Innovation News

Airway Therapeutics helps premature infants with healthy lung development

By Soapbox

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June 14, 2011

In 2008, more than 530,000 babies were born prematurely in the U.S. That's about one in eight babies, according to the March of Dimes. Many have lungs that are not yet fully developed. That's where Airway Therapeutics comes in - the local business was created to help premature infants with their lung development and even survival rates.Based on 10 years of research at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Airway Therapeutics was created to develop a surfactant protein that lines the surface and airways of babies' lungs to help inflate them and keep their air sacs from collapsing. Airway's initial focus will be on the prevention of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and also the prevention and treatment of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (nRDS) in very premature infants. Normally, lungs mature to produce surfactant in the seventh month of gestation. Very premature infants (before 32 weeks gestation) have generally not developed lung surfactant to make the transition during birth from fluid-filled lungs to lungs that can easily expand to handle air movement. Administering surfactant to these very premature infants shortly after birth allows them to breathe. Airway's product, rhSP-D, would be added to existing surfactant prior to treating a premature newborn, and has been shown in the lab of Dr. Jeffrey Whitsett to be useful in reducing lung inflammation, a condition associated with BPD. Dr. Whitsett is chief of the Section of Neonatology, and Perinatal and Pulmonary Biology at Children's. Bringing his research into the market is CEO Steve Linberg, Ph.D., who has more than 30 years of clinical research, drug development and biologic development experience. The company recently received a seed-stage investment by CincyTech - a Cincinnati-based venture development firm that invests in technology-based startup companies - and the Cincinnati Children's Tomorrow Fund. Each has invested $250,000 as part of a projected $1.2 million seed-stage funding round led by CincyTech. The company is headquartered at BioStart, the Cincinnati bioscience startup center located in Clifton, which is a previous investor in Airway.The new investment will allow Airway to meet with the Food and Drug Administration within a few months to confirm their plans to begin developing rhSP-D in combination with an already-available surfactant, and then file an Investigational New Drug (IND) application within 15 months. Linberg estimates a total estimated cost of $25 million to bring the drug to market."This drug will save babies that don't survive today and radically improve the lives of millions of others," says CincyTech Executive-in-Residence Mike Venerable.Writer: Sarah Blazak

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Northern Kentucky ezone taking applications for varied funding opportunities

By Newsroom

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Entrepreneurship

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June 14, 2011

Northern Kentucky tech, science and medical entrepreneurs have a chance to tap one of three state funds for seed capital through the end of this month. The Kentucky Enterprise Fund, Rural Innovation Fund and Kentucky New Energy Ventures Fund are accepting applications for funding through June 23 at 4 p.m. These three targeted funds are geared toward high-growth potential businesses in five sectors: Biosciences, Environmental & Energy Technologies, Human Health & Development, Information Technology & Communication and Materials Science & Advanced Manufacturing. In the last round of funding more than $600,000 was awarded statewide to companies. Past recipients in Northern Kentucky include Jacobs Automation, Zoomessence, Bexion Pharma, ASAP Analytical, and TodayForward.Northern Kentucky businesses can submit applications through Northern Kentucky ezone, a division of Northern Kentucky Tri-ED that has a mission of accelerating start-up, emerging and existing high-tech businesses."This is open to early stage companies from an idea to a company that is running and looking to grow," said ezone commercialization director T. Keith Schneider.Companies can apply for a combination of direct funding (that must be repaid) or matching grants. To find out more or to apply, contact Schneider at (859) 292-7785 or tks@northernkentuckyusa.com. Following are the basics on each fund: Kentucky Enterprise Fund Eligible Companies: Must be Kentucky-based and have 150 or fewer employees. Must be operating in one of the following industries: Biosciences, Environmental & Energy Technologies, Human Health & Development, Information Technology & Communication or Materials Science & Advanced Manufacturing. Funding: Grant: $30,000. Company must match the grant 1:1 through cash or in-kind services.Funds must be used for approved business development activities. Investment: Up to $250,000, $500,000, and $750,000, must be repaid. Rural Innovation Fund Eligible Companies: Must be Small, Rural (located outside Fayette/Jefferson Counties), Kentucky-based company and have 50 or fewer employees. Must be operating in one of the following industries: Biosciences, Environmental & Energy Technologies, Human Health & Development, Information Technology & Communication or Materials Science & Advanced Manufacturing Funding: Grant: $30,000. Rural funds must be spent with independent third-party partners/consultants. Grants must be repaid upon receipt of follow-on award from Rural Innovation Fund or Kentucky Enterprise Fund. Funds must be used for approved business development activities. Investment: $100,000 must be repaid Kentucky New Energy Ventures Eligible Companies: KNEV will provide support for companies developing and commercializing products in the following areas: Alternative transportation fuels produced from coal, waste coal, biomass or extract oil from oil shale, synthetic natural gas, Ethanol produced from food crops or cellulosic ethanol, any other fuel that is produced from a renewable or sustainable source. Must be Kentucky-based and have 150 or fewer employees. Must be developing/commercializing alternative fuel and renewable energy products, processes, and services. Funding: Grant: $30,000. Company must match the grant 1:1 through cash or in-kind services. Funds must be used for approved business development activities.Investment: Any amount over $30,000. Companies must match the fund's investment on a 1:1 dollar ratio. Funds may be invested via convertible note or through direct stock.Investments can only be made in a company organized as a C Corp. or as an LLC Writer: Feoshia HendersonSources: ezone commercialization director T. Keith Schneider and Start-Up Kentucky You can follow Feoshia on Twitter @feoshiawrites

