Friendswood-based Spark Biomedical was awarded $50,000 as the winner of the 2019 Texas A&M New Ventures Competition (TNVC) hosted by the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES). Spark Biomedical is a medical device company developing non-invasive neurostimulation solutions for opioid withdrawal and addiction.
“I’m very humbled and grateful,” said Powell, CEO of Spark. “This award means a lot because Texas A&M is my alma mater. Being back here is fantastic, and this win is a testament to the work we’re doing and our dedication to making a difference with this product.”
At more than $500,000 in cash and in-kind services, the prize pool for this year’s competition was the largest yet. Since 2015, the TNVC has awarded more than $1.5 million in prizes to Texas-based startups.
Full list of winners:
1st – $50,000 – Spark Biomedical
2nd – $35,000 – SurfEllent
3rd – $25,000 – Intelligent Implants
4th – $15,000 – Teysha Technologies
5th – $10,000 – VenoStent
6th – $5,000 – GaitIQ
Elevator pitch competition:
1st – $5,000 – PolyVascular
2nd – $4,000 – Saber
3rd – $3,000 – Novothelium
4th – $2,000 – Immosis
5th – $1,000 – EM Device Lab
Additional prizes:
Brazos Valley Economic Development Corporation Launch Prize – Saber
Southwest National Pediatric Devices Consortium Prizes – Spark Biomedical and EM Device Lab
Ark Pharmacies, Inc. Regional Prize – GaitIQ
Paragon Engineering Services Prize – Toggle Health
Biotex Investment Prize – PolyVascular
Amerra Visualization Services Prize – PolyVascular
Thomas | Horstemeyer IP Legal Services Prize – Ictero Medical and Teysha Technologies
TMC Investment Prize – GaitIQ
TMC Accelerator Admission Prize – Ictero Medical
Ramey & Schwaller IP Legal Services Prize – VenoStent
Aggie Angel Network Investment Prize – Spark Biomedical
Hollinden Marketing and Strategists Services Prize – GaitIQ
Schwegman Lundberg and Woessner IP Legal Services Prize – GaitIQ
TEES Clean Energy Incubator Prize – CarbonWire Technology
GOOSE Society Investment Prize – PolyVascular
Engineering Vice Chancellor Innovation Prize – Sun Co. Tracking and Ictero Medical
TEEX Product Development Center Prize – SurfEllent
