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Digital Seed Technology Inc., founded by Drs. Nicole P. Anderson and Jing Zhou, is excited to announce the development of a groundbreaking portable sensing device, The Grady Sensor. This innovative device is designed to quickly measure seed moisture content (SMC) in grass seed crops, a crucial factor in determining the optimal harvest timing. This project is a collaboration between OSU researchers, students, and a local Oregon manufacturer. Together, they are working to create a device that will benefit grass seed professionals worldwide.
Why The Grady Sensor?
Traditional methods of measuring SMC are labor-intensive and prone to errors. The Grady Sensor aims to provide a more efficient and reliable solution that eliminates the need for weighing, drying, or performing complex calculations.
Forward Progress
The project has been in development for over a year, supported by programs like Accelerate and AID funding in 2024. These programs connected the team with a business mentor who has since become a valuable business partner.
Key achievements include:
The team is now preparing for additional field tests and aims to bring The Grady Sensor to market by the 2025 grass seed harvest. Stay tuned for more updates as Digital Seed Technology Inc. continues to innovate and improve the agricultural industry with The Grady Sensor.
UniCreatives is a unique new virtual marketplace that connects university students and alumni with clients who value the university ecosystem. Conceived in 2022 by Alina Padilla-Miller, UniCreatives addresses the need for a dedicated platform for student and alumni creatives. Current marketplaces are overcrowded, making university affiliations hard to find.
Alina is well qualified to understand the struggles of both students and prospective clients with over 15 years of experience in media productions. In spring of 2024, she joined the OSU Accelerator Program , which allowed her to develop UniCreatives as a minimal viable product and engage in the initial customer discovery. She stood out as an exemplary participant and was recommended for a $15,000 AID award. Having won these funds in June of 2024, UniCreatives LLC was registered, a brand was designed, and developers created the first prototype, which began recruiting beta users as of November 1st. The free-to-join beta site includes features like profile creation, job postings, project management tools, and a messaging system. Additional features will be based on user feedback. The beta phase will last until sufficient feedback is gathered and improvements are made.
Moving forward, UniCreatives plans further development and fundraising to expand functions but is positioned to scale up quickly. The freelance marketplace, valued at approximately $6.5 billion in 2024, is projected to grow to close to $14 billion by 2029. UniCreatives has a leading edge over current similar platforms, as it focuses on community, offering clients an alma mater connection and budget-friendly options, while providing students and alumni with opportunities to learn and gain experience in freelance work. Universities are able to follow in the success of its graduates and bolster career support services. Everyone stands to win with this marketplace that Alina has created and we’re enthusiastic about watching it launch! Here's a video link with more information.
Zippin Bio, a drug delivery platform founded by Dr. Mahsa Khoshbakht, is dedicated to improving the lives of patients, caregivers, and families affected by neurological diseases. Their mission is to break barriers in drug delivery and develop methods to get therapeutics into the brain, pushing the limits of technology to make a meaningful impact on patient care.
Innovation in Drug Delivery: Zippin Bio's platform safely transports nucleic acid-based therapeutics across the blood-brain barrier, aiming to modify gene expression and improve treatment effectiveness for neurological conditions.
Addressing Critical Gaps: Khoshbakht identified a critical gap in treating neurological diseases, as the brain's barriers block approximately 99% of therapies. Inspired by alarming statistics from The Lancet Neurology (2021), she began this project in 2023 to make a meaningful impact in neuroscience.
Empowering Innovation through Programs: In 2023, Mahsa joined the inaugural cohort of the Moxie program in the fall of 2024 and later, participated in Accelerate that following Winter term. These programs provided support, expert mentors, and actionable insights, helping Zippin Bio refine their business model and advance their technology.
Milestones and Achievements: Along the way, Khoshbakht has achieved significant milestones, including a successful initial results platform and positive feedback from preliminary studies. She has built a strong network with neuroscientists and molecular biologists, further strengthening their efforts to revolutionize the treatment of neurological diseases. Also, Zippin Bio was a finalist at the AOBIO Biotech Summit on October 1, 2024 - a very exciting honor!
Plans: Zippin Bio plans to advance their technology by demonstrating its effectiveness in preclinical models and securing additional support. The next steps include refining the platform, assessing safety and efficacy, scaling production with cutting-edge continuous flow system technology, and initiating regulatory processes. Then, the aim is to explore partnerships for commercialization and prepare for a broader market introduction. Stay tuned for more updates as Zippin Bio continues to push the boundaries of innovation and make a lasting impact on patient care.