Queen City Angels host 10th annual entrepreneur boot camp

By Soapbox

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Entrepreneurship

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June 14, 2011

Cincinnati venture mentoring and investment firm Queen City Angels held its 10th annual Entrepreneur Boot Camp June 6 and 7 at the Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati's offices. For two days, entrepreneurs networked, met and learned from guest panelists, Queen City Angels' experienced members and each other."These are entrepreneurs who are starting their first business, or haven't raised money from strangers before," explained Jim Cunningham, Queen City Angels member and executive director of C-Cap, Cincinnati's angel capital hub. He noted that the two-day seminar focused heavily on financial and funding matters. "That's what we do, and most entrepreneurs don't have a financial background."As local entrepreneurs and experienced venture capitalists discussed topics ranging from online branding to creating a business plan that appeals to investors, attendees took copious notes and enthusiastically asked questions. Often, one attendee would help answer another's question, giving the seminars a sense of thorough, complete engagement on both sides of the speaker's table.Jocelyn Cates, who founded the Cincinnati Innovates prize-winning business Venue Agent, said she attended the boot camp after her experiences in Queen City Angels' Morning Mentoring program. She noted that much of the seminar served to reinforce the value of coaching and networking, two key aspects of her business as she prepares to seek additional financing."I want to make sure I have all the tools under my belt," she said.Selena Cuffe, founder and CEO of wine importer Heritage Link Brands, said being part of the boot camp helped her clarify plans to handle her company's early growth; in the first six months of 2011, she said the company has already exceeded its 2010 sales by 40 percent."I came here to try and decide how to best move forward," she said. "When you're going through the steps of taking your business to the next level, it's nice to have somebody you can bounce ideas off of before you do that," she said.Queen City Angels chairman Tony Shipley said the boot camps don't only offer a chance to help entrepreneurs like Cuffe and Cates move forward; they also inspire and energize the veterans who come to provide advice."It's always good to be engaged with people who are passionate about taking good ideas and bringing them to market," he said. "From the investment standpoint, you get to see all these neat ideas and meet people making the ideas happen. It's high-energy stuff." Story: Matt CunninghamPhoto: Courtesy of Queen City Angels

