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    EnterpriseWorks Graduate Starfire Industries Announces Transformative Expansion

    Starfire Industries Announces Expansion in Champaign, New Facility to Support Deep Technology Manufacturing and Research & Development  Starfire’s new 194,000 square foot facility will create 22 full-time deep tech jobs (News-Gazette Story) CHAMPAIGN – May 20, 2022 – Today Starfire Industries, LLC announced an expansion to establish a new manufacturing facility in Champaign, Illinois, located at 3310 N. Duncan Road. The $9.4 million project accommodates growth to a 194,000 square foot facility to increase manufacturing and research & development capabilities. The project will create at least 22 full time-jobs and retain 20 full-time jobs, as well as support 12 engineering co-op and part-time professional jobs. “Technology investments over the past 12 years in compact particle accelerators and high-power plasma sources have resulted in game-changing innovations”, says Starfire President/CEO Brian Jurczyk. “Our team is making significant impacts across the semiconductor, nuclear, aerospace, medical, environmental, energy, mining, automotive, and security industries. Starfire reached the point where it needed to scale; finding the right location for expansion was critical. The former Patterson building is a unique space with a combination of office, engineering, manufacturing, and distribution that will support Starfire’s growth for years to come. We are excited to make this place our home and stay within the robust Champaign-Urbana deep technology ecosystem.” The Starfire team in summer 2021. Photo credit: University of Illinois Research Park Starfire Industries, recently named one of the top-10 worldwide non-destructive testing companies by Manufacturing Outlook Magazine, specializes in portable high-energy particle accelerators for diagnostic imaging, environmental sensing, active interrogation, and even oncology therapeutic treatments. This is accomplished using a process that combines physics, math, chemistry, and biology to create a strategy for inspecting, examining, and testing materials for flaws, defects, and more. Starfire’s patented Centurion® system is being used for the rapid detection of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in groundwater and soil samples and quantification at the ppt level to meet stringent EPA and EU standards. Starfire is a multi-disciplinary deep technology company leveraging technical depth in many fields. The team consists of several PhDs in nuclear, plasma, radiological and electrical engineering, as well as engineers from electrical, mechanical, aerospace and material science. Starfire’s patented IMPULSE® product has revolutionized thin-film coatings by providing precision engineering of materials at the atomic scale. Their technology is used in the manufacture of photovoltaic, superconductor, fuel cell and battery storage systems—as well as coatings on full-length nuclear fuel rods to increase strength, corrosion resistance and accident tolerance under an SBIR project with the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy and Westinghouse. “The new facility will give us the space for a pilot in-line production system to process the long and difficult to handle nuclear fuel cladding”, says Starfire VP/CTO Robert Stubbers. “The combination of engineering, processing, QA/QC testing and distribution space is advantageous.” Starfire develops solutions to solve challenging problems, moving ideas from the whiteboard to production. They work with a variety of federal and international organizations on innovative research & development and with a broad spectrum of global companies on products and services to meet their demanding applications. “Starfire Industries is truly a homegrown success story, and one we’re proud to celebrate,” said Carly McCrory-McKay, executive director of the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation. “This story is a testament to what’s possible in Champaign County and the state of Illinois. Under Brian’s leadership, the company has grown from a startup to a large-scale manufacturing facility. We’re grateful for their continued investment in our community and we look forward to supporting their growth.” “We are so delighted that the Starfire team chose to stay in Champaign and continue to grow their company where it began,” stated City of Champaign Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen. Since graduating from the EnterpriseWorks startup incubator at University of Illinois Research Park in 2009, Starfire Industries has grown from concept research & development to manufacturing plasma sources, neutron generators and high-voltage power supplies for a range of industries. They will soon move from their existing Champaign location, a 14,000 square foot facility in University of Illinois Research Park, to an impressive 194,000 square foot technology center. The 3310 N. Duncan Road expansion will enable greater on-site collaborative partnerships, direct services to end-users under strategic supplier agreements, manufacturing and global distribution. “Starfire is a stellar example of the deep tech innovation that emerges from scientists at the University of Illinois and that remains in Champaign County for the tech and engineering talent needed to fuel its continued growth,” said Laura Appenzeller, UI Research Park Executive Director. “We are so grateful to have launched their small business at the Research Park and thank the founders for their perseverance, innovation, and dedication to their employees.” The expansion is scheduled for completion in 2023. About Starfire Industries, LLC:  Founded by Brian Jurczyk, PhD MBA, and Robert Stubbers, PhD, Starfire Industries LLC is a “deep technology” company focused on nuclear and plasma technologies for demanding applications. Starfire produces the nGen® and Centurion® ultra-compact particle accelerators used for medical therapy, environmental sensing, nuclear security, and non-destructive imaging.  Starfire produces the IMPULSE® and RADION™ pulsed power plasma sources and systems used for nuclear fuel fabrication, superconductor coatings, semiconductor EUV lithography, lightweight electric vehicle assembly, high-temperature aerospace materials, and thin-film deposition and etching applications. Their industry-changing solutions are designed, manufactured, and delivered from their headquarters in Champaign, Illinois to end-users across six continents and Earth orbit. Learn more at https://www.starfireindustries.com/.

