15 local finalists chosen for excellence in Innovation, Corporate excellence and Entrepreneurship
COLUMBIA, Md. (May 21, 2012) – The Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) announced today that 15 finalists have been selected in the organization’s second annual ICE Awards. The awards program, which stands for Innovation, Corporate excellence and Entrepreneurship, will recognize outstanding businesses and individuals from TEDCO’s diverse portfolio of more than 300 seed and early-stage companies. Winners will be announced on Thursday, May 31, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. during the awards ceremony at the Sheraton Columbia Town Center Hotel in Columbia, Md. The event will also feature an update from TEDCO on funding programs and new initiatives designed to support entrepreneurs.
“TEDCO is proud to work with each of its more than 300 outstanding portfolio companies, which are producing solutions in fields from cancer research to electric vehicles,” said Rob Rosenbaum, president and executive director of TEDCO. “The ICE Awards give us an opportunity to highlight some of the most dynamic companies and individuals in business and technology.”
Awards will be made in three categories: Innovation, Corporate excellence and Entrepreneurship.
Finalists in the Innovation category were chosen for creating a new technology that addressed a specific need and gained follow-on funding. They are (in alphabetical order):
- Biaera Technologies, LLC – Produces laboratory equipment, training and resources for conducting infectious disease research, including basic and applied aerosol research
- BioMarker Strategies, LLC – Tissue-based cancer diagnostics company that developed the SnapPath™ live tumor cell testing platform to improve cancer treatment
- Clear Guide Medical – Provides immediate image-guided medical interventions using low-cost local sensing methods and software algorithms
- VisiSonics Corporation – Creates tools and applications that combine proprietary RealSpace™ audio signal processing algorithms with computer vision to address real-world acoustic solutions
- Vorbeck Materials, Inc. – Global technology company developing commercial products using its proprietary graphene materials Vor-x™, the strongest, most conductive material to date
Finalists in the Corporate excellence category were chosen based on growth numbers in the areas of employees, revenue and investments; history as a TEDCO portfolio company; community involvement and company recognition. They are (in alphabetical order):
- BioFortis, Inc. – Produced Labmatrix™, which integrates data between life science research and clinical practice
- CSA Medical, Inc. – Introduced an internal cryogenic therapy that can destroy unwanted tissue inside the body
- Lookingglass Cyber Solutions, Inc. – Software security company delivering cyber situational awareness solutions
- Sensics, Inc. – Produces lightweight, panoramic and high-definition head-mounted displays to provide users with immersive visual experiences
- TRX Systems, Inc. – Develops location and tracking technologies in areas where GPS is unreliable or unavailable
Finalists in the Entrepreneurship category were chosen based on their distinct leadership skills, start-up success, personal recognition, vision creation and ability to build a management team. They are (in alphabetical order):
- Todd Johnson, founder, former president and CEO, Salar, Inc. – Developed a suite of advanced clinical productivity solutions for healthcare practitioners, including a suite of products that replace traditional paper clinical documentation with electronic “smart” paper
- Dr. Shira Kramer, founder and president, Sterilex Corporation – Creates and markets novel antimicrobial products designed to overcome factors responsible for antimicrobial resistance
- Michael Raphael, founder and president, Direct Dimensions, Inc. – Provides comprehensive 3D scanning and imaging technologies, digital modeling capabilities and analysis software
- Robert Rashford, owner, Genesis Engineering Solutions – Engineering and operations services and advanced laser technology
- Mahi Reddy, founder and CEO, SemaConnect – Produces and supports charging stations for fleets, municipalities, parking lot operators and homeowners with electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles
The ICE Awards ceremony on May 31 will include tech demos, networking opportunities, the awards presentation and remarks by representatives from 2011 ICE Award-winning companies.
The public is invited to attend the TEDCO ICE Awards. Visit www.marylandtedco.org to learn more. Media is also encouraged to attend. To arrange for a press pass, contact Kelly Cahill at 410-504-8312 or kcahill@mghus.com.