Topic Design Group hires three, growing mobile ad and app development work

By Newsroom

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Architecture + Design

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June 7, 2011

Six years into his company's life, co-founder Chris Witham sees Topic Design Group finding its footing in the digital space.The Over-the-Rhine based creative design, technology and publicity services company has recently hired three new employees to help support its growing digital development work. There are plans to hire at least two more by year's end, Witham said."We've had some personnel changes in the last year, and we've brought on some new designers because we are extending more and more of our work into the digital space, particularly in mobile advertising and app development work," in addition to its signature web site development work, Witham said.The company has forged some early stage partnerships with Cincinnati-area companies that are driving new work its way. Topic gets some client work in partnership with Marketing Support Services, which offers a wide variety of business fulfillment services, but has recently delved into the digital realm of apps."They've begun selling apps for their clients, and we work collaboratively to produce all the apps," Witham said. "We've done work for Iams and Ethicon-Endo Surgery. It's been a really nice piece of our business over the last year."They are also working collaboratively with Cincinnati-based Mike Zitt Inc. and Cambridge, Mass.-based JumpTap, in the deployment of targeted mobile advertising campaigns."They are like Norton (billboard and outdoor advertising company) but sell digital advertising space," Witham said. Through Mike Zitt and JumpTap, Topic has done mobile ad work for well-known clients including Lexus, Ford, Honda, Bose, Dawn, Dunkin Donuts and more.The company has cultivated its own mobile app development business on its own, as well, through local companies who've seen Topic's innovative work during events like the MidPoint Music Festival. One of Topic Design Group's more popular MPMF ideas involved social media. With the hashtag #MPMF on Twitter, a Cincinnati Bell text number or an online form, users could engage and interact across multiple music venues by reading and contributing to the live MPMF.com feed projected at many venues. "We've matured into ourselves, and very focused on our core services, design, technology and experience," Witham said.Writer: Feoshia HendersonSource: Chris Witham Topic Design GroupYou can follow Feoshia on Twitter @feoshiawrites

Annual KY Girls STEM conference at NKU links education and industry

By Newsroom

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Higher Education

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June 7, 2011

The STEM approach to education (STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) emphasizes teaching real-world, hands-on, 21st Century work place skills. So it's only natural that American industry and its workforce needs are part of crafting STEM instruction.That linkage - between the classroom and the workplace - is the focus on the third annual Kentucky Girls STEM Collaborative Conference set for June 29 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Northern Kentucky University Student Union."There are businesses in the area that are looking for graduates with certain skills in math and science, and there are educators and parents that don't even know these jobs are out there," explained Dr. Bethany Bowling, NKU biological sciences professor and Northern Kentucky STEM Collaborative chair. "For instance, there is a breakout session on connecting math skills to specific careers. This can help educators design lessons for students so that they can see the relevance of a particular math concept, while also possibly opening their eyes to careers they didn't know about or understand." The conference is a joint effort of the NKY STEM collaborative, the NKY Chamber of Commerce and the KY Girls STEM Collaborative. Industry sponsors include Duke, General Cable, MAG Cincinnati, and Messer Construction. It's geared toward K-12 and college educators, STEM professionals, parents and STEM related non-profit and government agency representatives. The cost is $25, including lunch and online registration is available. The event's keynote speaker will be Kentucky native Nancy Holliday, manager at Microsoft."She is going to talk about her experiences and the important role that STEM education played in her life in preparing her for a career with a top technology company," Bowling said.Other planned speakers include Darin DiTommaso, vice president of General Electric Aviation Engineering, and Dr. J.J. Jackson, University of Kentucky vice president for institutional diversity. Additionally, the conference will address attracting more girls, women and minorities in STEM education and industry."We need more of our graduates to pursue education and careers in STEM fields because that's where the (economic) growth and innovation is. If we don't grow these fields, which requires a great increase in minority participation, then the U.S. ability to innovate is going to suffer in areas as wide ranging as data management and clean water," Bowling said.Writer: Feoshia HendersonSource: Dr. Bethany Bowling NKU biological sciences professor and Northern Kentucky STEM Collaborative chairYou can follow Feoshia on Twitter @feoshiawrites

Two Health IT companies setting up HQs in Newport, creating 20 new jobs

By Newsroom

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Health + Wellness

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June 7, 2011

Two health IT companies - one from Korea - are setting up North American HQs in Newport, creating a combined 20 new jobs in the process.The companies - Korean-based Arcron Systems Inc. and Meaningful Use Technologies, are moving into a 5,000 sq. ft. shared space with plans to invest $1 million in office upgrades. The companies are still working to find the most compatible space. "There is incredible opportunity in the healthcare industry and we know that Northern Kentucky - Newport, Kentucky - is strategically positioned to support the national headquarters for both companies," said Mark Morgan, chief executive officer of Meaningful Use Technologies.Arcron Systems specializes in medical IT technology, such as hospital information systems, electronic medical records, order communication systems, and enterprise resource planning systems for hospitals of all sizes. Meaningful Use Technologies also serves the healthcare sector, specializing in enterprise IT experience and providing software specification, deployment and hosting services to hospitals.The companies are positioning themselves to help hospitals comply with a component of the federal American Reinvestment and Recovery Act stimulus bill, the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This requires that patients' medical records be transferred to an electronic format by 2015."We know that high-tech companies like Arcron Systems and Meaningful Use Technologies will create high-paid, primary industry jobs for our residents. The presence of Northern Kentucky University's College of Informatics will help supply qualified, cutting- edge employees for these outstanding companies," said Campbell County Judge Executive and Northern Kentucky Tri-ED Chairman Steve Pendery.Writer: Feoshia HendersonSource: Kentucky Governor's officeYou can follow Feoshia on Twitter @feoshiawrites

