CED's Entrepreneurs Community News

BioMedomics Receives $750,000 Phase II SBIR Contract

Local biotechnology company, BioMedomics, received a $750,000 Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract from the National Institutes of Health. The company was previously awarded a $25,000 North Carolina Biotechnology Center loan, and a $100,000 Phase I SBIR grant. BioMedomics will use the funds to demonstrate the scientific merit of its medical diagnostic technologies which include: reagents, assay instruments and data analysis tools targeting point-of-care personalized testing for specific disease biomarkers.

BioMedomics has been a member of CED since 2007. In addition to presenting at CED's Opportunity 2007 conference, company co-founder Frank Wang Ph.D., is a regular attendee of CED programs and events.

Cranky to Compete - Make Mine A Million $ Business

Barbra Denison of Cranky Creative Group was selected as one of the twenty business women finalists to compete for an awards package in the business growth program, Make Mine A Million $ Business. The event features female entrepreneurs from North and South Carolina who will compete for business development packages that include money, marketing, mentoring and technology assistance to help their businesses grow into million-dollar enterprises.

Cranky Creative Group is a relatively new member to CED, joining just this year. In June, Barbara and company vice president, Keoni Denison, took advantage of one of CED's premier programs, FastTrac® TechVenture™. Additionally, the company sponsored CED's Biotech 2008 conference.

The Park Headquarters Go Green

Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina and O'Brien/Atkins Associates, PA, announce that The Research Triangle Park Headquarters has been awarded LEED® Silver by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED® was created by USGBC and is the leading rating system for sustainable green buildings. The 17,000-square foot Research Triangle Park Headquarters was designed by O'Brien/Atkins and completed in December 2007.

Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina has been a CED member since 1995. In addition to contributing to the Innovation to Impact campaign at the supporter level, the Foundation sponsored CED's Infotech 2006, Tech 2007, and Venture 2007 conferences. O'Brien/Atkins Associates, PA has been a CED member since 1999. Similar to the Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina, the company has generously supported the Innovation to Impact campaign at the supporter level and has sponsored CED's conferences. The firm was a sponsor of CED's Biotech conference in 2005, 2006, 2007 and again in 2008.

Digitalsmiths Wins Streaming Media Readers' Award

Digitalsmiths, a digital video search and contextual ad-matching company, was awarded the Streaming Media Readers' award, as part of this years Reader's Choice Awards. The award ceremony presented more than 200 different products and services from more than 150 different companies from around the world. This accolade is one more affirmation that Digitalsmiths is one of the Triangles brightest shining stars. Since February of this year, the company was named one of Dow Jones' Top Companies to Watch in 2008 and was the recipient of Technology of the Year at CED's Entrepreneurial Excellence Awards.

Digitalsmiths has been an active CED member since 2006. The company demonstrated its technology, VideoSense™, at CED's Tech 2006 conference and CEO, Ben Wienberger, presented the company's business plan to investors at CED's Venture 2007 and 2008 conferences.

David Jones Named Partner at CED Member SCV

David Jones has become a full partner at Southern Capitol Ventures (SCV), a North Carolina-based early-stage venture capital firm dedicated to helping outstanding entrepreneurs build market-leading companies. David has been with SCV since 2005.

Southern Capitol Ventures is a long time CED member and supporter. As an employee of this member company, David Jones has been an active contributor to CED, its programs, and to the entrepreneurial community. Since 2005, David has spoken at CED programs on topics ranging from raising venture capital to commercialization of university technology. Additionally, he was a co-chairman of CED's Opportunity 2007 conference.

Chrysalis Ventures Closes 4th Fund at $175M

Chrysalis Ventures, a source of equity capital for young growth companies in the Midwest and South, has closed its fourth investment fund with commitments now totaling $175 million. The firm invests primarily in healthcare services and technology, media and communications, and emerging trends and technologies. Chrysalis Ventures has made investments in over 55 companies, including CED member company Digitalsmiths Corporation.

Chrysalis Ventures has been a CED member since 2002. In addition to sponsoring the CED's Venture Capital for Entrepreneurs series, the firm has sponsored CED's Venture conference for the last five years.

Three CED Member Companies Receive Biotech Center Loans

The North Carolina Biotechnology Center issued $347,000 in loans to four life science companies focused on fighting disease. Three of these companies presented this year at the Angel Retreat, part of CED's 25th anniversary Venture Conference.

NanoVector, based in Raleigh, received $147,000 to help its development of a cancer targeting nanovirus. Arbovax, also based in Raleigh, received $150,000 to use in its efforts to create a vaccine for the dengue fever virus. Countervail Corp., a Charlotte based company, landed a $25,000 loan to assist in commercialization of a drug that would serve as an antidote to nerve gas and pesticide poisoning.

The North Carolina Biotechnology Center is a long time CED member and partner. The RTP biotechnology center hosts CED's Biotech Forums, and company representatives regularly participate in CED program development.

Hosted Solutions Pens New Deal

Hosted Solutions, the east coast's premier managed services and data center, announced that it has signed a deal with EQmentor, Inc., an organization focused on professional development. The three year contract allows Hosted Solutions to provide hardware and software management services from its Charlotte Data Center to EQmentor.

Hosted Solutions has been a CED member since 2001, and provides CED with its suite of hosting services. In addition to participating in CED's Innovation to Impact campaign at the Contributor level, Hosted Solutions has sponsored CED's Venture conference for the last three years and CED's Biotech 2008, Tech 2007 and Opportunity 2006 conferences.

CED Member recognized as "Mover & Shaker"

William S. Patterson, a managing partner at Hunton & Williams LLP, was recognized as one of the 2008 Triangle Mover & Shakers by Business Leader Magazine. The award honors individuals who have made an impact on both their company and the community. Winners must either be an executive or an up-and-coming leader within the company.

Hunton & Wiliams LLP, has been a CED member since 2005. The company sponsored CED's Tech 2007 and Opportunity 2006 conferences.

Inlet Technologies Secures $10 Million Series C

Inlet Technologies, a company that enables new media for new networks, has secured $10 million in series C venture financing. The round includes investments from four investors including, North Carolina-based Capitol Broadcasting Company (CBC). To date, Inlet has raised a total of $20.5 million in venture funding. The company has earmarked the investment to support additional encoding solutions for the expanding new media market.

Inlet Technologies has been a CED member since 2003. Company representatives participated in FastTrac® TechVenture™ in 2004, presented their technology at Info Tech 2004, and then pitched their company to investors at CED's 25th annual Venture conference in 2008. Founder and CEO, Neal Page, continues to support CED and the entrepreneurial community by speaking at CED events on topics ranging from hiring top talent and raising capital, to sales and marketing.

Inlet Technologies investor, Capitol Broadcasting Company, has been a grantor level member of CED since 1996. The company has sponsored CED's Entrepreneurial Excellence Awards for the past three years.