, healthcare billing firm Eligible, medical robotic developer Ophthorobotics, and xbird, a disease management system that wants to save one million lives by 2020.

Since its launch in 2014, WIRED Healths Startup Stage has been a platform for entrepreneurs on the cusp of major influence to present their new products, solutions and technology. The first winner, sleep health app Sleepio and its parent company Big Health, made headlines in July 2016 for securing $12 million in funding to extend its work in mental health.

3. Network with more than 400 senior delegates from companies including AXA PPP, Barts Health NHS, Braun, Bupa, Chanel, Cisco Systems, Department of Health, Novartis, Galvanic, Gecko Biomedical, IBM, PwC and many more.

Subscribe to WIRED

4. Discover the biggest ideas and trends impacting the health sector, gain incredible insights and take home new techniques that can transform your business.

5. Discover a wide range of topics in the eight Main Stage sessions throughout the day. The agendaincludes The threat of epidemics, The end of ageing, Extreme medicine and Unlocking the brain.

6. Outside the Main Stage is the WIRED Health Clinic, an exhibition space where you will be able to interact with new healthcare products and devices. In the past, this space has hosted wearables, new wheelchair technology, groundbreaking prosthetics and neurotechnology tools.

7. Discounted tickets are available. WIRED subscribers are eligible for a ten per cent discount, and there are discounts for NHS and government employees, charities and startups. To enquire about discounts, just email our events team.

Want to know more? Join hundreds of healthcare, pharmaceutical and technology influencers and leaders at the fourth annual event on March 9 at 30 Euston Square. Buy tickets and learn more here.

Read more:

7 reasons you must attend WIRED Health 2017 - Wired.co.uk

Last week, the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board issued an important decision in a dispute over intellectual property rights to the powerful gene-editing system known as CRISPR. Using this system, researchers can make changes to a cells genome more easily and with greater precision than they can with other approaches. The method has great potential to advance our understanding of the biology and treatment of human disease.

The Broad Institute and MIT hold several foundational CRISPR-related patents based on research led by Feng Zhang, who is the James and Patricia Poitras Professor in Neuroscience at the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT and a core member of the Broad Institute. Zhang is also an associate professor in MITs Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences with a joint appointment in the Department of Biological Engineering.

The University of California at Berkeley has also filed CRISPR-based patent applications, stemming from research led by by Jennifer Doudna of UC Berkeley and Emmanuelle Charpentier, who is currently the director of the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin. UC Berkeley and Charpentier asked the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board to declare a patent interference to determine who was the first to invent key CRISPR inventions, suggesting that certain claims identified by UC Berkeley in its application were to the same invention as the claims in the Broad Institutes patents.

The Boards Feb. 15 decision means that the Zhang patents will remain in place, although UC Berkeley is weighing its options, including the possibility of an appeal to the Federal Circuit. MIT News talked with Charles Jennings, director of the McGovern Institute Neurotechnology Program, who also oversees communcations at the Institute, to learn more about the decision and its implication for gene-editing research.

Q: What is CRISPR, and what research is being done at MIT and the Broad Institute?

A: CRISPR is a naturally occurring system by which bacteria and other microorganisms fight viral infections. CRISPR systems, such as CRISPR-Cas9 and CRISPR-Cpf1, have been harnessed as powerful and efficient tools for genome editing, with far-reaching implications for biology and medicine.

Feng Zhang, a leading pioneer in this work, and his group submitted a paper reporting genome editing in mammalian cells (including human and mouse cells), using two different CRISPR-Cas9 systems from different bacterial species to target multiple genes in the cells genomes. This paper, which appeared in Science on Jan. 3, 2013 (Cong et al., 2013) is now the most cited paper in the genome-editing field. Since initiating this work, which began in early 2011 soon after Zhang started as a new assistant professor, his group has continued to develop the CRISPR-Cas9 system for genome editing in eukaryotic cells. The researchers have also explored the natural diversity of CRISPR systems, which allowed them to discover new systems with advantageous properties distinct from those of CRISPR-Cas9.

Many other groups at MIT (along with thousands of other labs worldwide) are now using Zhangs CRISPR-related tools, which he has made widely available for academic research via the Addgene website, where they have been requested more than 37,000 times.

Q: What did the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office rule on Feb. 15?

A: Zhang and his colleagues have been awarded more than 13 patents for their CRISPR-related work, which is focused primarily on the use of CRISPR in eukaryotic cells. After the first of Zhangs patents were awarded, UC Berkeley suggested a patent proceeding known as an interference be declared, arguing that Zhangs invention was the same as their pending claims.

