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    EnterpriseWorks

    EnterpriseWorks, Investments, Research Park, Uncategorized

    HabiTerre makes $10m first close on its Series A, aims to become ‘the global standard’ for sustainability metrics

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    EnterpriseWorks startup HabiTerre completed an initial close of $10 million on its Series A funding round. Investments were led by investor John Deere, a major partner of the Research Park, conveying the potential impact the technology could have at scale. HabiTerre is the only company with the rights to commercialize technology developed by founder Kaiyu Guan. Guan, the company’s founder, is a professor in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The new investment will largely go towards scaling HabiTerre’s technology offering “to make it even more efficient for quality assurance and quality control” for more companies across the ag value chain. “We’ve executed a number of pilots and are working with a number of different commercial customers,” said HabiTerre CEO Nick Reinke. “We’re really getting clear on what the market needs from technology like ours.” HabiTerre is currently aiming to do another $3 million to $4 million as part of its Series A round and is actively looking for investors. HabiTerre is a deep science and technology company offering a holistic approach to farm productivity and resource use efficiency. It monitors, measures, and analyzes environmental impacts with the utmost scientific rigor to provide actionable insights for optimal management of land, nutrient, and water use. Learn more about HabiTerre’s investment milestones on LinkedIn or AgFunder News.

    HabiTerre makes $10m first close on its Series A, aims to become ‘the global standard’ for sustainability metrics Read Post »

    EnterpriseWorks, Other, Software, Analytics, Mobile Applications

    Shothawk

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    ShotHawk was founded to develop an active shooter response system. The company is advancing its project through in-house prototyping and machine learning development. CEO Brandon Johnson’s experience during a devastating tornado inspired ShotHawk’s mission: “Reduce the impact left by disasters, starting with one that is man-made and plaguing society, active shootings.“ ShotHawk has developed a comprehensive security system designed to address the rising frequency of active shooter incidents, particularly at vulnerable targets. Their system not only alerts authorities but also takes proactive measures to engage the shooter, thereby providing critical additional time for safety officials to respond. Additionally, it offers real-time updates on the shooter’s location and can be deactivated by officials as they arrive. shothawkai.com

    Shothawk Read Post »

    EnterpriseWorks, Investments, Research Park

    EnterpriseWorks startup Natrion lands $1.5 million in Air Force Contracts

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    EnterpriseWorks startup Natrion recently secured contracts from the United States Airforce to bring its high-performance battery materials to the Department of Defense. The company was selected for two Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contracts from the US Air Force, a Phase I from Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC), and a Phase II from AFWERX, the Air Force’s innovation arm. This funding will enable Natrion’s technology to continue gaining traction in the industry and build on the company’s longstanding collaboration with the Department of Defense (DoD). Natrion is developing new batteries and battery components that eliminate fire risk while diminishing material costs. Natrion’s Lithium Solid Ionic Conductor (LISIC) combines a proprietary high-performance ceramic made from a clay mineral that is already used in cosmetics and paper with a type of plastic that’s typically found in building fire insulation. Learn more about Natrion’s accomplishment on TechNexus.EnterpriseWorks startup Natrion recently secured contracts from the United States Airforce to bring its high-performance battery materials to the Department of Defense. The company was selected for two Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contracts from the US Air Force, a Phase I from Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC), and a Phase II from AFWERX, the Air Force’s innovation arm. This funding will enable Natrion’s technology to continue gaining traction in the industry and build on the company’s longstanding collaboration with the Department of Defense (DoD). Natrion is developing new batteries and battery components that eliminate fire risk while diminishing material costs. Natrion’s Lithium Solid Ionic Conductor (LISIC) combines a proprietary high-performance ceramic made from a clay mineral that is already used in cosmetics and paper with a type of plastic that’s typically found in building fire insulation. Learn more about Natrion’s accomplishment on TechNexus.

    EnterpriseWorks startup Natrion lands $1.5 million in Air Force Contracts Read Post »

    EnterpriseWorks, Features, Research Park

    Cache Energy Featured in TechCrunch for Innovative Energy Storage Solution

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    TechCrunch is the latest major publication to highlight EnterpriseWorks startup Cache Energy and its novel, inexpensive energy storage solution.  “Rather than store power as heat using sand or specially made bricks, Cache is storing it in chemical bonds inside pellets made of lime derived from limestone,” writes TechCrunch reporter Tim De Chant.  In the interview, Founder and CEO Arpit Dwivedi discussed the company’s development of the lime-based pellets that store energy chemically. This low-cost, sustainable method provides an alternative to traditional batteries by using pellets to produce heat, which can be released on demand. Dwivedi emphasized the solution’s practicality, telling TechCrunch, “It’s a low-cost solid that is able to produce heat and can use some of the similar infrastructure built around fossil fuel.” Read more about Cache Energy’s energy storage solution on TechCrunch.

