Pre-Seed Workshop to help entrepreneurs determine viability of startup concepts

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The University at Buffalo will host the 10th annual Pre-Seed Workshop for aspiring high-tech entrepreneurs on May 25-26 at UB’s New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences, 701 Ellicott St., Buffalo.

The workshop is a two-day boot camp that offers entrepreneurs in high-tech industries the opportunity to determine the viability of their startup concepts, and will include pitch sessions from 2-3:30 p.m. each day.

This year’s program has been expanded to include life sciences as well as engineering and manufacturing tracks.

News media are encouraged to attend the live pitch sessions.

The workshop will bring together technical, legal, business, finance and marketing experts in the community, who will take entrepreneurs through a series of facilitated, hands-on sessions to investigate and further develop pre-seed-stage companies spun out of universities, hospitals and inventors’ basements.

Ideas being showcased at the workshop include:

• A product used for selective chemical removal of tooth decay.
• An endovascular EEG system to collect more-precise epileptic data.
• An energy-harvesting system to power pacemakers in a renewable and sustainable way.
• A more efficient system to produce enzymes and proteins used in the pharmaceutical industry.
• A micro-electromechanical system to assemble 3D human micro-tissues.
• A geriatric risk-analysis program to enhance patient-centered care and quality outcomes in long-term care.
• A virtual reality surgical simulation platform for training surgeons.
• A breast cancer prognostic system using cancer genomics data and bioinformatics.
• A natural chelating agent that facilitates base-metal removal and precious metal recovery from industrial wastewater.
• Self-driving recreational boats and cargo ships to reduce shipping costs and increase sea safety.
• A shoe cleat system for rowers to enhance experience and results.
• A novel hybrid process for high-speed, high-throughput fabrication.
• A bubble fuse to interrupt electricity flow when voltage exceeds a set value.
• Computer-aided design, additive technologies and machining methods that produce custom parts.

The Pre-Seed Workshop, founded and facilitated by Mark Wilson and Judy Albers, has helped more than 200 entrepreneurs statewide decide whether they are ready to start a high-tech business.

Pre-Seed workshops also help to train the next wave of entrepreneurs, allowing undergraduate, graduate and professional students to gain real-world experience by sitting on teams alongside scientists and business experts.

Sponsors of the 2016 Pre-Seed Workshop include UB’s New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences, New York State Center of Excellence in Materials Informatics, Office of Economic Development, Office of Science, Technology Transfer and Economic Outreach, Hodgson Russ LLP, New York State Science and Technology Law Center (NYSSTLC), Launch NY, New York State Division of Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR) and Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute.