Iowa State University Startup Factory Announces Fifth Cohort
AMES, Iowa (June 18, 2018) -- The Iowa State University Startup Factory today announced ten companies set to join the fifth cohort of their 52-week, Iowa State University Research Park based accelerator program. This is the fifth group of companies to participate in the Iowa State portion of the program, with 43 companies still actively pursuing their businesses. The program also operates a regional ‘node’ program, which announced its second cohort earlier this week. The Startup Factory Network welcomed eight new Iowa-based companies and two from Austin, MN, joining ten companies from the prior network cohort.
Those admitted to the Startup Factory programs apply via a formal application process, and for the first 26 weeks teams attend weekly classes either in-person or remotely. They gain access to the Iowa State Startup Factory administrative, teaching and mentor teams, while also attending several in-person, specialized training sessions held at the Iowa State University Research Park. The second 26-week portion of the program, customized for each company, includes space at ISU Research Park and access to the mentor and teaching teams, as well as ongoing enrichment events and other resources.
Startup Factory Network Cohort Five Teams include:
Benekiva, founded by Brent Williams, Jason Dively, Bonnie Shrivastav and Soven Shrivastav, is a technology platform bridging the gap between life insurance policies and their intended beneficiaries.
SRISLAB, founded by Ali Arabzadeh, Halil Ceylan, Kasthurirangan Gopalakrishnan, Sunghwan Kim, and Alireza Sassani, provides smart, high-tech solutions to enhance service quality and solve management-related problems in infrastructure systems.
EnGeniousAg LLC, operated by Xinran Wang, designs, manufactures and deploys low-cost, instant readout, field-based nutrient sensors for crops, soils and water.
Fora LLC, founded by Avinash Sooriyarachchi, is bringing strategy and greater level of automation to social media marketing for small and medium sized enterprises, utilizing machine learning.
Paragon Learning Research Group LLC, founded by Yen Verhoeven, specializes in bringing STEM to educators through labs, consulting, workshops, supportive networks and resources.
BigData in a Box, founded by Swaminathan Jayaraman and Sree Nilakanta, is a reliable big data storage and analytics to provide independent decision making and community driven insights.
Arndorfer Industries, founded by Ryan Arndorfer, provides a security focused integrated solution to control your smart home.
Nova Home Control Technologies, founded by Logan Russell, Daniel Albers, and Ben Pieper, is developing a platform for reliable, intuitive home automation that is affordable and simple to install.
Aptatron, founded by Qian Wang, Nathan Sage and Hua Chai, is a biotechnology company that focuses on the development of sensors and therapeutics for the life sciences market.
WildArc Technology, founded by Rob Maroc, is an innovative business with the goal of improving people’s lives by making everyday tasks a little easier.
“We are really proud not only of the volume of companies the Startup Factory continues to recruit and attract, but also that many of our early cohort teams have really gained some traction; they are revenue generating and hiring,” said Startup Factory CEO, Bill Adamowski. “Our goal has always been to feed the state economy via wealth creation through successful company starts.”
To date, Startup Factory companies have raised more than $13.9 million in venture financing; including nine SBIR Phase I and three SBIR Phase II, eight POCR and six Demo Fund awards, nine angel rounds, and three institutional financing rounds.
“None of this would be possible without investable companies, but the support we’ve seen from the State, from Iowa State, the Research Park and also from all of the successful people who have volunteered to teach or mentor our teams is truly is a testament to what can happen when many join forces to benefit the greater economy,” said Adamowski.
The Iowa State Startup Factory and the Startup Factory Network will introduce their latest cohort teams at a kickoff, reception and networking event on Thursday, June 21 from 4-6 pm at the Iowa State Economic Development Core Facility (remarks: 5 pm). The event is free and open to the public.
About Startup Factory
The Iowa State University (ISU) Startup Factory is a 52-week intensive program housed at the ISU Research Park (ISURP). Entrepreneurs in the Startup Factory receive formal training, resources, and access to a network of business mentors, advisors, counselors, and investors in two 26-week blocks: the first a formal curriculum centered on business validation, and the second, customized to their individual business needs. For more information on the ISU Startup Factory program or press inquiries, contact Alison Doyle at 515-296-4204, adoyle@iastate.edu or visit isustartupfactory.org.
