Tech Companies to Watch

Video featuring and demonstrating VRSim's SimSpray Technology

Take a look at this video from the Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School featuring the SimSpray from VRSim! The school has recently started using the virtual reality system to simulate painting automotive parts without wasting paint or parts. In addition, the system allows for a cleaner, greener environment as fewer toxic chemicals from the paint are released into the air. It also provides the students with a detailed performance report following each session, making it invaluable for the learning experience. 

     

Learn more about VRSim, one of the CTC's 2010 Companies to Watch.

“SHOPPERS Express Lane to Savings” Gets Northern Virginia Moving and Saving

Special event rewards commuters with discounts on groceries  and weekly prizes of $100 from SHOPPERS for not driving alone

Tysons Corner, VA. (May 31, 2011) — SHOPPERS Food & Pharmacy has teamed up with NuRide and Virginia Megaprojects to launch “SHOPPERS Express Lane to Savings” – an important year-long event that rewards individuals in Northern Virginia for walking, biking, teleworking, carpooling, vanpooling, or taking public transportation in lieu of driving alone. Individuals can sign up for free and earn a variety of rewards, including coupons for $5 off a purchase of $50 or more at SHOPPERS, plus discounts and special offers from more than 50 other restaurants and retailers.  Each week one lucky participant will also win $100 in free groceries from SHOPPERS. 

“Wellness and green initiatives are important to us at SHOPPERS and we are delighted to reward customers for reducing traffic and emissions by not driving alone,” said Tim Lowe, president of SHOPPERS., “We’re glad to work with NuRide and Virginia Megaprojects to help SHOPPERS give back to the communities we serve.”

 “The best way to immediately improve traffic is to reduce peak time congestion and drive-alone commuting,” said Thelma Drake, Director of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation.  “This partnership rewards individuals for reducing traffic today, while helping to build a better tomorrow.” 

  “We are thrilled to partner with a great company like SHOPPERS,” said Rick Steele, NuRide CEO. “SHOPPERS’ sponsorship will help our members prevent thousands of car trips and millions of miles of driving, which will put everyone in the express lane!” 

Read the whole press release here. 

                                       

Learn more about NuRide, a company that encourages green practices by offering incentives like discounts and cash to people who choose not to drive alone to work. 

FLASHBACK: NuRide was one of the CTC's 2010 Companies to Watch!

Autotether Inc.

Autotether Inc.
3 Inspiration Lane, Unit 3B,
Chester, CT

Chief executive: Anthony Viggiano
Website: www.autotether.com
Employees: Five

Wireless device shuts down boat motor when person goes overboard

Viggiano's Chester-based Autotether Inc. also is largely keeping business in state, farming out the manufacturing of nearly all of the wireless lanyard's components to companies around Connecticut, from Putnam to Waterbury.

Despite having only five full-time employees, Viggiano said his company supports 29 jobs in the state and qualifies for Connecticut's so-called angel-investment incentive that offers a 25 percent first-year tax credit and exempts 30 percent of capital gains for those who invest in the company.

The company, which Viggiano said currently assembles the Autotether components in Chester, outsources all of its manufacturing similar to the way Newman's Own manages its business. Viggiano is currently working with private investors in Connecticut to generate more funding for expanded marketing of the device, which was developed in conjunction with Martin LoSchiavo of Rocky Hill.

Viggiano expects clear sailing ahead for the Autotether.  "This will be on every boat someday," he said. "People don't realize the depth of the danger."

Read the full article by Lee Howard on The Day's Site:
http://www.theday.com/article/20110522/BIZ02/305229993/1044  

 

Flashback:  Autotether was named a 2010 Company to Watch by the CTC 

Startups, Start Up Your UConn Networks « UConn Today

Rita Zangari, director of OTC, reported last year that UConn’s efforts to commercialize research included 34 UConn spinout companies, and that University-business collaborations had secured more than $1 million in annual licensing revenue and supported 200 jobs.

“The value of fostering synergy between academia and industry, as a tool for job creation, has been proven time and again across the U.S.,” Zangari says. “Such relationships have emerged as strong sources of entrepreneurship, talent, and economic competitiveness.

“Collaborations that combine the talent and expertise of University researchers and students with the market perspective and pace of industry, and that capitalize on the unique resources available at academic institutions, are supporting the growth of today’s knowledge economy,” she adds.

Zangari says that, as a signal to the business community that the University is serious about the role it can play fostering research and job creation, UConn will put out the welcome mat next week to risk capital investors, entrepreneurs, and inventors – anyone with an interest in learning more about the University’s technology storehouse to help start businesses and help them grow. The OTC has teamed up with the Connecticut Venture Group to co-host a conference at UConn on May 25 aimed at showcasing the variety of ways entrepreneurs and private industry can benefit by partnering with the University. 

Read the full article a from UConn's Websitet:

Startups, Start Up Your UConn Networks « UConn Today.

AXXUN Inc Completes Second Angel Investment Under State of Connecticut’s Angel Investor Tax Credit Program

Application development creator AXXUN was the first company certified as a qualifying business under the program

Stamford, Connecticut – May 17, 2011 – AXXUN Inc, a Connecticut Technology Council “2010 Company to Watch,” today announced that it has closed its second $100,000 angel investment under the State of Connecticut’s Angel Investor Tax Credit Program. This innovative program allows Angel Investors to take a credit against their Connecticut State income tax for certain investments made in qualifying businesses.  Investments must be at least $100,000 and not more than $1 million in order to be considered under the Program.  The income tax credit equals 25% of the cash investment.  For more information on the Connecticut Angel Investor Tax Credit visit www.ctangeltaxcredit.com. 

To read on, click here. 

Learn more about AXXUN on the website. 

Is the “America Invents Act” good for small and medium sized businesses or does it raise greater hurdles for innovation?

On April 14, 2011, the House Judiciary Committee approved H.R. 1249, the “America Invents Act,” by a vote of 32-3. The Bill has already passed in the Senate and is expected to be considered by the entire House either late May or in June.

This is a hot topic - There will be winners & losers as a result of this. Feel free to add your comments below, and sign up for an informative, interactive session with the U.S. Patent and Trade Office on the status of patent reform legislation in the United States Congress and what it means for the tech SMB.

Several members of the USPTO staff will share pertinent aspects of the legislation as it relates to small and medium sized businesses and entertain questions that you may have.

Free Webinar
Register Online: http://bit.ly/mTyPxC
U.S. Patent Reform and the Tech Small & Medium Sized Businesses
Date & Time Thursday, May 19, 2011, 1:00 PM - 2:15 PM

We are pleased to have –

Janet Gongola
Associate Solicitor, Office of the Deputy General Counsel for Intellectual Property Law and Solicitor, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, United States Department of Commerce

Rob Clarke
Deputy Director, Unit 1, Office of Patent Legal Administration, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, United States Department of Commerce

Dana Robert Colarulli
Director of the Office of Governmental Affairs, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, United States Department of Commerce

Brought to you by TechVoice, a partnership between CompTIA and the Technology Councils of North America (TECNA)

New Japan Patent Recognizes Enhancements to HoloTouch HMI Technology, Forecasting Virtual HMIs Larger than Underlying Hardware

Stamford, Connecticut, June 21, 2011 – R. Douglas McPheters, President of HoloTouch, Inc., announced today that the Japan Patent Office has granted the company Japan Patent Number 4741488 dated May 13, 2011 with respect to substantial sophistications of the company’s core technology, invented by McPheters. 

Japan Patent Number 4741488 validates the use of composite holograms in connection with the company’s core touchless, holographic actuation and control technology.  HoloTouch core technology is already the subject of Canada Patent 2,160, 245, Japan Patent Number 4130957, US Patent 6,377,238 and UK Patent 2292711.  Substantial enhancements to HoloTouch technology, in both compactness and durability, are subject to US Patent 7,054,045 and Australia Patent 2004258513 while additional patent applications are pending in Canada, the European Union, Japan and the United States.

Read the whole press release here. 

Learn more about HoloTouch and their advanced hologram control technology. 

                                   

FLASHBACK: HoloTouch was one of the CTC's 2010 Companies to Watch

 

Skymira announces addition of SkyWave MT3400 battery powered GPS tracking terminal to its product portfolio.

Ideal for tracking non-powered assets or when battery backup is required.

Milford, CT- May 11, 2011 – Skymira LLC, a leading provider of state-of-the-art information systems for streamlining remote operations of people and equipment, today announced the addition of the SkyWave MT3400 satellite communication terminal to its product portfolio.

Skymira’s latest offering enables battery operated GPS tracking for applications where power is not available or where battery powered back-up is required. The MT3400 is a highly integrated satellite communications terminal used for GPS tracking applications that are easily deployed and configured over the air. The long-life, field replaceable lithium battery is mounted with the terminal eliminating the need for cables or wiring connections.

Read the entire press release here. 

                                      

Learn more about Skymira, one of the CTC's 2010 Companies to Watch. 

 

Control Station Expands Portfolio and Market Reach with New Joint Venture

Aware Technology Delivers Confidence in Production through Plant-Wide Condition Monitoring

Tolland, CT - May 10, 2011 - Control Station today announced its participation in the formation of Aware Technology - a condition monitoring and anomaly detection company based in Portland, Maine. The joint venture leverages Control Station's software and engineering assets, and it significantly expands the Company's existing suite of process diagnostic and optimization technologies. The new entity and its core condition monitoring solutions position Control Station with unique capabilities in the rapidly evolving automation market.

Named Aware Technology, the joint venture was formed with capital and technology investments from Control Station and iSagacity, and it targets the growing market demand for solutions that provide contextual insight into plant performance. Aware Technology's initial product - Process Data Monitor (PDM) - will be launched later this month as a stand-alone and SaaS (Software as a Service) product offering. PDM evaluates the performance of plant-wide production assets, and it provides confidence and usualness metrics related to the condition of those assets. Based on knowledge and experience from historical production characteristics, PDM's metrics alert production staff when unusual and potentially hazardous conditions arise.

Read the whole story here.

Learn more about Control Station or their new venture Aware Technology.

                      

Flashback: Control Station was one of the CTC's 2010 Companies to Watch. 

 

SecureRF Corporation Joins AIM

Signals Commitment to Automatic Identification and Mobile Solutions 

Warrendale, PA -- May 9, 2011 -- SecureRF Corporation announced today that it has joined AIM, the worldwide association for Automatic Identification and Mobility.  AIM works to increase the understanding and adoption of Auto ID, RFID and enterprise mobile computing through education, standards, and cooperation with other leading industry associations. For more than 35 years, AIM has served as the industry voice for bar code, RFID, and enterprise mobile computing. 

SecureRF provides security solutions for wireless sensors, RFID, the Smart Grid, and other embedded systems.  SecureRF's high-performance asymmetric (Public Key) and symmetric (Private Key) cryptography delivers authentication and dataprotection solutions.  Their patented technologies provide strong security and privacy for anti-counterfeiting applications...

Read the entire press release here. 

                    

FLASHBACK: SecureRF was one of the CTC's 2010 Companies to Watch. Learn more about this software company here