OTC Start-Up Companies

Start-up Companies

The following companies have been started with technologies licensed from the University of Maryland.

FY 2009 | FY 2008 | FY 2007 | FY 2006 | FY 2005 | FY 2004 | FY 2003 | FY 2002

FY 2001 | FY 2000 | FY 1999 | FY 1998 | FY 1997 | FY 1993 | FY 1992 | FY 1988

FY 2010
Precision Polyolefins, LLC, of College Park, MD, has developed a proprietary manufacturing process that converts plentiful and domestically available propylene gas to pure white oils and waxes. PPL is working to establish a competitive position in the Gas-to-Liquid (GTL) synthetic base oils, lubricants, and detergents global markets ($12 billion annually). The company offers both superior performance and rapid customer-driven optimization for small to midvolume applications (500,000 to 10 million tons annually). PPL products are free of impurities and harmful chemical additives and will help manufacturers and end-use consumers to fulfill a global environmental responsibility while reducing U.S. dependence on foreign imports.
FY 2009
Remedium Technologies, Inc. is developing products designed to stop bleeding caused by injury or surgery. The company has two products in the works: a freeze-dried sponge, to be applied directly to a wound in order to control hemorrhaging; and a spray-on liquid to treat minor bleeding and seal tissue during surgical procedures. Both products rely on a proprietary biopolymer-based material that gently adheres to tissue. The material comes off easily after the wound heals. The underlying technology received the 2008 Invention of the Year Award in Life Science. The company is located in Germantown, MD.
Flexel, LLC is a Silver Spring, MD based company created to develop the world’s highest energy density thin film battery for public use. The technology makes possible a number of stronger, smaller electronic devices. Applications include wireless sensor networks, active RFID, wearable electronics, and medical implants. The batteries are comprised entirely of environmentally friendly material. Already attracting investments and awards, Flexel received a $25,000 grant from SAIC and is a winner of both the University of Maryland Business Plan Competition and the 2008 Invention of the Year Award in Physical Science. Flexel is currently a member of the MTECH VentureAccelerator program.
Traffax, Inc. introduces a revolutionary line of traffic monitoring equipment known as BluFax that directly measures travel time of vehicles on both freeways and arterials. This technology also measures pedestrian movements and provides origin-destination information needed for derivation of travel behavior. Based on Bluetooth sampling technology developed at the University of Maryland's Center for Advanced Transportation Technology, BluFax delivers a new generation of traffic data with greater precision and lower cost than previously possible. The company is located in Centreville, MD.
BioSpecimen Technologies Davis, CA

FY 2008
Columbia BioSystems, Inc. is a Columbia, MD subsidiary of Link Plus Corporation. It was founded around Dr. Peter Kofinas’ Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs) technology for the specific detection, binding, and separation of viruses. The technology can be used to develop a dialysis system consisting of custom synthesized MIPs packaged into plastic discs (cartridges) that are compatible with commercially available hemodialysis devices. This enables hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare organizations to turn existing dialysis systems into virus removal systems capable of lowering the viral load in patients with HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, or other blood-borne viruses. This technology can also be used to easily produce virus-free biopharmaceuticals and vaccines.
Purrfect Gourmet is a manufacturing company developing all-natural products for use in and on pet food, especially on dry and moist (i.e., semi-dry) cat food. Purrfect Gourmet's products enhance the aroma and flavor of the underlying pet food and make it more appealing, thereby helping cats avoid an ever-mounting list of frequently-encountered and costly food-related health and medical problems.

