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    Mesh++ raises $4.9M to bring internet connectivity to rural and underserved communities

    Mesh++, a startup that graduated from EnterpriseWorks, announced this week it has raised $4.9 million to bring internet connectivity to rural and underserved communities.  Founder Danny Gardner started the company while he was a senior at the University of Illinois, and leveraged many of the resources available through the University of Illinois ecosystem. The company is now based in Chicago. Mesh++ routers are shared connectivity. Once plugged in, they look for other nearby routers to connect with and share internet connectivity across the mesh network.  Mesh++ teamed up with investors Lateral Capital, Anorak Ventures, First Leaf Capital, SOSV, GAN Ventures, TechNexus, and Illinois Ventures to raise the $4.9 million to connect the world more than ever. Fundraising with customers and distributors to connect people and get the product out there has opened doors for Mesh++ to ensure that every home in the U.S. has internet connections.  As Mesh++ works with its customers and distributors to raise money, it is continuing to grow throughout the U.S. and become more well-known.  “The fundraising marks a major shift in the company, from a pure R&D-driven company over the past few years, and towards focusing more on sales, and turning the company into a more mature organization,” says Mesh++’s CEO Danny Gardner. “The fundraising unlocks us being able to partner with customers and distributors to connect as many people as possible, and to get the product out there.” Mesh++ continues to serve its market of rural communities with little to no internet access, giving them internet connectivity with the help of raised money to bring this mission to life.

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    EnterpriseWorks News Research Park

    Trova is launching its new AI system: Beta

    Trova, an EnterpriseWorks startup, is an artificial intelligence system that is designed to help people organize information scattered across various platforms, has launched BFFs Beta. Beta connects with your Gmail, Google Drive, Slack, Outlook, Dropbox, MS Teams, and Jira accounts to help you find the information you need quickly and efficiently. More platforms to Beta soon. Beta makes life easier, it helps people to organize their messages without even lifting a finger. “We are digitally flooded by emails, Slack messages, links, text messages, files, all the stuff that keeps us connected in our daily lives across different communication platforms,” says Trova. “Information is scattered all over. Sometimes it is hard to remember where things are. That’s where Trova comes in. Trova will find the information for you.” Beta is great for people who are looking for a way to keep all of their messages together and to make it more efficient to read and respond to each of them, without having to search through multiple platforms to find what they are looking for. Trova was originally a project of the Alchemy Foundry. Its leadership consists of Sanjay Patel, a serial entrepreneur and tenured professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering, and a team of University of Illinois undergraduate and graduate students. Sign up here for Trova AI’s Beta: https://bit.ly/3B45UWf

    Trova is launching its new AI system: Beta Read Post »

    EnterpriseWorks Investments News Research Park

    EnterpriseWorks Startup SimBioSys Raises $15 Million Series A to Develop the Future of Precision Cancer Care