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    Network Perception Secures $13 Million in Series A Funding

    Network Perception, a cybersecurity startup, recently secured a $13 million Series A funding round. The company, which graduated from the Research Park’s EnterpriseWorks incubator in 2019, translated university research into a commercial product. The funding round was led by The Westly Group with participation from Energy Impact Partners and other existing investors, including Champaign’s Serra Ventures. The Series A funding brings Network Perception’s total venture capital funds raised to $15.73 million. “The security of critical OT assets is essential to public safety and the operation of everyday services that we all rely on – from energy delivery to manufacturing and transportation,” said Robin Berthier, Network Perception CEO and Co-Founder. “This infusion of funding will allow us to take network security to a new level, bringing greater control and visibility to administrators, and eliminating potential weaknesses before they are exposed. In today’s operational technology environment, this is not only important, but imperative.” Network Perception has a long history in Champaign-Urbana. The company began receiving startup support services from EnterpriseWorks in 2012.  located at the EnterpriseWorks incubator from 2014-2019 and now resides in Chicago. During its startup journey Network Perception received I-Start funding, SBIR funding, and EIR support. Network Perception came about as a result of work conducted through the Trustworthy Cyber Infrastructure for the Power Grid project, funded from 2009-2015 by the Department of Energy with support from the Department of Homeland Security. Additional grants helped faculty co-founders David Nicol , ECE professor, and former UIUC professor William Sanders, now Dean of Engineering at Carnegie Mellon, transition the technology from academia to the marketplace. Read the full news release here.

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    Research Park Podcast Features EnterpriseWorks Startup Reconstruct

    Episode 11 of the Innovations @ Research Park podcast features Reconstruct, a venture-backed  startup company that launched and incubated at EnterpriseWorks led by a team of faculty and graduate students from the Grainger College of Engineering. The company — which builds artificial intelligence and  software for the construction and real-estate industries — has more than 1,000 projects underway. Host Tanmay Shah interviews Reconstruct co-founder Dr. Mani Golparvar, associate professor of civil engineering, computer science, and technology entrepreneurship at the Grainger College of Engineering. Golparvar discusses how the early-stage tech startup has “revolutionized” the planning, monitoring, and management of large construction projects around the world. The Innovations @ Research Park podcast highlights the thriving entrepreneurial and corporate innovation culture in Champaign. The host, Tanmay Shah, is a University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Grainger College of Engineering alumnus. To listen to the podcast, visit iTunes Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to download your podcasts. Is there something you want to know about Research Park? Do you have an idea for a guest for the show, or a story we should pursue? Do you want to provide other feedback? Contact Laura Bleill (lwbleill@illinois.edu).

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    Inprentus Makes Final Four in ‘Coolest Thing Made in Illinois’ Contest

    EnterpriseWorks graduate company Inprentus Inc. made it to the final four of Makers Madness, a bracket-style tournament that celebrates the work and diversity of the manufacturing sector in Illinois presented by the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association. Although Rivian’s all-electric R1T truck was awarded the title of the ‘Coolest Thing Made in Illinois’, Inprentus was also feted by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker during a ceremony at the Governor’s Mansion in Springfield. The contest highlights innovative products from across the state. 450 products were entered into the contest this year, and over 200,000 votes were cast by the public to nominate the ‘Coolest Thing Made in Illinois’.  Inprentus makes custom blazed diffraction gratings. These highly precise gratings are utilized in x-ray and ultraviolet experiments at various scientific research institutions. They are also used in optical components for semiconductor manufacturing, augmented and virtual reality glasses, and in materials, chemistry, and life sciences research. Inprentus competed against General Mills’ Fruit by the Foot, the Rivian Automotive electric truck, and Ingersoll Machine Tools’ components for the Orion spacecraft capsule in the final four of the bracket-style tournament. Following its graduation from EnterpriseWorks, Inprentus opened a corporate headquarters in Champaign. It designs and manufactures diffraction gratings sold to Fortune 500 companies, academic institutions, and government laboratories around the world. Inprentus was started in 2012 by University of Illinois physics professor Peter Abbamonte. The company was created with the mission to advance the manufacturing of precision optics using proprietary nano-scale contact-mode lithography techniques. To read the full article, click here.