FY 2007
CertusNet, Inc., located in Rockville, MD, believes that IP networks need to be self-managing, self-diagnosing, self-healing and self-optimizing for large scale deployment of real time QoS-sensitive applications. Its mission is to provide service assurance and application delivery for IP networks through real-time end-to-end traffic and service control. It offers visibility into underlying network infrastructure, traffic content, and end-customer experience, and takes proactive action to optimize the service path, and solve or mitigate problems automatically before customers complain.
Fantalgo, LLC creates software for high performance scientific simulation. Their approach to the rapid and accurate solution of large scale problems is based on the use of both algorithmic and architectural advances. Fantalgo is an expert on the use of the fast multipole method and other fast algorithms, and the use of graphical processors for general purpose scientific computing. The company is located in Rockville, MD.
LeukoSight, Inc. is an early stage biotechnology company developing a line of novel therapeutics that can be used to treat autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. LeukoSight's technology promises to offer a convenient, safe, and more effective treatment option for these diseases.
SD Nanosciences, Inc., located in Beltsville, Md., is working to further develop carbohydrate-functionalized nanomaterials. Their vesicle technology, Targeted Delivery Vesicles (TDV), encapsulates and targets drugs and can be stored and shipped as a stable liquid at room temperature. SD Nanosciences also has demonstrated their TRIAD™ technology, which uses gold nanoparticle-presenting carbohydrates capable of eliciting a potent IgG response directed against polysaccharide and generates a maximal antibody response. A single dose of vaccine is sufficient to generate a maximal antibody response.
Sentimetrix, Inc. offers an innovative technology framework to measure sentiments or opinions expressed in the electronic media (such as news, blogs, newsgroups) worldwide. It combines data gathering with sophisticated entity extraction and real time text analytics to track opinions expressed about any given topic. The underlying OASYS technology, on which the SentiMerix analytical services are based, won the 2006 ComputerWorld 2006 Horyzon award. In 2008, SentiMetrix was the winner of the Maryland ISR First Annual Venture Fair.
Steve Hutcheson and Ron Weiner, professors of cell biology and molecular genetics, founded Zymetis, Inc. in College Park, MD after discovering the unique ability of a Chesapeake Bay marsh grass bacterium to transform plants and plant waste into ethanol and other biofuels. The timeliness of the technology, introduced shortly before the U.S. Senate passed a mandate requiring oil companies to blend in 21 billion gallons of ethanol with their gasoline by 2022, has ensured its place in the $5 billion enzyme market for biofuels. Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley praised the invention, commenting that “we must continue to invest in Marylanders like Steve Hutcheson and in their revolutionary ideas to protect our environment, create jobs, and improve lives” after a March 10th viewing of the Zymetis process. Hutcheson and Weiner were recognized by OTC’s 2007 Invention of the Year Life Science Award, and offered business guidance by the MTECH VentureAccelerator program and research assistance by the MTECH Bioprocess Scale-Up Facility staff.
NewAgriculture, Inc. Port Tobacco, MD
UltraNetx LLC Columbia, MD

FY 2006
ADF Solutions, Inc. of Bethesda, MD is the global leader of forensic triage tools for rapid evidence recovery and intelligence extraction from computers and peripheral devices. The tools have a proven track record at reducing forensic backlogs, securing fast convictions, and identifying suspects who are a threat to national security. The tools are designed to be used by both technical and non technical users and are widely deployed for both field and lab investigations.
Personics Holdings, LLC Del Ray Beach, FL

FY 2005
Chausie Systems, Inc. offers a wide range of visualization products and services based on proprietary technology. Their software solutions provide organizations with enhanced opportunities to search through vast amounts of data and immediately recognize trends and patterns within the information. Using advanced information visualization data analysis solutions while incorporating analytical and cognitive functionality allows their customers to use the right side of the brain. This will increase significantly the ability to analyze data accurately and quickly. Chausie Systems is located in Alpharetta, GA.
Komoku, Inc., created by computer science professor William Arbaugh in 2004, was bought by Microsoft on March 20th, 2008 for its cutting edge developments in malware detection and protection. The software has been used by a number of high-security government agencies, including the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the U.S. Department of Defense, and will now be used as Microsoft’s newest addition to its already impressive arsenal of anti-malware software. As computer viruses become more sophisticated, so too must the software to prevent them, and Komoku’s technique of real-time, independent auditing of a system’s integrity is up to the challenge. The Columbia, MD company’s name and product line will gradually be retired and the majority of the staff will join Microsoft in the Access and Security Division.
RioRey, Inc. specializes in the design and manufacture of internet security solutions that protect against Denial of Service (DOS) and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. Their platforms embed their Micro Behavioral Analysis™ technology, recognized as an important breakthrough in the science of DDoS detection. RioRey products scale to work with the Fortune 1000, small and medium businesses, government agencies, universities, and their hosting companies worldwide to detect and stop DDoS attacks before they compromise customers' public web sites.
Berrigen Biotechnology Columbia, MD
Horus Wireless Systems Inc. Derwood, MD
Nuzzer Technologies, Inc. Derwood, MD
Tradewinds Product Consultants Inc. Potomac Falls, VA