Jennifer Fehrenbacher studies microfossils called foraminifera (forams, for short.) These forams help piece together Earth’s past climate metrics which helps us to understand how our climate might change in the future. Because they are sand-grained-sized, the forams require special storage slides. These slides have been integral in the field for over a century, yet the market remains niche with few manufacturers. A recent shift to production overseas has made it challenging for US researchers to obtain these crucial products.
Fehrenbacher soon found herself running out of slides and her purchases of replacements taking longer and longer to fulfill. As she had to resort to hand-making slides for her own lab, she quickly realized the high costs involved, nor was she alone in the desperate search for this item. This led to the decision to start a business to streamline production and make these essential items more accessible.
Despite having no prior business experience, Fehrenbacher immersed herself in learning business terminology, market assessment, and customer inquiries through multiple programs within the OSU Advantage Accelerator. As an engaged participant in Moxie, Iterate and Accelerate, she quickly learned how to form a company and identify her target customers and their specific needs. After extensive research, she also successfully identified suppliers of components, including one that produces recycled forest sustainably certified products. The mentoring aspects of all three programs helped streamline the business model as well.
Her solution is called MicroPaleoWorks and it aims to fill this gap in the US market. MicroPaleoWorks is proud to offer ‘archive quality’ specimen holders, designed for storing microfossils and other sand-grained sized geological samples. They also partnered with a local business for part of their supply chain, ensuring both sustainability and local collaboration. Their efforts have paid off, resulting in several sales and a significant milestone: upgrading their laser cutter, the key piece of equipment for fabrication.
MicroPaleoWorks is committed to providing high-quality storage solutions for the paleontology community, and they are excited about the future as they continue to grow and innovate. "Starting MicroPaleoWorks has been a challenging yet incredibly rewarding journey. Our goal is to support researchers by providing the best storage solutions for their invaluable microfossil samples," says Jennifer. Currently the business is building inventory and generating additional slide varieties that are commonly used by researchers. Down the line, they also plan to explore the sci-art market. We can’t wait to see the creativity put forth!
In the lush fields of the Willamette Valley, Dana Sanchez, a wildlife ecologist and OSU Extension Wildlife Specialist, is conducting crucial research aimed at mitigating the impact of voles on agriculture. Using transdisciplinary methods, Sanchez is exploring multiple strategies to address the unpredictable population surges of voles, including the endemic species of gray-tailed vole, which pose a significant challenge for both agricultural producers and homeowners alike. These efforts are driven by the need to manage voles sustainably, acknowledging their vital role in the ecosystem while preventing the damage they cause to commercial crops and addressing food security concerns.
Sanchez aims to provide farmers with tools for early vole detection, promoting precise, eco-conscious interventions in population irruption. With even slight advanced notice, farmers may choose to adjust staffing needs or even plan more rodent-resistant crops. Some hopeful outcomes of these projects include a non-invasive monitoring system, reduced reliance and more targeted usage of toxic chemicals, and in the “moonshot” scenario, biological methods to curb vole reproduction.
Her experience in an Accelerate and Moxie programs have been enlightening, underscoring the significance of commercialization within academia, education in protecting intellectual property, and the art of effective pitching. Armed with proper pitching and customer discovery skills, she’s secured significant and diverse streams of funding. These insights have shaped her belief in the integration of entrepreneurial skills with academic research, enhancing the relevance and impact of innovation.
Sanchez is looking toward winter, when she can gather and analyze her pilot data and chart the course forward based on the most promising outcomes. Her enthusiasm for the accelerator program’s culture of possibility-seeking and the potential synergy between research and entrepreneurship is palpable and inspiring.
We’re excited to contribute to Dana’s journey for a more sustainable coexistence of agriculture and wildlife.
In 2012, Gabe Garbarino had a chilling experience. He was on the Palmer ski lift, the chairlift reaching the highest point on Mt. Hood. He was headed to a point 8,540 feet above sea level when the lift malfunctioned, leaving him and several others stranded for more than 45 minutes. Gabe was finally rescued and treated for mild hypothermia. This experience ignited the quest for a heated jacket solution, and he found modern headed jackets to be insufficient in many ways. As an Intel Product Design Engineer, he was familiar with reworking ideas and improving upon status quo. Joining forces with Gerry Recktenwald and a cadre of engineers, the team has gone from initial concepts to tangible prototypes.