    Cache Energy Featured in TechCrunch for Innovative Energy Storage Solution Read Post »

    Community, EnterpriseWorks, Features, Investments, Partnerships & Acquisitions

    Eleuthra Photonics provides expertise to MarginDx project

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    EnterpriseWorks startup Eleuthra Photonics will provide industry and translation expertise for the Margin Diagnostics (MarginDx) project. Funded through the ARPA-H Precision Surgical Interventions (PSI) program, MarginDx combines optical imaging technologies with AI screening tools to ensure, in real-time, that tumor tissue and cells are completely removed during surgery. A large team of researchers and clinicians from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Mayo Clinic, Eleuthra Photonics, and other industry and clinical collaborators are working to find an end-to-end solution that will drastically improve surgical outcomes for cancer tumor removal. Eleuthra Photonics was founded in 2023 and was admitted to the I-Start program at EnterpriseWorks. Eleuthra Photonics specializes in developing and producing rapid image-based diagnostic tools for analyzing tissue and cell samples, with a primary focus on cancer and other disease diagnoses. Learn more on the University of Illinois Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute website.

    Eleuthra Photonics provides expertise to MarginDx project Read Post »

    EnterpriseWorks, Graduates, Recognition & Awards

    Startup Graduate Ascent recognized as a finalist in the 2024 Momentum Awards 

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    EnterpriseWorks startup graduate Ascent Integrated Tech is a finalist in the Industry Disruptor category of 1871‘s 2024 Momentum Awards. This Industry Disrupter Award is presented to a tech company that has developed or introduced an ingenious, non-traditional, and innovative product or service that has significantly disrupted its industry. After being nominated, companies must go through rounds of judging and voting before winners are nominated at the award show on September 19, 2024. Ascent Integrated Tech was founded at Research Park by Paul Couston and Alex Gorsuch, where they created a software program for first responders, including firefighters, special forces, and SWAT teams. The platform optimizes 3D tracking technology, placed inside helmets and bracelets, to provide commanders with critical information, such as their team’s location. These tracking sensors provide details about the team members’ health and environment, such as CO2 levels, humidity, and airborne metal oxide. For the last 17 years, The Momentum Awards have been the largest tech awards celebration in Chicago, recognizing the amazing companies that are building their businesses in Illinois, providing unique and unparalleled opportunities to meet founders, investors and leaders across the industry, and fundraising to help continue to support 1871’s mission of inspiring, equipping and supporting those in the community. Learn more and vote now on the 1871 website.

    Startup Graduate Ascent recognized as a finalist in the 2024 Momentum Awards  Read Post »

    EnterpriseWorks, Media Mentions, Recognition & Awards, Research Park

    Forbes: The University of Illinois profiled as an AI powerhouse

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    In a recent Forbes article, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign was highlighted as the artificial intelligence (AI) powerhouse of the Midwest. Research Park propels AI innovation through its many AI startups, corporate innovation sites supporting AI projects, community groups, and more. Nancy Amato, Interim Director of the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science, said that the U of I is “a place where industry comes to do cutting-edge research,” a capability that is made easier by the Research Park.  “[The University of Illinois] [is] the bridge between foundational research and corporate breakthroughs.” Many Research Park corporate offices work on projects related to AI: NVIDIA, Capital One, Synchrony, and others hire interns and full-time staff dedicated to this emerging technology. The Research Park’s incubator, EnterpriseWorks, is the home to several startups specializing in AI, including AI Nexus Healthcare, ClimeCast, Identomat, Kocree, Maxflow Technology, and Zite AI. The Research Park also fosters community around AI topics. The “Working with AI” User Group meets monthly to discuss new applications and implications of AI. This group provides a platform for learning, networking, and collaboration among individuals and organizations working with AI or looking to get started in this field. The Forbes article featured EnterpriseWorks startup and graduate Reconstruct and Prenosis as AI entrepreneurs. Reconstruct, a company that uses AI tools to analyze construction data, currently has an engineering office in EnterpriseWorks. Startup graduate Prenosis, now located in Chicago, uses AI to tailor health care to an individual’s biology. Read the entire article on the Forbes website.

