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New Podcast Episode: Puzzle Labs’ Brad Miller Talks AI, Linguistics, and Knowledge Transfer

In a recent episode of the Innovations @ Research Park podcast, Puzzle Labs Co-Founder Brad Miller talked with host Tamnay Shah about artificial intelligence, linguistics, and knowledge transfer. This is a field in which Miller sees growth in the next five years: “I think that we’re going to see…some remarkable advances in more than just language models. Language models are going to spark advances in health, in science, in technology.” Dr. Brad Miller is the Co-Founder and Chief Linguistic Officer of Puzzle Labs, a software platform that uses AI to make knowledge transfer easier.  Previously, he was the Site Director for P&G’s Smart Lab in Research Park, and he’s also spent time traveling the world from Ecuador to India studying the impact of languages. “The Research Park has been a close friend for almost ten years now. I started as an intern working at the EnterpriseWorks incubator in 2015,” said Miller. “In that time, I realized the wealth of opportunity that the Research Park provides. I wish more companies understood just how valuable something like the University of Illinois Research Park really is…it’s a space where innovation thrives.” The Innovations @ Research Park podcast highlights the thriving entrepreneurial and corporate innovation culture in Champaign. It is hosted by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign alumnus Tanmay Shah. Subscribe to The Innovations @ Research Park to catch up on the latest innovations and news on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast network. 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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EnterpriseWorks Media Mentions Recognition & Awards Research Park

EnterpriseWorks Startup Natrion Finalist in 2024 Edison Awards

EnterpriseWorks startup Natrion was named a Finalist for the 2024 Edison Best New Product Awards. Natrion‘s Lithium Solid Ionic Composite (LISIC) is a finalist in the Battery Technologies category of Resilient & Sustainable Solutions. Finalists were selected by a peer-related voting body of executives, academics, and innovation leaders from across the world. Winners will be announced at the 2024 Edison Awards Gala in Fort Myers, Florida, on April 18, 2024. The Edison Awards have honored new product development since 1987. The Edison Best New Products Awards is an annual competition honoring excellence in new product and service development and is open to companies ranging from startups to multinational corporations. The award recognizes the persistence and excellence that also characterized Thomas Edison’s work. Natrion is developing battery technologies that can push the capabilities of EVs by solving the biggest issues that automakers and battery manufacturers face. Their mission is to service the industry with solutions that will enhance the mainstream market viability of electric vehicles and advance the world closer to a future of clean mobility. See a full list of Edison Best New Product Awards Finalists on its website.

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EnterpriseWorks News Recognition & Awards

Ensaras Inc. Founder Selected for Prestigious Presidential Leadership Scholars Program

Nina Kshetry, the President and Founder of Ensaras Inc., has been selected as one of the distinguished members of the 2024 Class of Presidential Leadership Scholars (PLS). This recognition places Kshetry among a cohort of 60 accomplished leaders from various fields, embarking on a transformative journey to hone their leadership skills. The PLS program, now in its ninth annual class, stands as a beacon for bold leaders committed to addressing domestic and global challenges. This initiative offers participants the opportunity to delve into the lessons learned during the administrations of George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson. Kshetry’s inclusion in this esteemed group is not only a testament to her leadership, but also highlights the impact of her contributions to Ensaras. Kshetry joins a cohort that includes service members, educators, physicians, public servants, and corporate professionals. Ensaras currently operates out of EnterpriseWorks, and distinguishes itself by working at the intersection of wastewater treatment and analytics, providing novel insights and solutions for the wastewater sector. The community in EnterpriseWorks eagerly anticipates the positive impact this experience will have not only on Kshetry’s leadership capabilities but also on the growth and visibility of Ensaras. Read more about the Presidential Leadership Scholars Program here.

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EnterpriseWorks Media Mentions News Recognition & Awards Research Park

Forbes: EnterpriseWorks Incubator Critical to Hypercell’s Startup Success

Forbes examines the “secret sauce” for EnterpriseWorks startup Hypercell Technologies‘ success – partnering with leading universities such as University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and its award-winning incubator. The proximity to other startups in the EnterpriseWorks ecosystem fueled discovery and the building of community. “Partnering with the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana has provided Hypercell with immense support, including access to low-cost lab supplies (due to the University buying power), access to shared lab equipment (avoiding major capital investments), access to a wide array of scientific experts (both University and other start-up company staff), and a very effective incubator program at EnterpriseWorks which included training programs, support for government grants and assistance with hiring,” shares Hypercell’s co-founder and CEO Bruno Jactel in Forbes. EnterpriseWorks provided meaningful partnerships, state-of-the-art lab facilities, and mentor opportunities for Hypercell. Above all, the incubator offers camaraderie, allowing entrepreneurs to learn from each other’s successes and failures. “We’ve been a great peer community of entrepreneurs and technology experts working together and sharing their experiences and expertise,” says Laura Appenzeller, executive director of the University of Illinois Research Park. “That type of innovation community fuels new discovery and better outcomes for translational science.” Hypercell recently received the top prize of $1 million in funding and strategic mentorship at the 2023 Grow-NY Business Competition, a food and agriculture startup challenge. Read the entire Forbes article online here.

