The Companies @ 801 West Main Street
With the very real threat of food-borne pathogens, one Bradley Technology Commercialization Center client is developing a device that will allow users to detect such threats without the use of laboratory screening. Ag-Defense Systems is working on hand held technology that will allow users the ability to monitor food items on-site and receive real-time results. The portable BioSage device can be used to detect viruses, fungus, bacteria, and parasites within minutes while employing GPS tracking capabilities. The food industry is a $1.25 trillion market in the U.S. and there are over 75 million illnesses a year as a result of food contamination. As the threat of food supply contamination grows, Ag-Defense Systems and its BioSage technology will be ready to monitor and alert us in real-time.
For more information on Ag-Defense Systems please contact Rex Dyer at 309-495-7258 or rbdyer@mtco.com
EcoThermics Corporation was formed to commercialize intellectual property developed by WhiteMoss Inc. under an exclusive, worldwide license agreement. EcoThermics was incorporated under the founding leadership of Chairman and CEO Merle Rocke. Former WhiteMoss executive and engineering talent joined EcoThermics to advance WhiteMoss technology into commercial products. The EcoThermics team leverages long standing relationships with world-class technical partners and a seasoned technical and business advisory board. The EcoThermics intellectual property portfolio is uniquely diverse and represents significant fluid mechanics and thermal dynamics advancements. Next generation HVACR (heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration) systems will be super efficient systems that utilize "clean" natural refrigerants, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2). To exploit this reality, future modular products include a CO2 compressor and a revolutionary hydronic CO2 hear pump. This energy efficient and "green" technology offers compelling diversified market penetration opportunities.
For more information about Ecothermics please contact Merle Rocke at 309-495-7320 or mrocke@ecothermics.com
The bulky and intrusive wires that have been a mainstay of cardiovascular care might soon be no more. Endotronix has begun development on a minimally invasive wireless monitoring device that can transmit from a patient's body. These devices, which use a combination of radiofrequency identification (RFID) and microelectromechanical (MEMS) technology, will monitor a patient's cardiovascular health from within their heart and blood vessels. The system allows for real-time monitoring of patient health not only in the medical care facility, but also at home which will reduce the costs associated with prolonged hospital stays. There is potential for this technology to benefit over 60 million people in the United States who have risk factors for developing cardiovascular diseases.
For more information about Endotronix please contact Harry Rowland at 309-495-7256 or harry.rowland@endotronix.com
Hopewell Ventures provides equity capital and strategic expertise to high-growth businesses, primarily in the Midwest. The principals have more than 80 years of experience investing in and growing Midwestern companies. Hopewell's investment focus is aligned with the opportunities the Midwest provides: growth-oriented ventures at various stages of development across a broad range of industries. From state-of-the-art technology and life sciences to traditional manufacturing and consumer products, Hopewell works with portfolio companies to help them maximize opportunities.
For more information about Hopewell Ventures please contact Jude Conway at 309-495-7251 or conway@hopewellventures.com
The first company to reside in the Peoria NEXT Innovation Center is on the verge of selling its product to hospitals across the nation. InformMed, which has designed a handheld dosage "calculator", has reached an agreement with local hospital OSF St. Francis for a pilot program and will begin marketing nationally towards the end of 2008. Peoria native, registered nurse, and current company vice-president, Kathy Francis, developed the technology to address the problem of incorrect medication dosage at the point of care. The device called the pac2 is part of a hospital-wide system InformMed has developed. OSF St. Francis is the first hospital to implement the system, but several others have already demonstrated interest.
For more information about Informmed please contact Kathy Franics at 309-495-7243 or kfrancis@informmed.com
The healthcare industry has made great advances over the years by adopting new technologies that streamline workflow and manage records electronically. However, even a facility as advanced as a hospital can still be slowed down by the occasional paper report. ORQA, Online Radiology Quality Assurance, is using advanced Web 2.0 software that allows Diagnostic Imaging departments to report quality control issues through an online interface that can be searched and analyzed for maximum efficiency. With electronic patient records and filmless imaging systems in place a medical facilities across the country there is no reason to let paper reports slow down the system.
For more information about ORQA please contact Mike O'meara at 1-888-406-8886 or momeara@orqa.org
zuChem is a biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of novel manufacturing methods for the production of glycochemicals (sugar like molecules). While the greatest long term need for such glycochemical compounds is by the pharmaceutical industry, the company is also exploiting the significant commercial opportunities in the food ingredients and specialty chemical markets. zuChem's mission is to be the premier supplier of unique glycochemicals to the pharmaceutical and food ingredients industries by using proprietary technology to produce glycochemicals that are either extremely difficult or too expensive to manufacture via traditional synthetic methods.
For more information about zuChem please contact David Demirjian at 309-495-7318 or ddem@zuchem.com
BioFuels Manufacturers of Illinois (BMI) LLC., a company based in Normal, IL., plans to construct a 45 million gallon per year operation using soybean oil as its primary feedstock. At capacity, BMI will be using the production from nearly one million acres of Illinois soybeans annually. GROWMARK, Inc. has signed an agreement to market the majority of the soy-based biodiesel to be manufactured by BioFuels Manufacturing Illinois, Inc.’s proposed Peoria, IL. plant. BioFuels is the newest tenant to the Peoria NEXT Innovation Center and plans to utilize the center’s resources to continue their objective of “helping move our nation’s energy needs from the oil fields of the Mideast to the soybean fields of the Midwest.”
For more information about BioFuels please contact Sudhir Seth at 650-776-5443 or seth@biofuelsillinois.com
Lumec Control Products, Inc. is dedicated to creating next generation process control technologies. The flagship product is the Dynamic Orifice Valve. This valve design is based on nearly ten years of research, development, and prototype testing. While not only providing unparalleled fluid flow control, the valve is also able to provide accurate flow measurement and remote maintenance diagnostics. LCP Inc. is in the final testing stage for this product, and is preparing to release it commercially this summer. www.lumecllc.com
For more information about Lumec Control Products please contact Paul Luebbers at 309-219-2666 or paul@lumecllc.com
Les Memoires
Les Memoires is a multimedia technology company that is determined to revitalize the century-old memory archiving (capturing, preserving, and sharing memories) of traditions such as the wedding guestbook, yearbooks, family albums, etc. Via cleverly implemented, but simple technology, Les Memoires will re-ignite these aging traditions making them more exciting and engaging for today’s modern world and technologically savvy society. Les Memoires launch product is the Interactive Guestbook… a brilliant solution to the re-occurring monotony and blandness faced by the modern wedding planning couple when selecting a wedding guestbook.
For more information about Les Memoires please contact Sunbash at 309-495-7395.