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    SNOOZ Co-Founder Eli Lazar Talks Journey to Success on “Innovations” Podcast

    It started with an idea. SNOOZ is a consumer electronics company that focuses on controlling airflow and acoustics to turn a bedroom into a haven for sleep. SNOOZ’s flagship product is a white noise machine and they are currently in 2000 hotel rooms around the country. Host Tanmay Shaw interviews SNOOZ co-founder and CTO Eli Lazar. Tune in to this episode to hear about Eli’s journey from UIUC student to CTO, his inspiration to create this product, and what’s on his roadmap for the future of the company. SNOOZ incubated at EnterpriseWorks in the Research Park. “When you’re first starting off [Enterpriseworks] helps to get the word out about what you’re doing and helps kickstart campaigns,” Lazar said, while reflecting on his time and experience at EnterpriseWorks. Lazar also cited networking events such as the  Champaign-Urbana Tech CEO Roundtable as being a significant boost in the early days of the company, and how important it is to be connected to other founders and cofounders of startups. The Innovations @ Research Park podcast highlights the thriving entrepreneurial and corporate innovation culture in Champaign. Its host is Tanmay Shah, a University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign alumnus. To listen to the podcast, visit iTunes Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to download your podcasts. Is there something you want to know about Research Park? Do you have an idea for a guest for the show, or a story we should pursue? Do you want to provide other feedback? Contact Laura Bleill (lwbleill@illinois.edu).

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    FrostDefense Awarded 2022 Edwin Moore Family Agriculture Innovation Prize

    Champaign, Illinois (March 10, 2022) – FrostDefense Envirotech Inc., a startup company developing technological solutions to prevent frost damage at vineyards, is the recipient of the 2022 Edwin Moore Family Agriculture Innovation Prize. The award, generously funded by a family of University of Illinois alumni, rewards University of Illinois entrepreneurs focusing on agricultural innovations. The Research Park together with the Moore family presented the award to FrostDefense founder Manfredo Seufferheld and vice president Gabriel Burks during the 2022 AgTech Innovation Summit at the Colonnades Club at Memorial Stadium. The company’s scientists work out of a lab and office at EnterpriseWorks, the technology incubator in the Research Park. FrostDefense Envirotech Inc. is a National Science Foundation-funded startup company. The team develops innovative, environmentally friendly, and low-cost technological solutions to prevent frost damage for vineyards. They also work to make labor management and mechanized farm operations more efficient. Its predictive analytic system is the foundation for continued innovation in creating tools and services to support decision-making to adapt to growing practices and sustainability. The Edwin Moore Family Agriculture Innovation Prize’s goal is to encourage startup companies engaged in the development of new innovative technologies that may lead to increased productivity and/or efficiency in farming, or to create new agricultural opportunities, including new processes, new crops, and new food production systems. Previous Edwin Moore Agriculture Innovation Fund winners include:Epivara, 2021Habiterre (formerly Aspiring Universe), 2020TellTail, 2019EarthSense, 2018Soil Diagnostics, 2017 For more information about Frost Defense, visit its website here. About the Edwin Moore Family Agriculture Innovation Prize The Edwin Moore Agriculture Innovation Fund was established in 2016 with a generous gift to EnterpriseWorks, the University of Illinois  Urbana-Champaign’s technology incubator. The award honors the legacy of Edwin E. Moore (1924), who graduated from the University of Illinois College of Agriculture and began farming in Will County. Throughout his agricultural career, he and his wife, Iva, used innovative farming practices for both crop production and livestock management. Two of their four children became farmers, Edwin and Thomas (1953, College of Agriculture), and continued use of innovative farm practices. Subsequent generations of Edwin Moore’s family have continued to pursue farming and ag related careers capturing the same innovative spirit. About the Research Park at the University of Illinois The Research Park at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a technology hub for startup companies and corporate research and development operations. Within the Research Park there are 120 companies employing students and full-time technology professionals. More information at researchpark.illinois.edu. 