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EnterpriseWorks News Recognition & Awards Research Park

EnterpriseWorks Startup SimBioSys Receives FDA Clearance

EnterpriseWorks startup SimBioSys received a milestone FDA clearance for its foundational digital precision medicine technology, TumorSight™, enabling expansion to future cutting-edge applications. SimBioSys is unlocking the power of spatial biophysics with artificial intelligence (AI) and biophysical modeling to redefine precision medicine for cancer. TumorSight™ Viz utilizes standard-of-care medical imaging (DCE MRI) to generate stunning 3D spatial visualization and key insights, giving clinicians and their patients a more comprehensive understanding of their cancer and the potential options available to them. The technology utilizes AI to automatically segment the tumor and surrounding tissue to display the 3D visualization. Further, this TumorSight™ software application provides key insights such as tumor volume, tumor-to-breast volume, and tumor distance to key anatomical structures in the breast to quantify key metrics required in treatment planning. This is the company’s first FDA 510(k)-cleared device from its pipeline of products. “This is a landmark moment for the SimBioSys team and our many collaborators. It is our springboard to begin fulfilling our mission to redefine precision medicine as we launch this first application and target further expansion in clinical utilities within breast cancer as well as across other solid tumors,” says Tushar Pandey, co-founder and CEO of SimBioSys. Receiving FDA clearance is an exciting milestone as it paves the way to begin to delivering personalized and holistic support to clinicians and patients on the cancer care journey, redefining precision medicine and revolutionizing patient care. The company was founded in 2018 by researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to explore the intersection between AI and biophysical simulations in oncology.

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EnterpriseWorks News Research Park

New Podcast Episode: 2023 in Review

2023 was a full year in Research Park: On the most recent episode of ‘The Innovations @ Research Park’ podcast,  podcast host Tanmay Shah sat down with Laura Appenzeller and Laura Bleill to discuss startup and corporate highlights from the year, plans for 2024, industry trends, and more. The Innovations @ Research Park podcast highlights the thriving entrepreneurial and corporate innovation culture in Champaign. It is hosted by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign alumnus Tanmay Shah. Subscribe to The Innovations @ Research Park to catch up on the latest innovations and news on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast network. 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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EnterpriseWorks Investments News Research Park

Research Park to Host America’s Seed Fund Road Tour Illinois Stop in 2024

Research Park will be hosting the Illinois stop of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 16-state America’s Seed Fund Road Tour on July 17, 2024. The event features programming, and 1:1 meetings between innovators and Federal Agency Representatives, to help attendees navigate over $4 billion in early-stage funding opportunities through America’s Seed Fund. If you’re an innovator, entrepreneur, researcher, or small technology startup, don’t miss this opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of federal agency technology funding priorities, meet one-on-one with program managers, and connect with local support resources. This is an outreach effort that connects entrepreneurs to technology funding opportunities provided through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, known as “America’s Seed Fund.” The FAST Center at the Research Park is one of the reasons the tour is coming to Champaign-Urbana. Led by EnterpriseWorks, the FAST Center provides free resources, support, and expertise necessary to submit a highly competitive proposal to help startups and companies bridge the gap between research and commercialization. More information, including a detailed agenda and registration, will be released soon on the Research Park Calendar. AMERICA’S SEED FUND 2024 ROAD TOUR SCHEDULE 2024: The Great Lakes Tour will run from July 15-19, with stops in East Lansing, Michigan, Indianapolis, Indiana, Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, Madison, Wisconsin, and Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Coastal Tour will run from February 7-9, with stops in Orlando, Florida; and San Juan, Puerto Rico. The South Tour will run from April 2-5, with stops in Little Rock, Arkansas; Jackson, Mississippi; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Houston, Texas. Finally, the Southeast Tour will run from May 13-17, with stops in Columbia, South Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; Knoxville, Tennessee; Lexington, Kentucky; and Huntington, West Virginia. If you would like more information on the America’s Seed Fund Road Tour, including a schedule of stops and participating agencies, visit: americasseedfund.us/road-tour. For more information about SBIR/STTR programs, please visit https://www.sbir.gov/ or follow America’s Seed Fund on Twitter. About SBIR/STTRSBA coordinates the SBIR/STTR programs, also known as America’s Seed Fund, which each year provides more than $3.7 billion in early-stage seed capital totaling over 5,000 awards to small businesses. Eleven participating federal government agencies announce funding opportunities as either grants or contracts to address their research and development needs. Companies supported by the SBIR/STTR programs often generate some of the most important breakthroughs each year in the U.S.  Additional information about the programs, as well as past and current topics can be found at www.sbir.gov. About the U.S. Small Business AdministrationThe U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 and is a Cabinet-level agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist, and protect the interests of small business concerns, preserve free competitive enterprise, and maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation.  The SBA helps Americans start, build, and grow businesses, and recover from disasters.  Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, the SBA delivers its services to people throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam. To learn more about SBA, visit www.sba.gov.

