On top of 20 company presentations and sponsor exhibits on Wednesday, we've added the opportunity for an exclusive number of selected companies to participate as non-presenting exhibitors. New to Venture '98, this added dimension will provide additional opportunity to meet our region's most exciting growth companies and to learn more about the resources, business environment and infrastructure that make the Triangle the #1 spot to build a successful entrepreneurial venture.
Volumetrics Medical Imaging (Durham) has developed a real-time, three-dimensional ultrasound imaging machine that is currently testing/installed at Duke Medical Center, NIH, Columbia University, Cleveland Clinic, UC San Diego and others. The only known "real-time" 3-D machine available, Volumetrics Medical Imaging has chosen as its first market cardiac diagnostics; other applications may follow. Its current investors include Kitty Hawk Capital, Aurora Ventures, North Carolina Technology Development Authority, Allen & Co., and TIG II. Volumetrics Medical Imaging seeks $5 million.
AlphaVax, Inc. (Durham) is the producer of the AlphaVax Vector System (AVS), a proprietary vaccine delivery system, which presents the opportunity to provide immunization for diseases not currently preventable with vaccines. Immediate applications of AVS include preventative and therapeutic human vaccines for infectious disease and cancer, with additional applications for gene therapy and veterinary vaccines.
Cogent Neuroscience, Inc. (Durham) is an integrated neurological target and drug discovery company that uses novel technology and methods to genetically transfer intact mammalian brain tissue to create unique functionally genomic models of neurological diseases. This allows for the efficient discovery of essential gene sequences and compounds to treat such diseases on a highly specific and selective basis. Cogent seeks $3 million in funding.
Cortex Vision Systems, Inc. (Research Triangle Park) develops software that automates and manages video security and surveillance. Cortex-equipped systems detect and track potential intruders and, operating on the basis of "exception reporting," alert guards only when an event is occurring that could be an intrusion. Customers include industrial facilities, military installations, prisons and multi-building office campuses. Investors include Piedmont Venture Partners, NationsBank and private investors. Cortex has raised $2 million to date and seeks more than $1 million.
Digital Optics Corporation (Charlotte) is a leading designer and manufacturer of diffractive optics and integrated optical systems. The company manufactures optics for a wide range of laser applications using proprietary design software and advanced fabrication techniques. Digital Optic's products have optical properties, which allow for the miniaturization of optical systems, enhanced laser alignment and unique light manipulation. Digital Optics is currently funded by Carolinas Capital, Intersouth Partners, Wakefield Group and individual investors.
Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Durham) is an emerging pharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of novel products for respiratory diseases. The company recently completed Phase II clinical trials with INS316, an acute expectorant, and is currently in Phase I clinical trials with INS365, targeted for chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, Inspire has raised more than $22 million. Investors included Burr Egan Deleage, Domain Associates, Intersouth Partners, JAFCO Co., Ltd., and Medical Science Partners.
InteCardia, Inc. (Chapel Hill) provides physician practice management (PPM) and cardiovascular disease management (DM) services to cardiology practices and other healthcare entities. Such services include managed care contracting strategies and assistance, implementation of DM programs, and various other growth initiatives and operational services. InteCardia has raised $3.5 million to date from its current investors.
IntraSoft, Inc. (Chapel Hill) designs and develops Intranet management software. Its first product, KeyVision™, is a web-based enterprise Registry management tool that centralizes the management of the Registry for an organization's entire collection of Windows NT and Windows 95 applications. IntraSoft investors include The Aurora Funds, Gray Ventures and North Carolina Enterprise Corporation. The company has raised $1.9 million to date and is seeking a second round of $2 million.
Link Technology, Inc. (Raleigh) is a biotechnology company that develops diagnostic assays and therapies to fill a void in the diagnosis and treatment of septicemia. Link is also developing drugs for the prevention and early treatment of ischemia-reperfusion injury, e.g. during transplant surgery. These diagnostics and therapies are patented technologies. Funding has come from private individuals in the amount of $1.125 million, with another $.225 million in loans and grants from the North Carolina Biotechnology Center and the National Institutes of Health. Link is seeking $4-5 million.
