Finalists Selected for 2006 Maryland Incubator Company of the Year Awards
Twenty Finalists Chosen in Six Categories from Maryland’s Business Incubators
Winners to be Announced at Awards Ceremony on June 13
COLUMBIA, Md. (May 2, 2006) – The Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED), the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO), RSM McGladrey, Inc., and Saul Ewing LLP announced today the 20 finalists for the sixth annual Maryland Incubator Company of the Year Awards. The awards recognize the achievements of current and graduate companies within Maryland’s incubators. Winners from each of the six categories will be announced at a ceremony at the Center Club in Baltimore on June 13, 2006.
This year’s awards also will mark the successful growth and achievements of one incubator graduate company that will be inducted into the Maryland Incubator Company “Hall of Fame.” The company will be announced at the awards ceremony in June. The Greater Baltimore Technology Council (GBTC), the Maryland Business Incubation Association (MBIA) and the Tech Council of Maryland (TCM) are also partners of this year’s program.
“The finalists for this year’s Incubator Company of the Year Awards come from all over the state and represent a diverse cross-section of technologies and services,” said Robert A. Spar, Esq., a partner at Saul Ewing. “From a company developing products to treat and prevent AIDS to a company breaking the semi conductor limitations known as ‘Moore’s law,’ the finalists represent some of the best up and coming companies in the region.”
“The continuing success of Maryland's incubator system is directly contributing to the state's escalating reputation as a nation’s technology leader,” said Aris Melissaratos, secretary of DBED. “These sixth annual awards are a great reminder of the breadth and depth of technology talent that we have in Maryland.”
The categories, finalists and incubators are:
Life Science Companies
Alba Therapeutics Corporation (ETC)
Amulet Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (UMBC)
Lentigen Corporation (UMBC)
Profectus BioSciences, Inc. (UMBC)
Information Technology Companies
Affiliate Classroom (TAP)
LiveHealthier (MTDC)
Social Solutions (ETC)
Realinterface Expert Systems, Inc. (CIC)
Technology Service Companies
CenGen (NeoTech)
Cynergy Group of Baltimore, Inc. (ETC)
DocuTrac (TIC)
RTR Technologies, LLC (HEAT)
New Companies
ADF Solutions (SSIC)
LiveHealthier (MTDC)
NeoDiagnostix (MTDC)
Pixelligent Technologies (TAP)
Technology Transfer Companies
ADF Solutions (SSIC)
Akonni Biosystems, Inc. (FITCI)
Alba Therapeutics Corporation (ETC)
Profectus BioSciences, Inc. (UMBC)
Graduate Companies
a2z, Inc. (NeoTech)
Datastream Conversion Services, LLC (TAP)
NexTone (MTDC)
Incubator Key: Technology Advancement Program (TAP), College Park; Chesapeake Innovation Center (CIC), Annapolis; Emerging Technology Center (ETC), Baltimore; NeoTech Incubator, Columbia; Maryland Technology Development Center (MTDC), Rockville; techcenter@UMBC at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), Catonsville; Silver Spring Innovation Center (SSIC), Silver Spring; Higher Education and Applied Technology Center (HEAT), Aberdeen; Frederick Innovative Technology Center (FITCI), Frederick.
“We received the highest-ever number of applications this year and they were some of the strongest we’ve reviewed,” said Brian S. Meritt, a managing director with RSM McGladrey, Inc. “The Maryland Incubator Company of the Year awards remind us all of the pioneering technology research and development being done in the state.”
The selection committee this year includes: James Broder, eCentury Capital Partners; Somak Chattopadhyay, Edison Venture Fund; Christine Copple, Ph.D., Starise Ventures; Charles Curran, Valhalla Partners; Brian P. Darmody, University of Maryland, Research and Economic Development; Jeffrey A. Davidson, Inflection Point Ventures; Robert Diamond, DBED; Randy Domolky, Liquid Capital Group; Josh Fidler, Boulder Ventures; Christopher Foster, DBED; David J. Freschman, Delaware Innovation Fund; Elizabeth Good Mazhari, DBED; Mark Grovic, New Markets Growth Fund; Jack Hollerbach, HarVest Bank of Maryland; Rick A. Kohr Jr., CPA, Chesapeake Emerging Opp. Club; Steve Kozak, GBTC; Brian Meritt, RSM McGladrey, Inc.; Eric G. Orlinsky, Saul Ewing, LLP; Jonathan Perl, Boulder Ventures Limited; Alexander Perry, Anthem Capital; Michael Salgaller, Ph.D., Toucan Capital Corp.; Heidi Sheppard, TEDCO; Robert Smith, JMI Equity Funds; Robert A. Spar, Saul Ewing LLP; Geeta S. Vemuri, Ph.D., Quaker BioVentures; Steve Walker, Steve Walker & Associates; Renee M. Winsky, TEDCO; and Matt Zuga, Red Abbey Ventures Partners.
“TEDCO’s mission is to foster the creation and growth of technology-based businesses in the state, and is illustrated by the evolution of Maryland’s incubation network,” said Renee Winsky, interim executive director of TEDCO. “We are proud to be involved with these awards and look forward to congratulating the winners in June.”
Maryland Incubator Company of the Year Awards recognize the achievements of current and graduate companies within Maryland’s incubators. Application finalists and category winners are chosen by a group of regional industry leaders and early-stage investors. RSM McGladrey Inc., the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED), the Maryland Technology Development Corp. (TEDCO) and Saul Ewing LLP are the awards’ sponsors. The Greater Baltimore Technology Council (GBTC), the Maryland Business Incubation Association (MBIA) and the Technology Council of Maryland (TCM) are partners of this year’s program. For more information, visit www.mdincubatoraward.com.
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