Draper Triangle Weblog
Our Weblog covers news and developments with our firm, portfolio companies, Network Partners and the venture capital industry at large.
Sean McDonald: E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year 2008 Regional Award Winner
Congratulations go out to Sean McDonald, CEO of Precision Therapeutics, as he received Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year(R) 2008 Award in the Applied Science Category in the Upstate New York, Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia region. This award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who are building and leading dynamic growth businesses. McDonald was selected by an independent panel of judges and the award was presented at a gala event at the Carnegie Music Hall in Pittsburgh on June 27, 2008.
July 3, 2008 | Permalink
Aethon ATRS Does NOT Interfere with Hospital Medical Equipment
Addressing critical safety concerns outlined in a study in the June issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, Aethon, Inc. has announced that its robotic Asset Tracking and Recovery System (ATRS) cannot interfere with medical equipment. The study from the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, was designed to assess and classify incidents of electromagnetic interference by radio frequency identification (RFID) on critical care equipment. The article titled “Electromagnetic Interference from Radio Frequency Identification Inducing Potentially Hazardous Incidents in Critical Care Medical Equipment” appears in the June 25, 2008 issue of JAMA. Using RFID technology that emits zero power, Aethon's readers and portals only listen for tags and stop the radios and antennae from interfering with clinical equipment because the system employs a mobile robot outfitted with a passive antenna. Read all about Aethon's ATRS at www.aethon.com.
July 3, 2008 | Permalink
Carnegie Learning Adaptive Math Solutions Provides Supplemental Support
Carnegie Learning, reported an increase in the use of its middle and high school math software programs for use in supplemental, intervention applications. Carnegie Learning Adaptive Math Solutions provide interactive instruction to supplement secondary math courses and include Algebra Readiness, Algebra, Geometry, and Algebra II. New features for the 2008-2009 academic year for the Cognitive Tutor suite of products are designed to improve the curricula for use in a supplemental environment and include: Flexible Sequencing, Interactive Examples, Automated Assessment and Enhanced Administrative Reports. Read more at www.carnegielearning.com.
July 3, 2008 | Permalink
Testing on Biopsy-Sized Specimens Allow Greater Utility in Breast Cancer
Precision Therapeutics has announced that results from the ChemoFx(R) Assay, a cell-based test that examines the response of a specific patient's tumor to various chemotherapies, correlate with pathologic complete response in breast cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant (pre-operative) chemotherapy. Data published in Anticancer Research show that the assay accurately predicted response to therapy 75% of the time. This study, done in conjunction with US Oncology, a leading cancer research and treatment network, represents the company's first publication in the breast cancer setting. Other major findings in the study addressed technical aspects of the assay, including the feasibility of performing the test on small amounts of tissue and the reproducibility of test results. Learn more at www.precisiontherapeutics.com.
July 1, 2008 | Permalink
Cox Picks TOA to Enhance its Customer Service
Cox Communications has chosen TOA Technologies as its exclusive provider of customer appointment and mobile workforce management systems. Cox Communications is the nation's third-largest cable and broadband communications provider. TOA's SaaS Customer Appointment Management (CAM) solution, ETAdirect, will help Cox schedule, route and manage its nearly 6,000field service technicians from coast to coast. Among other benefits, ETAdirect will provide more accurate estimations of appointment times, allowing for calls to customers when technicians are en route and less than 60 minutes away. Learn more at www.toatech.com.
June 26, 2008 | Permalink
DFJ's Warren Packard Speaks at XU
Warren Packard, managing partner at DFJ, recently spoke at a meeting of the Greater Cincinnati Venture Association at Xavier University. In a related article in the Cincinnati Enquirer, Packard explains that DFJ views deals often seen as risky by other firms, as "an opportunity to change the world" and that adopting a "beta-stage investment approach, [allows us to] end up with bigger home runs." With the regionalization of DFJ through local funds, known as the DFJ Network, Packard says the venture firm is looking to find entrepreneurs who "want to change the world - from their hometown." Read the full article here.
June 19, 2008 | Permalink
Plextronics: Solar Cell Ink Now Available in Research Quantities
Plextronics launched its first major commercial product this week at the IDTechEx PV Beyond Conventional Silicon Conference in Denver. The Plexcore® PV ink system will allow manufacturers to develop their own print solar cells. Developed around its record-setting photovoltaic technology, the company is releasing two versions of its Plexcore® PV ink system for use in research applications. The company is already scheduled to fulfill multiple orders for Plexcore® PV ink by the end of June. Read more at www.plextronics.com.
June 19, 2008 | Permalink
New & Improved SenseWear(R) WMS Armband
BodyMedia has released a new slimmer, and more streamlined SenseWear(R) armband to it's weight loss market. The new armband is 40% smaller than the previous model and weighs only 1.6 ounces. The smaller, lighter model offers a one-of-a-kind ergonomic design intended to provide improved comfort and can be worn more discreetly under fitted clothing. In addition, the new model operates on a rechargeable battery which lasts up to 7 days, and contains a 3-axis accelerometer for improved detection of a range of daily activities. Visit www.bodymedia.com to learn more.
June 19, 2008 | Permalink