    SimBioSys announced today it raised $15 million in Series A funding to accelerate the development and commercialization of its TumorScope software platform. The company’s novel, simulation-based, precision medicine platform enables individualized treatment planning for cancer patients. This Series A was co-led by Genoa Ventures and Northpond Ventures, with participation from AV8 Ventures, Heritage Medical Group, and Mayo Clinic. Existing investors and founders also participated in this financing round, bringing the company’s total capital raised to $21 million. Founded in 2018 at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, SimBioSys is based at the EnterpriseWorks incubator in the University of Illinois Research Park. In the first half of 2021, SimBioSys tripled its headcount, bringing in expert clinicians, scientists, and executives from the life sciences industry. SimBioSys is also working in collaboration with 20 leading cancer institutions across the country to run clinical validation studies and recently published results from independent validation performed by prestigious cancer centers, demonstrating over 90 percent accuracy in predicting response to therapy in its first indication of early breast cancer. “We are honored to have the support of such prestigious and thoughtful investors, validating the novelty and promise of our science and its potential to improve outcomes for millions of patients in the future,” said Tushar Pandey, CEO of SimBioSys. Despite the crowded landscape of precision medicine, treatment decisions continue to be made based on trial and error, and the resulting uncertainty among clinicians leads to sub-optimal outcomes for patients. SimBioSys aims to individualize care and eliminate uncertainty by assessing response to therapy at the time of treatment planning. “The rate of innovation in oncology is truly inspiring, but it doesn’t always translate to benefit for most patients”, said Tushar. “SimBioSys firmly believes we can do more with what is currently available while accounting for the rapidly evolving standard of care to ensure all patients have access to precision medicine.” SimBioSys’ early validation data and approach with standard-of-care data alone provides a glimpse into the future of oncology and drug development. With this new funding, the company now has the resources to move one step closer to delivering on its mission. “Since meeting Tushar and the SimBioSys team, Genoa Ventures has been excited about the enormous potential for the TumorScope platform to democratize insights for precision medicine in cancer care,” said Vikram Chaudhery, Principal at Genoa Ventures. “For the first time, any hospital, clinic or cancer center can make truly informed decisions in choosing the best treatment protocols for patients, based on the standard pre-existing patient data available, eliminating the need for additional, expensive wet-lab testing.” Unlike current approaches, SimBioSys’ first-of-its-kind application combines artificial intelligence with biophysical simulations to model the impact of phenomena such as drug delivery, metabolism, and spatial heterogeneity in a comprehensive model using standard-of-care data alone. The results are generated within minutes, enabling physicians to make a well-informeddecision while improving patient experience and shared decision-making. In addition, the technology can support the drug development process across pre-clinical and clinical trial settings. “Robust clinical and patient-reported data is critical to assess and prescribe the best options of cancer care for patients,” said Andrea Jackson, Director at Northpond Ventures. “The SimBioSys TumorScope virtualizes cancer to simulate – in minutes – a patient’s tumor response to therapies. Simulating response before prescribing treatment is a significant stride in personalized treatment planning. Northpond is grateful to partner with Tushar and theSimBioSys team on this important work.” The company’s name, SimBioSys, and logo capture its core scientific approach – Simulating Biological Systems. SimBioSys’ TumorScope virtualizes cancer in 3D and can accurately simulate how a patient’s tumor will respond to a variety of therapies following diagnosis. The new funding will allow SimBioSys to expand its state-of-the-art technology into other solid tumors beyond its current focus on breast cancer. Additionally, the new capital will drive commercialization efforts to bring the technology to patients and the biopharma industry. Andrea Jackson at Northpond Ventures and Vikram Chaudhery at Genoa Ventures will join the SimBioSys Board of Directors. About SimBioSysSimBioSys combines artificial intelligence and biophysical simulations to advance precision medicine in cancer care. The company’s technology virtualizes individual tumors and through biophysical simulations delivers insights on specific traits, such as tumor morphology, drug delivery and metabolism, while simultaneously predicting response to therapy. SimBioSys’ goal is to transform decision making in cancer care by empowering physicians with a better understanding of each patient’s disease. By virtually assessing each patient’s response to treatment, physicians can truly personalize therapy. For more information, visit www.simbiosys.com

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    News Partnerships & Acquisitions Research Park

    Common Ground Research Networks Signs Publishers Compact on the UN Sustainable Development Goals

    Champaign, Illinois – Common Ground Research Networks (Not-for-Profit) is proud to be a signatory to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Publishers Compact.  Launched in collaboration with the International Publishers Association, the compact “features 10 action points that publishers, publishing associations, and others can commit to undertaking in order to accelerate progress to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Signatories aspire to develop sustainable practices and act as champions of the SDGs, publishing books and journals that will help inform, develop and inspire action in that direction.” Hugo Setzer, President, International Publishers Association: “Publishers can play such an important role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through the books we publish but we must also look at our business practices and contribute in our own right. This compact gives publishers theopportunity to mark their commitment with clear targets for them to aim for.” Melissa Fleming, Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, United Nations: “With the Decade of Action now underway, we are looking to build a coalition of partners to help us identify and accelerate sustainable solutions to the world’s biggest challenges. That’s why we at the United Nations are excited to know that the publishing industry is becoming part of this global movement. This Compact is a welcome initiative and one we hope will showcase innovative ideas from a sector that has a critical role to play in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.” Phillip Kalantzis Cope, Chief Social Scientist, Common Ground Research Networks: “We believe that scholarly communication is a critical infrastructure on which society depends. We are committed to aligning our agenda to the Sustainable Development Goals, to frame our approach to designing digital and in-person architectures of communication, social interaction, and formal knowledge-making that are resilient, democratic, equitable, and sustainable. For this, we believe there is no time to wait.”

