IEDA Launches Pilot Project in Partnership with the Larta Institute
Iowa companies selected to receive assistance with commercialization activities
October 26, 2017 (DES MOINES, IA) - The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) has launched a pilot project with the Larta Institute to help accelerate the commercialization activities of select Iowa medtech and agtech companies. The project, known as the Iowa Commercialization Assistance Program (I-CAP), is managed by VentureNet Iowa, who currently administers the IEDA’s entrepreneurial funding programs.
“Our goals with the I-CAP pilot project are to increase the number of companies eligible to seek awards from the IEDA Innovation Acceleration programs and to gain access to Larta’s national network of technical experts and industry contacts,” said Debi Durham, director of the IEDA. “The I-CAP will be complementary to the current entrepreneurial ecosystem in place in Iowa in both the public and private sectors.”
The Larta Institute, a federally recognized entity, provides companies with guidance on framework and processes; has a national network of technical, operational and financing resources and has strong ties to agriculture (USDA) and bioscience (NIH) stakeholders.
“Providing Iowa innovative technology companies an opportunity to engage with the Larta Institute and their established process and extensive network of resources is a further step in extending Iowa’s business commercialization ecosystem beyond the borders of the state,” remarked John LaMarche, principal, VentureNet Iowa.
Iowa companies selected to participate in the I-CAP project will gain access to Larta’s national-scale network of domain experts, industry and regulatory contacts, investment capital, and other stakeholders. The program consists of personalized mentoring, commercialization strategy development, national-scale market connections and interactive webinars. Companies that have already received IEDA funding are selected to participate in this pilot program.
Iowa companies selected for the first cohort include:
Voxello (Coralville) provides devices and services to help caregivers improve their standard of care through better communication with impaired or disable patients.
Viewpoint Molecular (Coralville) develops radiopharmaceutical drugs for therapy and diagnostic imaging for cancer with a focus on metastatic melanoma.
IAM Ag Tech (Ottumwa) developed an optical processor technology that will deliver in-field characterization of soil quality and use the information to optimize soil fertilization and increase crop yield.
VetMeasure (Ames) is a pet harness technology platform, serving as an important tool for veterinarians’ care and monitoring of its client’s animals.
“Voxello is excited to be part of the I-CAP program and work with the Larta Institute. There are several areas that we feel Larta may be able to assist and guide us on. One is market research - because what we are doing is so new, there isn’t a Frost and Sullivan report out there we can buy. We are also excited about the possibility of new connections, both financial and strategic from the Larta Institute,” said Voxello CEO, Rives Bird.
About Larta Institute
Larta Institute, an award-winning organization founded in Los Angeles in 1993, is an internationally recognized technology accelerator that has helped more than 10,000 companies transform ideas into commercialized, socially beneficial innovations in science and technology, particularly in agriculture and the life sciences. With a global network of entrepreneurs, mentors, investors, industry leaders, research institutions, government agencies and support organizations, Larta conducts commercialization assistance programs throughout the U.S. and in more than 20 countries.
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For more information contact:
Ms. Kanan Kappelman, Iowa Economic Development Authority
Phone: 515.348.6248
communications@iowaeda.com