Streetpops small batch, gourmet popsicles coming to downtown, OTR events and venues

By Newsroom

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Entrepreneurship

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June 7, 2011

Cincinnati may be home to some famous ice cream brands, but nothing quite captures summer fun and youth like a popsicle. One Mt. Auburn entrepreneur has just turned her passion for the icy treat into a gourmet, small batch popsicle business called streetpops.Sarah Bornick is debuting the pops this summer at events and venues across downtown and Over-The-Rhine. She creates the recipes and produces the pops herself, with some help from a friend, in an area commercial kitchen. Bornick, who said she "loves the portability" of popsicles, came up with the idea about six months ago. Initially, she wanted to open a gourmet ice cream store, but decided to try something a little different. There is less competition in the popsicle space, and by selling in small batches at events, she keeps costs manageable."If this goes well, hopefully down the road I can open a storefront," she said.Bornick makes small batches of 50 or 60 popsicles at a time. Flavors run the gamut from the familiar to the adventurous, including strawberry mint, peanut butter, blueberry lemon thyme, avocado and chocolate chili pepper.Bornick is also a freelance graphic designer, which came in handy in designing the packaging, web site and t-shirts she'll use to promote the business.Starting this month you can find streetpops at some of Cincinnati's most popular events, including Second Sunday on Main, and Paddlefest at Sawyer Point on June 25. She will also be at Findlay Market on Saturdays and Sundays and at The City Flea, a new, open air urban flea market that kicked off June 4. She's talking with several local business and coffee shops who are interested in carrying Streetpops."The response so far has been really encouraging," she said.Bornick's treats are also available for office parties, family outing, weddings, baby showers, church festival or other events. You can reach Bornick through her Facebook page.Writer: Feoshia HendersonSource: Sara Bornick, founder streetpops

Edible Ohio Valley champions local businesses, food economy

By Newsroom

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Arts + Culture

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May 24, 2011

In a time when many people are far removed from what's in their food and where it came from, there is a visible movement to get back to basics. One new local publication, Edible Ohio Valley, sets out to make the case for eating fresh, eating local, and supporting small businesses. Edible Ohio Valley is one of about 70 independently owned Edible Communities publications that promote a Locavore - or a fresh, locally based - eating lifestyle.Just over a year old, the quarterly magazine-quality publication is operated by three sisters: Jennifer Kramer-Wine, Julie Kramer and Joy Kramer-Arndts, who collectively write, design, illustrate and sell advertising for the publication (with freelance contributions). Their parents help distribute it to local businesses and some libraries.The sisters decided to start the publication after Julie and Jennifer, who previously lived in New York City, saw Edible publications in Connecticut and New York help drive a local food movement."I thought this would be great in Cincinnati, it's a city that has such an agricultural history that seems to have been lost, and it really needs this kind of support," said Julie, publisher and art director. "I thought with all of our talents combined, it was possible for us to take this on."Edible Ohio Valley covers the range of local food consumption, from farmers, retailers, vineyards, bakeries and restaurants. You can also find some book reviews and recipes, an event listing (which is updated online) and an advertiser's directory which serves as a resource for locavore-minded businesses."We really want to inform. We want people to use Edible Ohio valley as a resource for local food, and to really get people thinking about where to buy food and why they should know their growers," Julie said.The free publication is supported by advertising. Most of it is local, with the exception of Whole Foods, which advertises in all Edible publications wherever a Whole Foods is located. So you can find the publication there, as well as Findlay Market, Party Source, Anderson Farmer's Market, Pipkins Market in Montgomery and Gorman Heritage Farm in Evendale and these places. You can also read it online. Edible Ohio Valley has Facebook and Twitter pages to stay connected with readers.The publication is off to a prestigious start. Earlier this month, Edible Ohio Valley was awarded 2011 Publication of the Year Award from the James Beard Foundation, along with the suite of Edible Communities Titles. The National Award has been compared to the Oscars of the food world.Writer: Feoshia HendersonSources: Jennifer Kramer-Wine and Julie Kramer, co-founders Edible Ohio ValleyYou can follow Feoshia on Twitter @feoshiawrites

bioLOGIC expanding in Covington, plans include new office, lab and classroom space