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    Investments News Research Park

    Research Park Receives $500,000 State Grant to Build Wet Lab Space for Growth-Stage Companies

    University of Illinois Research Park Receives $500,000 State Grant to Build Wet Lab Space for Growth-Stage Companies Grant Part of $15.4 Million in Rebuild Illinois Capital Funding to Boost Wet Lab Development (News coverage: Crain’s Chicago Business) A $550,000 investment from the State of Illinois will support new construction of specialized facilities to advance life sciences technology companies at the University of Illinois Research Park. The Research Park was one of eight recipients awarded funding from the Rebuild Illinois Wet Lab Capital Program. The space will be allocated to growth-stage companies graduating out of EnterpriseWorks, the technology startup incubator managed and leased by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. “Labs are hard to move, in scarce supply in the Midwest, and require scientific talent – which are in strong supply in Champaign-Urbana, especially at the Research Park,” said Laura Frerichs, executive director of the Research Park and EnterpriseWorks. “LabWorks will add an important wet lab addition to the Research Park to ensure that homegrown life science and agriculture companies scale and thrive in Central Illinois.” Tenants in the new lab space, to be dubbed “LabWorks”, will enjoy the continuity of resources and services provided by EnterpriseWorks. It provides entrepreneur assistance programs across the startup lifecycle, including pre-incubation, during incubation, and growth after graduation. The build out of the lab space will cost in excess of $1 million. In addition to the state’s contribution, LabWorks is a partnership between the University of Illinois Research Park and building landlord GRE UIRP LLC. The targeted opening is early 2022. It will be an appealing modern, move-in ready, affordable space that will encourage the growth of companies that launched in Champaign and need affordable lab space to continue adding jobs and growing their products and services. LabWorks companies also will benefit from the Research Park’s agriculture corporate partners, proximity to the new Research Park greenhouse/phenotyping facility, access to the Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory (IBRL), and other campus agriculture assets. “Last year, my administration launched a Wet Lab Capital program to meet the technical needs of startups, incubators, and universities across the state,” said Governor JB Pritzker in a news release. “Today, after receiving so many brilliant applications from project developers across Illinois, I am excited to announce $15.4 million in grants that is funding $90 million worth of wet lab expansions throughout Illinois –in Chicago but also at both of Southern Illinois University’s campuses, at Rosalind Franklin University in the heart of Illinois’ biopharma ecosystem in northern Illinois, and at life science hubs up and down the state.” All Wet Lab capital projects underwent a competitive review, with the highest scoring projects selected based on a demonstrated ability to expand Illinois-based research and manufacturing, support development in life sciences and related industries, and create a pipeline for Illinois residents to enter the life sciences industry.

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    News Recognition & Awards Research Park

    Genective Named Finalist for IHS Markit’s Crop Science Award’s “Best Industry Collaboration” Award

    Genective, an agtech company that is globally headquartered at Research Park, has been named a finalist for IHS Markit’s Crop Science Awards 2021 under the “best industry collaboration” category. Genective and collaborator AgBiome were nominated for this award together.   The prestigious annual awards celebrate the best-in-class scientific, technological, and leadership initiatives.   Award winners will be announced on November 3, 2021.   Find more information about the awards here.

    Genective Named Finalist for IHS Markit’s Crop Science Award’s “Best Industry Collaboration” Award Read Post »

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    EnterpriseWorks Graduate SNOOZ Launches New Product on Kickstarter

    EnterpriseWorks startup SNOOZ recently launched a Kickstarter page new product Breez: White Noise Sleep Fan. Breez is a powerful two-in-one bedroom fan and a white noise machine, created following the success of SNOOZ’s White Noise Machine. Breez has two fans, the primary fan that directs air around the acoustic hub to cool you off, and the sound impeller fan that can be adjusted to provide the perfect amount of fan sound for your bedroom. To see a full breakdown of the SNOOZ sleep conditioner’s features, check out the Kickstarter page here. SNOOZ is a consumer electronics company that creates products for home and hospitality use. Its primary focus is in optimizing the interaction between air movement and sound generation, and building devices that produce sound masking for sleep or privacy, and are energy efficient. SNOOZ was founded by Eli Lazar and Matthew Snyder in 2015. Lazar is a mechanical engineering alumnus from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The company graduated from the EnterpriseWorks startup incubator in 2019. More information about SNOOZ on its website.