    Forbes: The University of Illinois profiled as an AI powerhouse Read Post »

    Community, EnterpriseWorks, Features, Graduates, Recognition & Awards, Research Park

    EarthSense awarded patent for the use of AI-ML-based smart applications

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    Research Park agtech startup EarthSense was awarded a patent from the United States Trade and Patent Office (USTPO) for the use of AI-ML-based smart application of treatments in plantations, orchards, vineyards, and other permanent cropping systems. This patent builds on EarthSense’s other patented innovations in robust autonomous navigation, multi-robot deployments, machine vision in challenging agricultural environments, and more. EarthSense is creating dramatic new possibilities for crop breeders, plant protection product developers, crop scientists, and field agronomists. The company joined EnterpriseWorks in 2016, where it operated until opening an office in the Atkins Building in 2021. EarthSense’s robots can work tirelessly and precisely around the clock in challenging environments. With edge-optimized AI, they will be deployed anywhere in the world without expensive communication infrastructure. This AI-enabled precise and intelligent application of fertilizers and chemicals will drive yield improvements and reduce environmental harm, leading to significant financial savings. For more information, visit the EarthSense website or connect with the company on LinkedIn.

    EarthSense awarded patent for the use of AI-ML-based smart applications Read Post »

    EnterpriseWorks, Features, Media Mentions

    Zite AI featured on WCIA News in how its technology is helping the medical industry

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    EnterpriseWorks startup Zite AI was featured in a recent WCIA news story about how artificial intelligence is helping the medical industry. Founded by brothers Joshua and Jacob Love in 2022, Zite AI uses artificial intelligence to empower informed decision-making for healthcare organizations. While the company was initially founded to revolutionize location consulting, it pivoted to create a suite of tools that empowers heathcare organizations in marketing outreach, operational planning, and facilities planning. Zite AI is well integrated into the EnterpriseWorks and University of Illinois ecosystem, with co-founder Joshua Love currently studying as a PhD student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Zite AI is changing healthcare systems which have traditionally relied on more old-fashioned forms of technology. “We’ve kind of come across this huge problem where a lot of the back office, the sort of strategic side of medicine, making sure people get access to care at all, is something that can really improve with more data and more understanding of what’s going on in the communities,” Jacob said in the interview with WCIA. The company’s programming can analyze medical images, identifying early signs of conditions like cancer and heart disease well before they are visible to the human eye. Read more or watch the news story on the WCIA website.

    Zite AI featured on WCIA News in how its technology is helping the medical industry Read Post »

    EnterpriseWorks, Events, Research Park

    Capital One, COUNTRY Financial Capture Top Prizes in Research Park Summer Hackathon

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    Twelve teams of 69 total student interns competed in the second annual Research Park Hackathon on Wednesday, June 26, 2024. This 15-hour hackathon encouraged students to form cross-functional teams, build solutions, and showcase their projects. Winners for six awards were announced at the “Fire At Five” Happy Hour on Thursday, June 27, 2024. Congratulations to the winners of this year’s Hackathon:  The winning project, “Class Connect,” is a browser extension that enhances learning by providing questions and answers for students watching lecture videos. “We wanted to create a project that was both applicable and useful to us as college students,” said team member Ishaan Bhandari during Capital One’s presentation on Thursday. Watch Capital One demonstrate “Class Connect” below. This year’s Hackathon prompt was “Bring Your Own Data,” requiring participants to leverage data from the source of their choice to create data-centric projects, including websites, applications, and extensions. “This prompt is accessible to students from all majors and academic backgrounds,” said Hackathon organizer James Kabbes. “I am always impressed with what the students build in such a short amount of time!” Twelve companies participated in the Hackathon: AbbVie, AGCO Corporation, Ameren, Brunswick, Capital One, COUNTRY Financial, FrostDefense Envirotech, John Deere Technology Innovation Center, Kohler, Rivian, SeriesFarm, and State Farm. Individuals from these companies formed twelve teams, six of which were named finalists and presented to a panel of judges on Thursday, June 27. Finalists included Kohler‘s “Refugee Haven Search,” COUNTRY Financial‘s “GeoGroove,” AGCO+Ameren‘s “OccuPi,” Capital One‘s “Class Connect,” Rivian‘s “EV Charger Location Optimization,” and UIRP/EW‘s “Wandertunes.” Thank you to everyone who helped to organize and those who participated in this event, including judges Matt Ahrens (NVIDIA), Bryan Goode (Research Park), Dustin Mayfield-Jones (Research Park), and Jarai Carter (John Deere). A special thanks to John Deere software engineer James Kabbes for creating the event structure and developing the prompt. View photos from the event on this media gallery, or learn more about past and future Research Park Hackathons on this website page.

    Capital One, COUNTRY Financial Capture Top Prizes in Research Park Summer Hackathon Read Post »

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