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    Innovations @ Research Park Podcast: The Importance of Design with Designer-in-Residence Deana McDonagh

    Episode 8 of the Innovations @ Research Park podcast features EnterpriseWorks Designer-in-Residence and University of Illinois Urbana Champaign Professor Deana McDonagh. Dr. McDonagh is an experienced strategist who works with EnterpriseWorks startups to help them incorporate design thinking in their development workflow, in order to improve user experience and create delightful products. Tune in to the episode to hear about her journey, perspective on design in tech, and what kind of support she offers to  entrepreneurs at EnterpriseWorks. You can catch this episode of Innovations @ Research Park on iTunes Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere else you may prefer to listen to your podcasts.  Do you have questions about Research Park? Have an idea for a guest for the show, or a story we should pursue? Do you want to provide other feedback? Contact Laura Bleill (lwbleill@illinois.edu)

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    Newsweek Names PSYONIC CEO One of America’s Top 50 Disruptors

    Aadeel Akhtar, CEO of EnterpriseWorks startup PSYONIC, was named one of America’s Top 50 disruptors by Newsweek magazine. 2021 marks the first year the magazine has created such a list. It includes the likes of household names such as Elon Musk and Lizzo, as well as CEOs, scientists, engineers, artists, musicians and others. “…  (A)ll of these … visionaries and innovators on Newsweek‘s inaugural list of Greatest Disruptors share this critical quality: They are agents of change who are using technology in ways that will profoundly impact our lives—mostly or wholly for the better,” wrote the magazine in its introduction to the package. The publication recognized Akhtar for his leadership in creating groundbreaking prosthetic devices. “When Aadeel Akhtar was 7 years old, he met a little girl who changed his life. His parents took him to see family in Pakistan, where they’d been born, and they were walking into a store when he saw her,” writes Newsweek reporter Ned Potter. “She was missing her right leg.” PSYONIC’s premiere product, the Ability Hand, was released in 2019. The Ability Hand is the first commercially available prosthetic hand to include multitouch sensory feedback. The device utilizes electrical currents to stimulate nerves allowing users to “feel”  what the prosthetic touches. Akhtar launched PSYONIC in 2015 and the company moved into EnterpriseWorks in 2018. Newsweek highlighted many talented individuals in the “America’s Greatest Disruptors” series. “We’re pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, but also making them accessible and leveling the playing field for all those people who couldn’t get access to this kind of technology before,” Akhtar says in the Newsweek article. Earlier this year, Akhtar was named to the MIT Technology Review’s list of 35 Innovators Under 35 for 2021. Akhtar received his PhD in Neuroscience and MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Illinois.

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    EarthSense Awarded Regenerative Ag Grant

    EnterpriseWorks startup EarthSense was chosen to receive a grant of up to $50,000 in seed funding from the Illinois Regenerative Agriculture Initiative at the University of Illinois.  EarthSense is a startup led by co-founders Chinmay Soman and Girish Chowdhary, founded with the goal of creating dramatic new possibilities for crop breeders, plant protection products developers, crop scientists, and field agronomists. TerraSentia, their first robot, improves the quantity, accuracy, cost, and speed of in-field plant trait data collection, specifically for under canopy plants.  The Regenerative Ag Grant awarded to EarthSense will be used primarily to prototype an autonomous robotic harvester with the capacity to enable large-scale chestnut farming in the United States.

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    EnterpriseWorks Startup Yummy Future Raises $300K to Fund Robotic Coffee Machine Technology

    EnterpriseWorks startup Yummy Future is crowdsourcing funds via WeFunder to support the further development and distribution of its fully robotic coffee shop product. The company has currently raised $300K of its $500K goal. Yummy Future is focused on integrating highly intelligent robots into everyday life. Its first product is the development of a fully robotic coffee shop with a mission to improve the coffee shop experience for both customers and store owners. Yummy Future was co-founded by two University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign engineering alumni, Guangzhe Cui and Yueming Yan. Guangzhe and Yueming developed the robotic coffee shop with an operating system that utilizes innovations from IoT, consumer robotics, and 3D printing.   The Yummy Future system will allow coffee shops to build resilience to market volatility by reducing labor cost through the use of robotic technology. Co-founder Yueming Yan said, “Yummy Future’s robotic coffee shop can run on 40x lower labor costs, and a 6x higher profit margin compared to regular coffee shops.” This machine is capable of producing one cup of coffee in as little as 30 seconds. Yummy Future’s task scheduling optimizer that is powered by edge computing, and it ensures that the robot can process multiple orders at once, and deliver the drinks to customers as efficiently as possible while keeping labor costs low. Yummy Future has enlisted the help of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign as well as businesses within the Champaign-Urbana area to test and refine the robotic coffee experience. As a result of these partnerships, Yummy Future has received 25+ pre-orders for the robotic coffee shop system. Yummy Future is currently hiring for a number of positions, submit your resume to business@yummy-future.com. Find more information about Yummy Future and the robotic coffee shop here.

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