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UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA-CHAMPAIGN

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    EnterpriseWorks News Recognition & Awards Research Park

    Hypercell Technologies Wins 2024 Edwin Moore Family Agriculture Innovation Prize 

    Champaign, Illinois (March 5, 2024) – Hypercell Technologies, a startup company developing new methods to control infectious diseases, has been named the 2024 Edwin Moore Family Agriculture Innovation Prize winner. The award, generously funded by a family of University of Illinois alumni, rewards University of Illinois entrepreneurs focusing on agricultural innovations.  The Research Park and the Moore family presented the award to Hypercell’s  CEO Bruno Jactel during the 2024 AgTech Innovation Summit at the Illinois Conference Center on Tuesday, March 5. The company operates out of an office at EnterpriseWorks, the technology incubator in the Research Park.  Hypercell Technologies has developed novel biological solutions to control infectious diseases in production animals that cause major economic losses and present potential threats to human health. The Hypercell approach revolutionizes the control of infectious diseases by bringing two innovative technologies: rapid, easy-to-use molecular diagnostics on the farm and biotherapeutic treatments to reduce the spread of a virus. Hypercell believes the best chance to stop a future pandemic in humans is to proactively control viruses in animal reservoirs. Dr. Alex Prokup, Senior Scientist at Hypercell says, “The first lab for Hypercell started here at the University in this incubator at EnterpriseWorks, and it’s really been a great experience for us. We have a lot of the University resources in terms of hiring our first lab technician, as well as getting supplies from the local store rooms and collaborating with some of the researchers on campus.” The Edwin Moore Family Agriculture Innovation Prize’s goal is to encourage startup companies engaged in developing new innovative technologies that may lead to increased productivity and efficiency in farming, or to create new agricultural opportunities, including new processes, crops, and food production systems.  Hypercell’s story with regard to this award was also featured in a recent News-Gazette article. Previous Edwin Moore Agriculture Innovation Fund Winners Include:  HarvestIQ, formerly known as Farmers Risk, 2023 FrostDefense Envirotech, 2022 Epivara, 2021 Habiterre (formerly Aspiring Universe), 2020 TellTail, 2019 EarthSense, 2018 Soil Diagnostics, 2017  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 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 over 100 companies employing students and full-time technology professionals. More information can be found on the Research Park website.

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    EnterpriseWorks News Recognition & Awards

    HabiTerre Named Startup to Watch in 2024 by St. Louis Inno

    St. Louis Inno has named EnterpriseWorks tenant HabiTerre as a Startup to Watch in 2024. The recognition underscores HabiTerre’s efforts in combating climate change through agtech. Founded in 2019 by Kaiyu Guan, HabiTerre operates from EnterpriseWorks. The company specializes in providing environmental and productivity data for agriculture through a blend of remote sensors, scientific models, and artificial intelligence. It helps financial institutes, public agencies, and individual producers to quantify, manage, and reduce financial risks in the farming-related business. The startup’s technology has been deployed across tens of millions of acres in the U.S. and piloted in Brazil. In 2023, HabiTerre experienced a doubling of year-over-year revenue as it transitioned from pilot projects to securing multi-year contracts with customers. One significant partnership involves Tyson Foods, which has implemented HabiTerre’s technology into its LGS Sustain program, which promotes sustainable farming practices. Read more on the St. Louis Inno webpage.

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    EnterpriseWorks Media Mentions News

    Hinetics and Natrion Featured in Axios

    EnterpriseWorks startups Hinetics and Natrion were recently featured in Axios for driving the progression of the electric aviation industry. Electric planes capable of long-haul flights are coming closer to reality, with a focus on developing advanced batteries and motors. The leading pioneers in this area are Natrion and Hinetics, both EnterpriseWorks startups. With the development of a new generation of batteries beyond those used to power the electric cars of today, smaller electric aircraft and air taxis may be available as early as 2025. However, the ultimate goal is to electrify larger planes for conventional airport operations. The work of Hinetics and Natrion support this, as both are engineering high-efficiency electric applications to be used in aviation. “To fly an airplane you need two big things: power to propel them forward and energy to keep them flying for a long duration,” says Kiruba Haran, founder and CTO of Hinetics. Haran is focusing on superconducting motors that can generate megawatts of power to propel jets. Superconducting materials have no resistance, minimal heat loss and can carry more current, meaning less material — and less weight. Superconducting materials hold the promise of being “very efficient, very lightweight, power dense,” says Haran. Natrion is developing solid-state batteries that can tolerate much higher temperatures, making them safer than traditional lithium-ion batteries. This is enhancing safety and performance in aircraft applications. They also charge faster. Together, the innovations from Hinetics and Natrion are shaping the future of electric aviation, promising cleaner and more sustainable air travel. As smaller electric aircraft and air taxis come closer to commercial viability, the end goal remains the electrification of larger planes for commercial flight. With the expertise and dedication of companies like Hinetics and Natrion, the future of a greener and more efficient aviation industry is looking bright. Hinetics located to EnterpriseWorks in 2019 after becoming members of the POETS Engineering Research Center. This partnership gave Hinetics access to extensive prototyping and testing facilities within POETS, and more broadly, across the whole University of Illinois campus. With its commitment to minimizing carbon emissions, the start-up has demonstrated groundbreaking work, earning recent funding from several notable organizations including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the United States Air Force, the National Science Foundation, and the United States Department of Energy. The team at Hinetics is turning the future of clean energy into a reality. Natrion located to EnterpriseWorks in 2018, and is developing battery technologies that can push the capabilities of EVs by solving the biggest issues that automakers and battery manufacturers face. Its 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. Read more on the Axios webpage.

