Finalists
First Place Finalist: IntuiTap Medical
$50,000
IntuiTap Medical is developing a medical device to help physicians more accurately and efficiently place spinal needles for epidurals and spinal taps. They provide physicians with real time imaging of the vertebrae along with needle guidance to help them successfully place the needle on the first try.
Second Place Finalist: NHC, Inc. (Otricath)
$35,000
NHC’s Otricath™ catheter introduces a new perspective on therapy delivery. The platform technology’s proprietary infuse/withdraw technique delivers cancer-fighting agents to solid tumors with unparalleled control and predictability for optimal therapeutic benefit and minimal systemic effect.
Second Place Finalist: Shower Stream
$35,000
Shower stream is an internet of things smart shower for hotels that helps them save water, energy and money while improving their guest’s shower experience.
Fourth Place Finalist: Clear River Enviro Inc.
$15,000
Clear River Enviro Inc. is a healthcare support services business. They focus on cleaner, compliant solutions to ensure pharmaceuticals waste stays out of the environment and does not contribute to the current opioid epidemic. Their disruptive technology RxDestruct delivers significant economies of scale over existing methods.
Fifth Place Finalist: Thermascape Technologies Inc.
$10,000
Thermascape Technologies Inc. has developed a new class of fluids based on nanoparticle technology that increases heat transfer while reducing corrosion, fouling, and friction. Their self-generating, self-stabilizing nanofluids can increase thermal effectiveness in heat exchangers by up to 50 percent while doubling the energy storage capacity in devices such as thermal batteries.
Sixth Place Finalist: FORTIS Biosciences
$5,000
FORTIS Biosciences is an early-stage biotech startup translating the untapped universe of biochemicals produced by the endogenous microbiota into a new generation of drugs for human diseases. FORTIS employs a proprietary and innovative discovery platform to identify novel compounds with powerful drug-like properties from the “pharmacy inside us.”
Elevator Pitch
Elevator Pitch First Place: GuidaBot, LLC
$5,000
GuidaBot, LLC was formed in 2014 as a joint venture between Fannin Innovation Studio and the University of Houston to develop an MRI-compatible robotic manipulator for automated and precise control of minimally invasive neurosurgical procedures.
Elevator Pitch Second Place: Sensytec
$3,000
There are currently no other technologies that detect the structural integrity of concrete in real-time over the operational lifetime of a structure. The company monitors cracking, contamination, corrosion, temperature, mechanical pressures and more. By delivering data on these properties, Sensytec can ultimately prevent failures in concrete structures.
Elevator Pitch Third Place: Resthetics
$2,000
Resthetics is a Houston-based company that is converting waste anesthetic gas into a renewable resource. Resthetics primarily recycles Sevoflurane and Desflurane, the two most widely used anesthetic gases essential to anesthetizing patients for surgery.
Additional Prizes
TMCX Investment Prize + Accelerator Admission: Resthetics
Resthetics is a Houston-based company that is converting waste anesthetic gas into a renewable resource. Resthetics primarily recycles Sevoflurane and Desflurane, the two most widely used anesthetic gases essential to anesthetizing patients for surgery.
TMCX Accelerator Admission: GuidaBot
GuidaBot, LLC was formed in 2014 as a joint venture between Fannin Innovation Studio and the University of Houston to develop an MRI-compatible robotic manipulator for automated and precise control of minimally invasive neurosurgical procedures.
Innovatex/RVF Prize: Shower Stream
Shower stream is an internet of things smart shower for hotels that helps them save water, energy and money while improving their guest’s shower experience.
Cleantech Prize – Wells Fargo/Tees Clean Energy Incubator: Claridge-Culp
Claridge-Culp Inc. is a sustainable high-tech spin off company from Texas A&M University developing a disruptive air conditioning technology using no refrigerants (zero global warming potential), generating pure water, with healthier air for occupants at much higher efficiency than current refrigerant based air conditioners.
Ramey & Schwaller IP Legal Services Prize: FORTIS Biosciences
FORTIS Biosciences is an early-stage biotech startup translating the untapped universe of biochemicals produced by the endogenous microbiota into a new generation of drugs for human diseases. FORTIS employs a proprietary and innovative discovery platform to identify novel compounds with powerful drug-like properties from the “pharmacy inside us.”
Biotex Services Prize: IntuiTap Medical
IntuiTap Medical is developing a medical device to help physicians more accurately and efficiently place spinal needles for epidurals and spinal taps. They provide physicians with real time imaging of the vertebrae along with needle guidance to help them successfully place the needle on the first try.
Amerra Visualization Services Prize: Thermascape
Thermascape Technologies Inc. has developed a new class of fluids based on nanoparticle technology that increases heat transfer while reducing corrosion, fouling, and friction. Their self-generating, self-stabilizing nanofluids can increase thermal effectiveness in heat exchangers by up to 50 percent while doubling the energy storage capacity in devices such as thermal batteries.
AM Innovation Center Prize: Thermascape
Thermascape Technologies Inc. has developed a new class of fluids based on nanoparticle technology that increases heat transfer while reducing corrosion, fouling, and friction. Their self-generating, self-stabilizing nanofluids can increase thermal effectiveness in heat exchangers by up to 50 percent while doubling the energy storage capacity in devices such as thermal batteries.
Semifinalists
Semifinalist: PrepFlash
PrepFlash uses artificial intelligence to automatically generates multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, true/false quizzes and flashcards. Just upload a PDF, copy and paste a URL, type in your own notes, or take a picture with the mobile app and PrepFlash will take care of the rest.
Semifinalist: Rotex
Rotex develops the world’s thinnest and lightest electronic tattoo biometric sensors. E-tattoo is a multifunctional, high-fidelity, noninvasive sensing platform that is hair thin, skin soft, and considered the ultimate form of wearables. Biometrics that are monitored include EKG, EEG, EMG, respiration, temperature, hydration, blood pressure, etc.
Semifinalist: Stem Cell Security
Medicine to treat cancer and autoimmune diseases is costly to both the researchers discovering them and the end user. This cost is determined by the research that went into discovery and development, clinical trials to prove the safety and efficacy, and all failed drugs attempted in the process.
Semifinalist: Macromoltek
Medicine to treat cancer and autoimmune diseases is costly to both the researchers discovering them and the end user. This cost is determined by the research that went into discovery and development, clinical trials to prove the safety and efficacy, and all failed drugs attempted in the process.
Semifinalist: Alleviant Medical
Alleviant Medical is a Houston-based company developing next-generation devices to treat heart failure. We are committed to providing symptomatic relief and improved quality of life for over 6 million patients suffering from this disease.
Semifinalist: Smarter Sorting
Smarter Sorting has patent-pending technology that turns chemical waste into salable products. In turn, municipal waste depots lower their incineration rate and costs and Smarter Sorting generates multiple revenue streams.
Semifinalist: Quantum Industrial Development Corp
Quantum Industrial Development Corp. (QIDC) is a Texas based company that has partnered with Texas A&M – San Antonio in a project to develop a vehicle drivetrain that can achieve 100 miles per gallon. This joint project holds the potential to dramatically improve vehicle fuel efficiency and reduce tailpipe emissions.
