SPIE names 2017 Startup Challenge semifinalists, with most in bio
A team of expert volunteer judges at SPIE (Bellingham, WA) has selected the semifinalists in three tracks to advance in the SPIE Startup Challenge 2017 competition, with the "Biophotonics, Point of Care" track having eight of the 22 semifinalists. Two from each track will have the opportunity to pitch their business at the Startup Challenge on Wednesday, February 1, 2017 at SPIE Photonics West (January 28 - February 2 in San Francisco, CA).
Related: SPIE Photonics West 2017 - bring your running shoes!
The 22 semifinalists are:
Track 1: Biophotonics, Point of Care
- AcouStar—An optoacoustic guide with augmented reality technique for precision breast-conserving surgery. (Lu Lan, Purdue University; West Lafayette, IN)
- CancerView—Answering a need for better tools to help surgeons to remove all cancer tissue in a single surgery. (Erik Schartner, Centre for Nanoscale BioPhotonics, The University of Adelaide; Australia)
- d'Biomager—A 4D microscope camera that can be attached to any existing light microscope. (Rachel Wang, d'Optron Pte Ltd; Singapore)
- EarID/Computational Ear Imaging—Computational ear imaging for accurate detection of ear infections. (Anshuman Das, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology [MIT]; Cambridge, MA)
- Lumedica "OQ" EyeScope—Working to make medical technologies as accessible and affordable as consumer electronics. (Scott Whitney, Lumedica Inc.; Durham, NC)
- Nanodevices for cellular therapy—Using lasers and nanotechnology to cure any viral or genetic disease that affects the blood. (Nabiha Saklayen, Harvard University; Cambridge, MA)
- NU-RISE—Innovating breast and prostate cancer. (Luis Moutinho, University of Aveiro and NU-RISE; both in Aveiro, Portugal)
- Raydiant Oximetry, Inc.—Noninvasive fetal oximetry during labor and delivery. (Nicole Hlava, Raydiant Oximetry, Inc.; Sacramento, Berkeley, and Palo Alto, CA)
Track 2: Imaging, Display, Lasers, Semiconductors
- Fastree3D—Faster 3D vision with a light detection and ranging (lidar) system on chip. (Claude Florin, Fastree3D; Lausanne, Switzerland)
- LightOn—Processors that address the issues of scalability and sustainability of artificial intelligence (AI). (Laurent Daudet, LightOn; Paris, France)
- Microspherical nanoscopy—A low-cost method for increasing resolution on a traditional optical microscope without resorting to complicated methods like NSOM or STED. (Vasily Astratov, University of North Carolina - Charlotte; Charlotte, NC)
- Nanolayered GRIN optical lenses—GRIN polymer lenses offer a high-contrast, color-corrected, wide field of view (+30°) while simultaneously decreasing optical system weight of glass configurations by 30–60%. (Adin Pfeuffer, Peak Nano Optics; Waco, TX)
- Portable precision profilometer—Portable high precision 3D scanners with a low cost to bridge the current commercial scanner market gaps. (Renjie Zhou, MIT; Cambridge, MA)
- Real time display of several depths—a real-time multiple OCT slicer. (Adrian Podoleanu, University of Kent/Optopod Ltd; both in Kent, England)
- RGB laser light module for AR/VR—Ultra-compact RGB MEMS laser scanner for AR and VR applications. (Joerg Reitterer, TriLite Technologies GmbH; Vienna, Austria)
Track 3: Sensors, Wearables, IoT
- Fresh Strips—Ensuring quality for food. (Koen Nickmans, Fresh Strips; Eindhoven, Netherlands)
- IC Touch—Allows blind or visually impaired people to "see" by translation of visual information captured by a camera to spatial tactile stimulation of their cornea. (Zeev Zalevsky, Bar Ilan University and IC Touch; both in Ramat Gan, Israel)
- Lightnosiss—An optical wireless communication middleware for Internet of Things (IoT) in connected cars market. (Gloria Eisman, Lightbee SL; Tafira, Las Palmas, Spain)
- LiqWiz—An in-line, IoT-based spectrophotometer and analysis platform for automatic detection of EPA-specified chemicals and contaminants in drinking water. (Ivan Maleev, LiqWiz LLC; Pleasanton, CA)
- Miocoo—Healthy and scientific breastfeeding management for mothers and babies. (Qiaochu Li, Sensii, Inc; Cambridge, MA)
- QuasaR—A camera-powered, multi-parameter fitness tracker. (Koushik Kumar Nundy, Think Biosolution Limited; Dublin, Ireland)
- UVISIO—Personal safe sun protection. (Larisa Kryuchkova, uvisio; Eindhoven, Netherlands)
For more information, please visit http://spie.org/industry-resources/industry-events/startup-challenge.