By Newsroom

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Entrepreneurship

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May 24, 2011

bioLOGIC Corp, a Covington-based global life science investment and management company and life science accelerator, is doing some growing of its own. The company is working with the City of Covington, Kenton County and Kentucky state government to expand the city life sciences footprint."We are working very closely in a public-private collaboration to really catalyze the growth of the life science corridor in the city," said bioLOGIC partner Margaret van Gilse. "The City of Covington is giving us a building on Pike Street - we are looking to build it out in the next year."The company is putting together financing and building plans, van Gilse said, which include putting a lab space and manufacturing facility into the former Tanino's Restaurant.bioLOGIC is also expanding its current space at the 150-year-old Russell Street HQ this year, building out the 7,000 sq. ft., second floor. The addition will include office and lab space, along with classroom facilities, van Gilse said. bioLOGIC houses eight life sciences companies. Its growth is being fueled in two areas: existing company growth and new ones looking to locate or relocate to Covington."(Our current companies) are really startups, most are pre-market and in the development phase of their products. These companies have begun to mature and are getting closer to market," she said.One of those companies, Bexion Pharmaceuticals, will be hiring two summer interns and six full-time employees over the next 24 months. Another, Surgical Energetics, is planning to file for FDA approval for its first commercial product which could lead to hiring new employees. bioLOGIC will hire one new employee this year, van Gilse said.Covington is a good location for bioLOGIC for several reasons, according to van Gilse. It's near research institutions such as Cincinnati Children's Hospital and the University of Cincinnati, which offer a pipeline of innovation that can be used to develop products that promote health. Corporations like P&G and GE offer a supply of top talent to draw from, and government leaders in Covington, Kentucky County and state government offer support and incentives that drive company growth."There is real interest in growing life sciences as economic development drivers," she said.Writer: Feoshia HendersonSource: bioLOGIC partner Margaret van GilseYou can follow Feoshia on Twitter @feoshiawrites

Chamber’s GrowthForce program aims to accelerate regional business growth

By Newsroom

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General

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May 24, 2011

The Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber is ramping up its efforts to retain and grow the region's existing businesses through a revamped program called GrowthForceGrowthForce is building and expanding on the successful 20-year old Regional Business Retention Committee (RBRC), a volunteer group of 30 business leaders who mentor local business owners through growth periods."GrowthForce is a collaboration of business sector volunteers, local economic development professionals, and regional Workforce Investment Boards, a vastly expanded team of experts to address business needs," said Julia Muntel, the Director of Investor Relations and Business Retention with the Chamber. "The coordinated approach allows us to maximize resources by working in a regional, aligned fashion. This gives us the most bang for our buck. GrowthForce leverages powerful, existing resources and applies the same methods and tools of business attraction to help local companies stay strong and grow jobs in the economy. Focusing on local, established business growth isn't a small piece of Cincinnati's economic pie. In 2010, nearly three-fourths of the region's total business investment came from existing businesses, according to the Chamber.The free program is open to companies in the 15-county tri-state region of SW Ohio, Northern Kentucky and SE Indiana. The program's goals are to grow the its number of business outreach volunteers by 25 percent, and to increase the number of participating businesses to 450, a 10 percent jump from last year. "In this era of elevated competition and economic uncertainty, we have recently chosen to focus on companies that may be rapidly expanding, within targeted industries, or those experiencing a variety of changes in their business cycle. These high potential companies, large and small, may be well positioned for growth," explained Muntel. GrowthForce's expansion is largely being supported with a $250,000 grant to increase business retention efforts that the Ohio Department of Development awarded the Chamber last December.To support the program, the Chamber will publish the Cincinnati USA Regional Business Resource Guide, and provide training and orientation to partners. The resource guide and other supporting materials can be found online on the GrowthForce website.Writer: Feoshia HendersonSource: Chris Kemper, Cincinnati USA Regional ChamberYou can follow Feoshia on Twitter @feoshiawrites