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    EnterpriseWorks Graduates News Partnerships & Acquisitions Research Park

    EnterpriseWorks Graduate Serionix Signs Deals with Lowe’s and Chewy

    Serionix, a graduate of the EnterpriseWorks incubator at Research Park, recently signed deals with major retailers Lowe’s and Chewy to sell its Colorfil air filters. Serionix was founded by James Langer and Weihua Zheng, then University of Illinois graduate students, in 2011. During their tenure at EnterpriseWorks, they developed filtration technology initially designed for NASA. In 2021, the company rebranded its product to focus on air filters for pet owners. The proprietary formula includes color-changing material that indicates when a filter has reached the end of its lifetime. “The idea was to sell a product that would just create peace of mind for our customers,” Langer said. “One of the key benefits of the filters is their ability to capture and neutralize chemicals and particularly odor-causing chemicals in the air.” Since graduating from the EnterpriseWorks incubator in 2019, Serionix has continued operating and manufacturing in Champaign, Illinois. Buy Serionix’s Colorfil filters at Lowe’s and Chewy. Learn more about Serionix and its retail contracts on the News-Gazette.

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    EnterpriseWorks Graduates Media Mentions News

    PSYONIC Set to Make Waves on Shark Tank

    PSYONIC, an EnterpriseWorks graduate, is gearing up for its appearance on Shark Tank, scheduled for Friday, February 23. With a recent successful $3.1 million crowdfunded equity raise, the company is positioned for a major breakthrough. While details of their pitch to the sharks remain under wraps until the episode airs on ABC, viewers can expect to see Dr. Aadeel Akhtar, CEO and Founder of PSYONIC and University of Illinois alumnus, alongside Sgt. Garrett Anderson, a University of Illinois employee and user of PSYONIC’s innovative bionic hand, demonstrating the company’s technology. Akhtar received his Ph.D. in Neuroscience and M.S. in Electrical & Computer Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2016. Akhtar and a group of engineers got to work at EnterpriseWorks, building bionic hands from scratch. Now, the hand is a full-functioning one, which the ability to grasp, move, and feel like a real hand. Anderson, who studied rehabilitation counseling at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as a master’s student, was among the first amputees to test the bionic hand. After he lost his arm below the elbow in Iraq in 2005, he could never tell how much pressure he was applying with his prosthetic hand. He began testing prototypes that let him feel again with PSYONIC. PSYONIC specializes in creating advanced bionic limbs for individuals with amputations, with their first product being the Ability Hand. This prosthetic hand has unmatched speed, intuitive control, touch feedback, and durability. It stands out as the fastest bionic hand available. Additionally, it is available through Medicare, making this cutting-edge technology accessible to a wider audience. The Ability Hand is the world’s first touch-sensing bionic hand. This not only enhances functionality but also provides users with a heightened sense of connection and control over their prosthetic limb. The Ability Hand is covered by insurance companies in the United States, ensuring that users can access this life-changing technology without any out-of-pocket costs. As PSYONIC prepares to step onto the Shark Tank stage, many eagerly awaiting the outcome of this pivotal moment for the company and the future of bionics technology. Tune in to ABC to witness the next chapter in PSYONIC’s journey as they showcase their groundbreaking innovations to the sharks and the world. Akhtar launched PSYONIC in 2015 and the company moved into EnterpriseWorks in 2018. PSYONIC came to EnterpriseWorks as part of the iVenture Accelerator Team in 2015, and has also won prizes at the Cozad New Venture Competition and the 2016 Illinois Innovation Prize. It moved its headquarters to San Diego, California in 2022. Prior to relocating to San Diego, Akhtar says, “This achievement would not have been possible without the resources available to us in Champaign-Urbana. From the Neuroscience Program, to The Grainger College of Engineering, to the Illinois Technology Entrepreneur Center, iVenture Accelerator, EnterpriseWorks, University of Illinois Research Park, and many more, this community made PSYONIC and the Ability Hand what it is today.”

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    EnterpriseWorks Graduates News Research Park

    Eden Park Illumination Lights Installed at EnterpriseWorks

    The EnterpriseWorks kitchen received a tech upgrade thanks to startup graduate Eden Park Illumination. Eden Park has generously donated Far UVC 222nm lightbulbs to the kitchen space, which will help EnterpriseWorks reduce the negative impact of viruses and pathogens. Eden Park is a repeat graduate of EnterpriseWorks with companies that include E-P Purification, E-P Illumination, and, most recently Eden Park Continuous Disinfection. Eden Park Illumination is a fast-growing, dynamic lighting technology company, anchored in over 50 years of heritage through its affiliation with the Laboratory of Optical Physics and Engineering at the University of Illinois. It is a leader in the areas of lighting research, product development, and commercialization of the “Microplasma” technology. Eden Park Illumination currently has offices in Chicago and Champaign, Illinois.

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    EnterpriseWorks Features News Research Park

    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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