On Feb. 15, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (which is part of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office) granted Broad's motion for no-interference-in-fact, rejecting UC Berkeley's arguments.

MIT welcomes this decision, which confirms that the patents and applications of the Broad Institute and MIT for use of CRISPR in eukaryotic cells are patentably distinct from the biochemical experiments in test tubes in the UC Berkeley filing. The Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) confirmed that Zhangs work, which began in 2011, represents a new invention that was not obvious from the prior work of Doudna, Charpentier, and colleagues, which was confined to results in a test tube. Specifically, in the words of the PTAB decision, one of ordinary skill in the art would not have reasonably expected a CRISPR-Cas9 system to be successful in a eukaryotic environment.

Q: How will this decision influence gene-editing research moving forward?

A: The Broad Institute and MIT are committed to making the CRISPR technology widely available for both academic and commercial use, including human therapeutic applications. The Broad Institute, which manages Feng Zhangs CRISPR-related intellectual property (IP) on behalf of both institutions, has developed what we have termed an inclusive innovation model for licensing CRISPR-related IP, in order to maximize the public benefit of this groundbreaking technology. The PTAB decision of Feb. 15 does not alter our policy, and we expect that genome-editing research will continue to move forward rapidly, with potentially transformative benefits for many fields including basic and disease-related research, agriculture, and medicine.

Originally posted here:

3Q: US Patent Office's Ruling on CRISPR - Bioscience Technology

Colorado Colleges fifth annual Big Idea competition, with $50,000 in seed money at stake, yielded three very different and very creative winners.

In first place was FlyPhone, which received $30,000. The was team comprised of six seniors: John Silvester, Dan Keogh, Ben Tweedy, Kiki Kauffman, Teddy Corwin, and Matt Levitan. Pitching the idea to the panel of judges were Tweedy and Kauffman, who explained FlyPhones concept of using a drone to turn a cellphone into a personal cameraman. The essence of their pitch states that By leveraging the power of your smartphone, our purpose-built software and drone body capture HD video from a more natural distance than a selfie stick, while affording a more intimate shot than any other drone on the market.

In second place was Chica Chocolate, which received $10,000. Team members Cassidy Lam 19 and Elise Morgan, who attends the University of Colorado, have been friends since they met in seventh-grade gym class (as did Ben and Jerry, they noted). Their high-quality chocolate truffles are infused with a Chinese herbal formula designed to ease monthly hormone cycles. Chica Chocolates are delivered to customers on a subscription basis.

Also receiving $10,000 was third-place Ogugu, made up of team members Harvey Kadyanji 18, John Roy Ballossini Dommett 18, and Niyanta Khatri '17.

Ogugu is a business analytics platform empowering owners of micro enterprises with inventory management, bookkeeping, and operations reporting and forecasting. Initially aimed at Tanzanian micro enterprises, it offers an affordable mobile solution aimed at improving the performance, efficiency, and growth of Tanzanian commerce.

Two other teams made it to the final competition, culled from an initial field of 17 teams. They were Spindle, a neurotechnology company that uses a sleep headband to optimize mental performance and expand the capabilities of the human mind. Team members were Ben Hicks 18, Alec Sheffield 18, and Henry Alderson-Smith 18. Also making it to the finals was TREEhouse, which provides a treehouse vacation with a social and environmental emphasis. Team members include Kat Jacaruso 17, Erin Burk 17, and Cora Lubchenco 17.

The judging panel featured entrepreneurs Meriwether Hardie 09, Richard Koo 82, Kishen Mangat 96, Susan Smith Kuczmarski 73, and five-time judge Bob Selig 61.

It was a spectacular job on the part of all five teams, Kuczmarski says, noting the uniqueness and creativity of each. As a judge, Kuczmarski considered each proposal based on a set of criteria: the need for it, its uniqueness, the scalability of the project, financial viability, and what competitive advantage would it have in a market setting. All had different strengths, and it was hard to pick the winner. The first- and second-place winners will advance to the Angel Capital Summit, held March 21 at the University of Denver, where they will compete in the University Startup Challenge.

The Big Idea competition is part of Innovation at CC, designed to promote innovation and entrepreneurship. The competition was held in the Celeste Theatre in the Cornerstone Arts Center, with CC students, faculty, and staff; Colorado Springs community members; and Air Force Academy cadets attending.

Read the original post:

5th Annual Big Idea Competition Nets Three Winners Colorado ... - Colorado College News