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EnterpriseWorks Graduates News Recognition & Awards Research Park

Xerion Advanced Battery Wins Prize From The U.S. Department of Energy

Xerion Advanced Battery Corp. recently received the American-Made Geothermal Lithium Extraction Prize from the U.S. Department of Energy for its groundbreaking work in developing a new way to extract lithium from geothermal brine. This extraction method is crucial for producing lithium-ion batteries, which are widely used in electric vehicles, energy storage, and various electronic devices. Paul Braun, co-founder of Xerion, planted roots at EnterpriseWorks. Here, the initial research was done and the original technology was created. Braun’s research group focuses on new functional materials for energy storage and solar energy harvesting, in particular on the synthesis of materials with carefully crafted 3D nano- and mesoscale architectures which lead to emergence of new optical, electrochemical, and thermal functionalities. Highlighted in Forbes, Xerion’s nanotechnology advances offer huge potential for everything from electrification of transportation to reinvigorating American manufacturing to onshoring of critical supply chains. Having been in “stealth mode” since 2010, Xerion will soon be able to expand to a manufacturing center in Dayton, Ohio with over $65 million raised. “The development of efficient geothermal lithium extraction technologies promises to simultaneously advance efforts to secure a domestic lithium supply and to solidify the United States’ position in the global transition to net-zero emissions,” stated John Busbee, CEO of Xerion. “The development and commercialization of our low-cost, high-efficiency direct lithium extraction from lithium brine sources globally will bring us one step closer to a clean energy future that is powered by homegrown innovation.” By developing these disruptive technologies, Xerion aims to transform the energy industry and contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable future. Its efforts align with the increasing demand for minerals like lithium in the context of a growing emphasis on zero-emission technologies and the electrification of various sectors.

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EnterpriseWorks Media Mentions News Partnerships & Acquisitions Research Park

Boston Bioprocess Contributing to Establishing the AgTech Corridor as a Biomanufacturing Destination

iFab Tech Hub partners Boston Bioprocess (BBP) and the Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory (IBRL) are scaling fermentation tech and jobs in Central Illinois. Boston Bioprocess, an EnterpriseWorks startup, offers full-suite fermentation and downstream processing services at benchtop and pilot scale. It provides clients with the equipment and expertise they need to improve yield, decrease costs, and access products for commercial testing. BBP oversees process development and finalizes parameters, preparing products to be scaled up at IBRL, said BBP cofounder and CEO Michael Tai. “BBP’s early-stage resources and experimental design expertise coupled with IBRL’s pilot-scale infrastructure helps clients smoothly transition from one end of the spectrum to the other,” Tai added. “We provide our clients with access to a suite of assets, talent, and expertise to navigate their scale-up journey.” Learn more about this partnership by reading the full article on its ACES News page.

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EnterpriseWorks Investments News Research Park

Illini Angels Announces First Investment to Natrion

Illini Angels Announces First Investment to Natrion The University of Illinois’ new angel group, Illini Angels, has selected EnterpriseWorks startup Natrion for their first investment. Illini Angels, launched in February 2023, is managed by Research Park’s Illinois Ventures. The angel network supports early-stage companies that have founders or leadership who are connected to the U of I System family – faculty, alumni, or students from any of the three universities, as well as companies that license university technology with seed funding, advice, and mentorship. “Natrion is an exceptionally promising company and Alex is a very impressive founder,” Illinois Ventures Senior Director Tom Parkinson said. Natrion, a solid-state EV battery pioneer, develops components for automotive and battery manufacturers that can be rapidly utilized to deploy safe, high-performance all-solid-state rechargeable batteries. Eliminating liquid-state components, these batteries improve electric vehicle fire safety, driving range, charge time, and overall lifespan. “Solid-state battery technology will be a critical enabler of the energy transition, and Natrion provides a compelling solution in the space, strong early traction with marquee customers and a commercially oriented leadership team with a bold vision for the company’s growth.” said Manas Gosavi, an Illini Angels founding member and venture capital investor with Mubadala Capital. Natrion was founded in 2018 by Alex Kosyakov, a University of Illinois undergraduate engineering student. They have R&D facilities in Champaign, including a semi-automated pouch cell production line for the manufacturing of prototype multi-layer pouch cells as would be used in portable electronics or electric vehicles.

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