LipoMed Inc. (Raleigh) is a diagnostic testing and analytical company that is pioneering new medical applications of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, which is expected to cost about the same as current tests but will not only supply the traditional information, but detailed information including quantification of 15 different subclasses of LOL, HOL and VLDL. The new tests area expected to. LipoMed's first product is NMR LipoProfile™, which will enable physicians to diagnose coronary heart disease (CHD) risk more accurately and determine the most cost-effective therapeutic strategy for risk reduction on an individual basis. To date LipoMed has received $1.5 million in funding from private investors.
MICELL Technologies, Inc. (Raleigh) designs, manufactures, sells and services energy efficient and environmentally friendly integrated carbon dioxide systems based on patented technology for dry cleaning, metal cleaning and textile processing markets. The company has focused on several large market applications involving cleaning, surface treatment and coatings. MICELL has raised $5.1 million to date from private investors. The company seeks $10 million.
MicroMass Communications, Inc. (Raleigh) is a software and services company that provides relationship management solutions to the healthcare industry. MicroMass's technology and services help businesses and organizations retain and extend large, diverse customer and patient populations through tailored, one-on-one messages delivered via multiple media, including the Web and printed materials. MicroMass is currently funded by Aurora Ventures, LLC, Southeast Interactive Technology Fund, SROne Limited and Johnson & Johnson Development Corp. in the amount of $3.5 million and is seeking and additional $4 million.
Newtonian Software Inc. (Raleigh) is a software company that specializes in the design and implementation of automated systems that streamline the sales process. The company has $4 million in funding to date. Its current investors include Drake International.
Novum -- CRC, Inc. (Research Triangle Park) is a Site Management Organization that conducts Phase II - IV clinical studies in partnership with the medical community. Novum - CRC's current investors include Intersouth Partners and TriState Investment Group. Novum-CRC seeks a second round of $3 - 5 million.
Paradigm Genetics, Inc. (Research Triangle Park) is an agricultural biotechnology company that develops proprietary technology to facilitate discovery in the Crop Protection and Seeds industries. It is the only company in the world to focus on agricultural genomics in crop protection. Paradigm has more than $4 million in funding to date. It's current investors include Diatech Ltd. And Intersouth Partners. The company is seeking an additional $2 million.
Persimmon IT, Inc. (Durham) develops and markets high-end software for selected vertical markets that leverage the expanding use of the Internet and corporate intranets. The applications integrate Persimmon's proprietary core technologies, which minimize deficiencies and maximize advantages of the World Wide Web. UnifyIt™, a clinical trials patient enrollment, administration and management system, was released in August 1997. TargIT™, an online database marketing management system, was released in December 1997. Persimmon has raised $9.2 million to date and is currently funded by Siemens Telecom Networks and private investors. Persimmon seeks $5 to $7 million.
POZEN, Inc. (Chapel Hill) is a virtual drug development company whose primary goal is to find and develop cost-effective pharmaceuticals on a global basis. The company has three products in human clinical trials. POZEN has raised $11.2 million to fund current clinical activities and will seek additional funds commensurate with the growth of the company's clinical programs.
Relativity Technologies, Inc. (Research Triangle Park) designs and develops legacy transformation software tools. Its first product, RescueWare, provides a software solution that accelerates the process of legacy transformation to Internet and client/server platforms as well as Year 2000 and European Monetary Union analysis and remediation. Relativity has received $1 million in funding to date and is currently funded by Wakefield Group. Relativity seeks $ 3 million in funding.
Remote Source Lighting International, Inc. (Research Triangle Park) is the producer of the patented Light Pump, which pumps light from a single source through a fiber-optic cable to illuminate entire rooms or signs. An advantage to this type of lighting is no heat or electricity at the point of light.
SciQuest, Inc. (Research Triangle Park) connects buyers and sellers in the $18 billion scientific supply industry through its unique Internet applications. Its products, the SciQuest® Web site (http://sciquest.com) and Scimail® communications systems, allow scientists to identify, qualify and communicate with multiple vendors instantly, reducing their product search time by as much as 75 percent. SciQuest is implementing electronic commerce solutions for strategic accounts such as BIO (Biotechnology Industry Organization) and major research universities. SciQuest closed on $700k in funding from individual investors and the North Carolina Technology Development Authority in the fall of 1997. The company is seeking $2 million.
- American Digital Media
- Bonita Software
- Delta Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (DPI)
- enVision Sciences
- Lari Software Inc.
- SECANT Network Technologies, Inc.
- Smoothieville