Toastwear is poised to revolutionize the outerwear industry with the first-ever wearable convective heating system. This pioneering technology seamlessly integrates into any jacket, offering dynamic temperature control through convective heat transfer—a stark contrast to traditional conductive heating methods. Conveying the Toast system’s distinct advantages remains a challenge, especially in a market saturated with traditional layering options and existing heated apparel. Collaborating with a design firm has been instrumental in refining their message, enabling them to visually articulate the system’s innovative features more effectively.
The development journey was marked by significant achievements, including the assembly of initial prototypes from salvaged components, the invention of a sophisticated air circulation mechanism, and the intricate design of temperature control electronics.
Surprisingly, as the project progressed, the anticipated target audience shifted from skiers to outdoor enthusiasts like anglers and hunters, who endure extended exposure to the cold. This pivot was bolstered by encouraging feedback and support from the entrepreneurial sphere.
Continuing forward, Gabe and Gerry delineated the team’s immediate objectives: crafting a wearable prototype to showcase to investors and prospective clients. Concurrently, efforts are underway to secure vital capital, propelling Toastwear towards manufacturing readiness and a prospective 2025 market debut. We can’t wait for the cold weather to check out this hot new innovation!
Project Mim is an innovative initiative aimed at addressing the challenges faced by university students and staff in decision-making processes. Despite the project not being directly related to their original research, the founders James Watson and John Woodill were inspired by the significant time and effort required within the university for tasks such as course selection and managing admissions, the project focuses on developing AI tools to streamline these processes. Though the team has only been focused on this issue for 6 months, they are moving forward swiftly and are dedicated to creating solutions that enhance efficiency and decision-making.
The team has participated in the Iterate, Accelerate, and Launch programs, as well as being a recent recipient of AID funding. These programs have been instrumental in transitioning the team from an academic mindset to an entrepreneurial one, emphasizing the importance of customer discovery and product-market fit. Says Watson, "The OSU staff involved have been incredible and I have felt very supported as we have explored commercialization."
Looking ahead, Project Mim is focused on refining their AI service for university staff, with the goal of securing initial paying customers and scaling the project. The team is currently piloting their new AI service and using feedback to enhance their offering. They have already built a chatbot for OSU's CEOAS and have tapped in the resources of the OSU Registrar, who have helped shape ideas around product-market fit. Leveraging their quantitative skills and interdisciplinary experience, the team is excited about the potential impact of their AI Co-pilots on the university community, as are we!
Our project aims to combat White Nose Syndrome, a devastating disease decimating bat populations due to a fungus called Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd). To address this crisis, we are employing a combination of bioinformatics and lab experiments to develop a biofungicide. This innovative solution targets specific genes crucial for fungal survival, effectively halting Pd growth. Notably, our biofungicide is environmentally friendly, safe for bats and other organisms, and we foresee that will be easy to apply.
Our initiative began when we responded to the White-nose Syndrome Challenge launched by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in 2019 to inspire innovative ideas to control Pd without harming ecosystems. Collaborating with experts from OSU and the University of California, we proposed an aerosol spray using RNA interference (RNAi) to genetically silence the fungus. After our proposal was chosen as the winning solution among 47 total submissions, our project faced delays due to COVID-19 and immigration issues. We were finally able to resume our research in January 2023.
We participated in the Accelerate program in early 2023. The program exposed us to entrepreneurial avenues, broadening our understanding of product viability, market fit, and customer discovery, among other topics. It provided crucial guidance on collaborations, intellectual property, and pushed us beyond our scientific comfort zone. AID funding was also received to assist in furthering the research.
Our bioinformatically designed targets effectively restrain Pd growth, validated through successful in vitro experiments. These targets have been submitted for intellectual property protection at OSU, with a coming application for a provisional patent. Collaborations for large-scale manufacturing are underway, paving the way for field trials, while engaging with the EPA ensures compliance with emerging usage policies of this type of product.
We're committed to pioneering wildlife conservation solutions to prevent diseases with minimal environmental impact. Moving forward, we plan to develop new targets to combat Pd in bats and anticipate field trials in heavily affected areas. By safeguarding bats from disease, we are not only preserving vital species such as bats but also advancing scientific knowledge and fostering collaboration across sectors.
The OSU Membrane Group, led by Xue Jin and Tran Quang, spearheads a project aiming to revolutionize water and waste management in specialty-crop agriculture and waste water processing sectors. By harnessing water and nutrients from agricultural and municipal waste, they seek to reduce reliance on freshwater and chemical fertilizers, enhancing sustainability of multiple stages in food growth. Their innovative approach, centered on a compact and cost-effective hybrid membrane treatment process, promises to provide safe irrigation water while curbing fertilizer runoff, thus addressing critical environmental concerns.
