Investments in commercialization and start-ups based on LANL technology or expertise
The Venture Acceleration Fund (VAF) invests in creating and growing Northern New Mexico businesses that have an association with LANL technology or expertise. It funds up to $100,000 per project to businesses that use technology for commercial applications with market demand. Use of VAF awards includes activities such as proof of concept, prototyping, product engineering, customer acquisition and market validation.
The first phase of the VAF application process is a Call for Ideas, which takes place in the spring. Applicants that best establish their connection with laboratory technology or expertise, proof of commercial and regional impact, and the ability to leverage matching funds will be asked to submit a full proposal in the summer. Full proposals are evaluated on the above criteria as well as the strength of the business and technical team, potential for new company formation, technical feasibility and strong market opportunity.
A connection with LANL technology or expertise may be established through:
- License or intent to license laboratory intellectual property
- Participation in the New Mexico Small Business Assistance Program
- Expertise of current or former LANL employees forms the basis of the company
Please note that VAF funds must be used outside of LANL and cannot be used for LANL staff or research and development.
Contact: Belinda Padilla, 505-667-9896, bee@lanl.gov
Please check back in September 2010 for the new Call for Ideas!
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RetrieverTech, Santa Fe
Have you ever wondered how scientists view microscopic images in dark laboratories? Santa Fe’s own RetrieverTech develops sophisticated, high-speed cameras for such lowlight settings.
Retriever’s cameras are unique in that they are very affordable, extremely small and require minimal power to operate. RetrieverTech received $25,000 from Northern New Mexico Connect’s LANS Venture Acceleration Fund (LANS VAF) to help market its line of low-light imaging cameras based on Electron Multiplied Charge Coupled Device (EMCCD) technology.
The VAF award funded a demonstration package for site visits and trade shows. “We are very happy about how well VAF worked for us,” says Andy Bartlett, Principal. “While the grant was small, it helped us to leverage other funding and enabled initial sales.”
Today, Retriever’s customers for EMCCD cameras include General Electric Global Research and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Retriever has also engaged another Northern New Mexico Connect activity, Market Intelligence, to hone its marketing strategy, identify potential manufacturing partners, and access databases and marketing reports.
Knowledge Reef Systems, Santa Fe, NM
Where do you go when your research arrives at a dead end with Google or other search engines? One answer to this question is the work of Dr. Marko Rodriguez, a Los Alamos National Laboratory scientist who presented his research on discovering and routing information at a Springboard event. Gary Ebersole, an experienced early-stage start up executive from Silicon Valley, was an expert on the Springboard panel. “Marko’s concept had the most general applicability,” explains Ebersole, “and was also the most compelling. It pushed us to think about what we do after Google.”
In less than six months, Ebersole and Rodriguez formed the start-up Knowledge Reef Systems and began to develop a research tool for the scientific community. Knowledge Reef later received an award from Northern New Mexico Connect’s Venture Acceleration Fund which was instrumental in securing venture capital, developing an engineering team, and delivering an early prototype.
Today, kReef is an online service that accelerates and enhances the research process. It replaces the trial-and-error information discovery process by mining information from a large-scale database of scholarly resources. The basic service is free, while an annual fee is charged for premium service. As they create a footprint in the scientific community, Ebersole and Rodriguez are also looking ahead to new markets. The question becomes “how does Knowledge Reef apply this technology to a broader market?” Stay tuned for the answer to yet another compelling question.
Elemetric Instruments Santa Fe, NM
The recipe for success in the technology world involves adding business acumen to science. As the founder of three successful start-ups, Daryl Ehrmantraut positioned Elemetric Instruments from a company focused on technology to one that fills the business needs of global pharmaceutical and food markets.
While developing the Element Presence Detector (EPD), an instrument that identifi es the presence and concentration of elements, Elemetric secured contracts with one of the top five global food manufacturers and a top 5 US pharmaceutical company. These customers will use the EPD in global factory facilities to detect stray elements in finished products, streamline quality control processes, test against counterfeit products, and ensure the correct levels of vitamins and minerals in baby formula and energy drinks.
Northern New Mexico Connect’s LANS Venture Acceleration Fund (LANS VAF) awarded $100,000 to the company to fill in four technical areas required to produce the finished instrument, conduct demonstrations, and run customer qualifications.
“The mentorship provided by VAF was most appreciated and made a positive contribution to our success,” says Ehrmantraut.
Acoustic Cytometry Systems, Santa Fe, NM
John Elling was a Visiting Entrepreneur at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) when he met Greg Kaduchak and Mike Ward at the National Flow Cytometry Resource Center. Flow cytometry counts and examines microscopic particles, such as cells, which are suspended in a stream of fluid. At LANL, Kaduchak, Ward and other researchers developed a flow cytometer that uses acoustic waves instead of traditional fluid handling systems. The result is a portable, less expensive device that can reach and help more people. For example, the acoustic flow cytometer is suited for AIDS diagnostic fieldwork in Africa, while conventional cytometers are not.
Acoustic Cytometry Systems (ACS) was founded to take this new technology to market. Northern New Mexico Connect’s Venture Acceleration Fund invested $100,000 to support ACS’ first prototype, which enabled the company to mature its technology and secure critical seed funding from investors. Within only eighteen months, ACS was acquired by biotech giant Invitrogen Corporation of San Diego.
 “While we learned a lot during the process, our experience with commercialization and acquisition was close to perfect,” explains Elling. Today, Kaduchak and Ward are employed by Invitrogen in Eugene OR, where they are developing the first products using the acoustic focusing technology. John Elling is a serial entrepreneur who remains in Santa Fe working on new ventures.
Apjet, Santa Fe NM
Gary Selwyn first used plasma technology for textile finishing applications while employed at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Today, as Chairman and Chief Technology Officer of Apjet, he is revolutionizing the textile industry. Apjet’s technology can treat fabric with atmospheric-pressure plasma so that it becomes “dual-functional,” repelling oil and water on the outside, while retaining its original qualities and comfort on the inside. This is ideal for outdoor sports apparel, Apjet’s target market. And unlike traditional wet processing of fabrics, the plasma process is green in that it produces no waste and uses little energy.
After launching Apjet, Gary received a $100,000 Venture Acceleration Fund award from Northern New Mexico Connect. The funding helped him complete the design and engineering of a commercial-scale production unit. “The prototype is very important,” explains Selwyn, “because it reduces the risk for investors and partners. It makes the project viable.” For Apjet, the full-scale prototype attracted new private equity financing and two strategic partnerships: one with a production and equipment services company, and another with North Carolina State College of Textiles, which provides Apjet with a showcase and limited testing facility.
Today, Selwyn is expanding his production capacity in North Carolina and making plans to spin-off his current work on textiles. But don’t be surprised if a new application for Apjet’s technology emerges within the next year or two. Apjet stands for “Affiliated Plasma Jet Technologies,” indicating an intention to spin-off other affiliates in the near future.
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