FY 2004
Thermal Analysis Partners LLC, based in College Park, MD, provides services and software for the optimization of thermal management and energy conversion systems. The optimization minimizes development and/or operating costs and system weight and volume while maximizing reliability and efficiency. While not all of these objectives can be addressed simultaneously at all times, TAP specializes in the multi-objective optimization of such systems satisfying as many of these requirements as realistically possible.
COSemi Inc. Silver Spring, MD
CST Agro LLC Port Washington, NY
Data and Information Solutions Corporation (DISC) Beltsville, MD
Pervasive Technology Engineering LLC Greenbelt, MD

FY 2003
Windsor Interfaces Inc. offers Zoomable User Interfaces (ZUIs) in PhotoMesa and DateLens. ZUIs offer an intuitive way of managing more information than fits on the screen. The user zooms out for context, then zooms in for more detail. ZUIs enable the consumer to work with more information at a time, spending less time navigating to find what they want.
AlphaSight Networks Inc. Germantown, MD
Odexia LLC Brinklow, MD
Phytoextraction Associates LLC Baltimore, MD
XMTT Inc. Rockville, MD

FY 2002
Advanced Communication Technology Inc. Silver Spring, MD
Envirion Inc. Baltimore, MD
Impactrix LLC Kensington, MD
Ondov Enterprises Clarksville, MD

FY 2001
AlphaTrek Inc., located in Ashton, MD, develops and licenses RF-based location technology. These location technologies embody themselves in the PinPoint and Hours products that enable a spectrum of Real Time Location Services (RTLS). These products are the result of eight years of development and testing by leading commercial, government and academic partners and sponsors. The claim is simple: AlphaTrek offers the most accurate and cost effective methodology for mobile and RTLS applications where accurate location makes the difference.
Blue Wave Semiconductors Inc. is a global leader in developing advanced thin film and nanomaterials deposition systems, tool components, and nanotechnology-based electronic and photonic devices. Blue Wave, located in College Park, MD, specializes in: Manufacturing of semiconductor materials and tools Wafer heating products and processing tools for R&D Innovative thin films, coatings and devices RD Contracts for Department of Defense (DoD) & Large Corporations
Calibrant Biosystem's Gemini™ technology is uniquely compatible with limited protein samples procured from clinically relevant microdissected tissues. The proven platform is distinguished by its ability to provide comprehensive protein discovery from isolated and homogeneous populations of diseased cells and is the leading solution for proteomic analysis of microdissected fresh-frozen and formalin-fixed tissues. The company is located in Bethesda, MD.
Better Growth LLC Deal Island, MD
LumenLink Corporation Rockville, MD
Optical Fiber Research Resources Inc. Baltimore, MD

FY 2000
Little Optics Inc. Columbia, MD (Acquired by Infinera Corporation in 2007)

FY 1999
FLY OFF Inc. St. Davids, PA
SabaTech Corporation College Park, MD
Skimaps.com Inc. Silver Spring, MD (A subsidiary of Syscom Services Inc.)

FY 1998
Quantum Phontonics, Inc. Jessup, MD (Merged with Coden Corp. to form Covega Corp., now part of Thorlabs Quantum Electronics)
Viridian Environmental LLC Houston, TX

FY 1997
Advanced Thermal Environmental Concepts Ltd. provides cost-effective contract engineering and R&D services that help engineering and technology companies solve their advanced thermal management problems. ATEC delivers innovative, proprietary, thermal management solutions for a wide variety of industries. ATEC's advanced thermal management solutions address tough problems that increasingly cannot be solved with standard "off the shelf" components. The company is located in College Park, MD.

FY 1993
DAMILIC Rubber Co. Rockville, MD (A subsidiary of DAMILIC Corp.)
Rainbow Bridge Communications Inc. Rockville, MD

FY 1992
Marizyme Corporation Hanover, MD

FY 1988
NovaScreen BioSciences Corporation Hanover, MD (Acquired by Caliper Life Sciences in September 2005)