Beginning in early 2021, Xue was inspired by the intricate interplay between water, food, and energy and the challenges faced in creating sustainable practices for the future. Participation in the inaugural Moxie program cohort provided a supportive community of like-minded entrepreneurs dedicated to translating research into impactful solutions. Through Moxie's mentorship, Dr. Jin says she's had engaging and insightful discussions regarding crucial skills in market exploration and customer identification.
Significant milestones marked the project's progress, notably the successful optimization of treatment configurations, proving efficacy while reducing energy usage. This spring, the team was also awarded $15,000 in Accelerator Innovation and Development (AID) funding to help further optimization. Currently, Xue and Tran are participating in the Accelerate program promising further momentum, as they focus on validating market interest and creating commercial partnerships. Plans to establish an LLC and secure additional funding lie in the near future and we look forward to watching this technology gain adoption and create positive impact on our food systems.
Susan Piacenza, a Senior Instructor and Wildlife Management Graduate Certificate Coordinator at Oregon State University, is making waves in the field of aquaculture. Her groundbreaking startup, SeaStereo, combines innovative technology with environmental consciousness to revolutionize underwater species measurement. SeaStereo leverages stereovision and AI-driven software to measure aquaculture species underwater from an aerial drone. From oysters and crabs to fish and sea turtles, SeaStereo employs statistical models to estimate weight from length—a crucial metric for sustainable fishery practices.
The project’s inspiration was Susan Piacenza’s realization that existing methods for monitoring sea turtles on nesting beaches were inherently flawed. To truly understand population dynamics, she believed measurements should occur in their natural habitat. Seeking non-invasive techniques, Susan employed the help of Joe Piacenza, her engineer husband, to helped modify current technology. He then engineered a camera mount for a hexacopter drone, and after several trials, fine-tuned the software and created a functional prototype for SeaStereo.
Recognizing the project’s potential, they partnered with Joe’s colleague John Faller, a seasoned computer engineer specializing in software development and enlisted Elliott Chimienti, a talented computer science graduate student. Together, this founding team submitted a patent application in October, taking the first steps toward commercialization. The pair joined Accelerate in early 2023, and the program guided them toward their target audience: the aquaculture industry.
Susan Piacenza is also a participant in the inaugural cohort of the Advantage Accelerator’s Moxie program. Tailored for women in research, Moxie provides a supportive platform where innovators and entrepreneurs can thrive. Said Piacenza, “It’s really great to meet so many women that are in this I & E space, especially because so many of them are scientists and engineers, not traditional businesspeople.” There’s also a feeling of support from peers who are enduring similar struggles and understand the difficulties faced by entrepreneurship.
Recently, SeaStereo pitched for NSF/SBIR and secured an invitation for a full proposal. This milestone propels them toward formal business setup. Additionally, they secured AID Funding from the Advantage Accelerator—a $15,000 boost toward conducting market analysis and prototype testing. One of the most exciting prospects of this company is creating jobs for fishery scientists and engineers to create positive impact in such a competitive field. We look forward to watching the success grow for this dynamic technology!
David Hamilton (pictured above, center) comes from generations of forestry workers. His grandfather was a hand-faller, his father pulled green chain to put himself through college, and David is a PhD candidate in the Forest Engineering, Resources & Management Department at Oregon State University. However, with the rise of climate change and the need to reduce carbon emissions, the forestry industry is facing a new challenge. Old line industries need to convert to electric vehicles to reduce their carbon footprint. This is where David Hamilton’s Forestry Electric Vehicle Energy Routing (FEVER) tool comes in.
David’s tool, created in November of 2022, is designed to help logging truck owners, energy service providers, and transportation policy makers optimize the energy usage of electric vehicles in the forestry industry. The tool is part of an onboard self-contained network and is based on energy loss/gain in an EV system that accounts for regenerative breaking. Regenerative braking is a system that converts its kinetic energy while applying breaks into a form that can be either used immediately or stored until needed meaning that it can help reduce the carbon footprint of the transportation industry and make it more sustainable. In spring of 2023, David participated in the Advantage Accelerator, bringing this idea to life. He says "The Accelerator provided the freedom and confidence to apply for more grants" and that the encouragement was instrumental to give him the boost he needed to move forward with this company. David has also pursued and been granted $15,000 in AID Funding to help advance the development of this technology.