    EnterpriseWorks Graduate SNOOZ Launches New Product on Kickstarter Read Post »

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    Research Park: One Reason Why Young Homebuyers are Flocking to Champaign

    A recent article written by Realtor.com echoed what we here at the UIRP already know to be true: the University of Illinois Research Park in Champaign is the place to be.  Using its own algorithm Realtor.com concluded that, amongst other bustling college towns, Champaign is the best (yes, as in the #1) college town for young adults to move to.  Realtor.com cited Research Park a prominent reason for why anyone, but specifically young home buyers and recent graduates, should consider buying property in the immediate community. According to the article, young home buyers and  “recent grads can try to snag a job or internship at the college’s Research Park a technology hub with around 100 companies. It houses everything from startups to research and development centers of Fortune 500 companies like State Farm, AbbVie pharmaceuticals, and Caterpillar.” The website also highlighted  Champaign’s prime location in relation to other major cities, the lower cost of living, and the lively progressive college town in its equation.  Find a full-time position on the UIRP job board here. 

    Research Park: One Reason Why Young Homebuyers are Flocking to Champaign Read Post »

    EnterpriseWorks Investments News Recognition & Awards Research Park

    EnterpriseWorks Receives 5-Year Continuation of EDA University Center Grant

    EnterpriseWorks Receives EDA Grant To Continue Supporting Entrepreneurship at Illinois Universities The grant from the EDA will continue to support development of higher education entrepreneurial ecosystems across Illinois CHAMPAIGN, IL, September 30, 2021 — The EnterpriseWorks incubator at the University of Illinois Urbana- Champaign, has been awarded a five-year grant of $70,000 per year from the United States Economic Development Administration (EDA) to advance incubators and entrepreneurial ecosystems associated with higher education across Illinois. The new award will enable EnterpriseWorks to continue providing assistance to other higher education incubators and entrepreneurial spaces located across Illinois. The grant will fund leadership and management for the Illinois University Incubator Network (IUIN), which was seeded by the EDA Economic Adjustment Assistance Program (2016-2021). The IUIN provides a robust array of events and services that aim to strengthen university-related entrepreneurship activities and resources by sharing resources, best practices, and programming among members of the statewide incubator ecosystem. Specific examples of resource sharing include relevant trainings, disseminating documents and information about leases, applications, program structures; benchmarking data; and fostering collaboration on grant funding opportunities. “The University of Illinois EDA University Center specializes in providing support for incubation, entrepreneurship, and technology-based economic development projects in Illinois with a primary focus on serving downstate communities,” said Laura Frerichs, director of the University of Illinois Research Park and director of economic development at the University of Illinois.  “The Center facilitates support and programming for existing incubators with an eye towards expanding entrepreneurship capacity, programming, services, and resources for technology-driven businesses. EnterpriseWorks is looking forward to working with supporting and advancing entrepreneurship across the state of Illinois.” The new five-year grant adds technical assistance and support for Economic Development Districts (EDDs) and community economic development groups in rural and underrepresented communities in Illinois. This will include the development of a referral network to aid with resources available through UI Extension, SBDCs, SBA FAST Center, regional economic development organizations, and other University resources. One of its goals is to and develop “roadmaps” as examples of successful programs developed by other Illinois communities that are aiding in economic gardening, which leverage existing assets in communities, build unique attractions, and small business support.

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    EnterpriseWorks Graduate APriori Raises $30 Million Series D Investment

    EnterpriseWorks graduate aPriori announced that the company has recently completed a Series D investment round of $30 million, co-led by Bruce Clarke of PBJ Capital and Gaurav Tewari of Omega Venture Partners. This investment brings the valuation for the company to $280 million. aPriori is the leading provider of digital manufacturing software that brings product design, sourcing teams, and supplier teams closer together to close the gap between design and production. By leveraging the digital twin with digital factories, aPriori automatically generates design for manufacturability (DFM) and design for cost (DTC) insights, helping manufacturers collaborate across the product development process to make better design, sourcing, and manufacturing decisions that yield higher value products in less time.  Read more on the Business Wire website.

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