David’s background in the forest industry, geospatial, and coding helped him develop this innovative tool. He's also created a second technology, Battery/Hybrid Electric Vehicle Energy Routing (BEVER) tool designed to analyze the cost benefit of electric vehicles to engineers, planners, and policy creators. He has formed the new company Mauka Energy, along with Christopher Langevin, a professional forester with a masters in sustainable forest management, and Christopher Dimoff, a full stack software engineer/system architect that has extensive experience in creating and implementing solutions in startups and established companies. Mauka Energy is designed to commercialize the tools and implement them into several different industries. They have a solid partnership with Edison Motors, which built North America's first diesel electric hybrid logging truck and distributes globally. Working with Edison will help Mauka to develop pitches for funding, including submitting a letter of intent to the Department of Energy in the near future. We're enthusiastic to see the great path that Mauka Energy is taking in helping to reduce the impact of fossil fuels in the logging industry.
360 Sierra, established in Oregon in 2023, has a clear goal: to simplify camping for everyone, regardless of the car you drive or your age. Founders, Andres and Paola, were inspired by their own camping experiences. They realized that people are eager to enhance their tent camping experience, but accessing a camping trailer or RV you don’t own can be challenging, often stuck in offline and analog methods. That's why they created 360 Sierra, offering lightweight camping trailers that are easy to rent and can be picked up or dropped off at various locations – all through a straightforward, digital process.
Their journey started with an idea in the Accelerate program: a camping kit. But as the idea was explored further, ambition grew, eventually creating an ultralight camping trailer and a system to manage it efficiently, akin to the U-Haul for outdoor adventures. Says Paola, "The program not only opened up a world of networking but also gave us the foundation we needed. After completing the Accelerator, we continued to receive support from the program, which has been immensely valuable to us."
This July, 360 Sierra reached an important milestone by launching a finalized product. Showcasing it at five outdoor expos over the summer alongside industry leaders was more than just gaining exposure – it confirmed the market fit, increased awareness, and led to initial sales. While our focus has been on rentals, sales have also been invaluable. They've allowed for testing the product in real scenarios, establishing strong partnerships, and gaining key insights into the market. We're excited about what the future holds for 360 Sierra!
Galgo Threat Assessment System was founded by Cass Dykeman, Professor of Counseling here at Oregon State University. Created this past winter term, Galgo uses AI augmented counterintelligence. The end goal is to put it in hands of officials (a school administrative team, government, law enforcement, or even corporations) and give them the tools and strategies to assist with preventing threats. Dykeman was inspired during his time participating in a threat assessment research group when he realized that he could improve accuracy by utilizing predictive analytics that mirror human thinking using millions of data points.
The Galgo team then joined our accelerator. When asked how it helped him further his goals, Dykeman said "It was AMAZING. They provided practical content – gave me a roadmap and then provided instructions. Then I had opportunity to interact with venture capitalists. They provided real-world practice pitching and advice on revising strategies. Most importantly, I was given the belief that I CAN do it. That was important. I also had interactions within the cohort - new views, new experiences."
The next step is to complete an I-Corp application, then apply for an NIH grant and opening doors to becoming a preferred vendor for agencies.
Says Dykeman, "I encourage faculty to talk with your team; you too can do this. You are far enough along!
Just show up with energy and great idea. The Accelerator team can help you do the rest."
BioTesserae was founded in 2016 as an animal health company bringing innovative drugs to pet owners struggling to treat cancer in their dogs and consists of Patrick Iversen (former OSU faculty) as CEO, Chris Cebra, (a Camelid Expert and Chair of the Clinical Sciences Department at OSU’s Veterinary College), Dan Mourich (a Senior OSU Research Associate and the Molecular Biologist), Shay Bracha (former OSU faculty), and Carl Ruby (a Researcher and Veterinary Science Instructor.) The founders are inspired by their own love of pets but bring experience from animal health and cancer drug development. Utilizing cutting-edge therapies developed from manipulating the structure of antibodies of llamas and alpacas, they have used nanobodies to process a unique canine cancer drug.
Having signed up for the Oregon State Advantage Accelerate program, the researchers were able to create a business model and validate it by interviewing potential customers. They then took this newly acquired knowledge and secured a NSF I-Corps grant, a major milestone for the foundation of the business. This led to securing funding with Expert Dojo, a business management consultant in Southern California. From there, they were able to expand their network for potential financing, attain a patent, and obtain addition funding from the NSF Partnership for Innovation Program to further pursue commercialization of their technology. They are preparing to being first-in-dog with their precise therapies before the end of 2023 and are looking forward to closing a Pre-Seed round of funding. We are impressed with the success of the team and grateful for the work they do to keep our furry friends healthy!