Amr Abdelgawad of NERv Technology, Inc.
NERv Technology, Inc. is one of 20 medtech startups chosen as finalists in the 7th annual M2D2 $200K Challenge. Co-founder and COO Amr Abdelgawad explains how they’ve developed and advanced their idea.
What is the innovation you’ve entered in the M2D2 $200K Challenge?
NERv is developing an implantable biochip to detect anastomotic leakage, the leakage of gastrointestinal fluid into the abdominal cavity, in real-time. Continue reading
John Konsin of Prapela
Prapela is one of 20 medtech startups chosen as finalists in the 7th annual M2D2 $200K Challenge. To learn more about their innovation, we interviewed John Konsin, Prapela co-founder and CEO.
What is the innovation you’ve entered in the M2D2 $200K Challenge?
Prapela is an infant sleep tech company integrating stochastic vibro-tactile technology into medical and consumer products that help newborns breathe and relax.
Larry Alberts of Cam Med LLC
Cam Med LLC is one of 20 medtech startups chosen as finalists in the 7th annual M2D2 $200K Challenge. Co-founder Larry Alberts tells us about their idea and the story behind it.
More than 100 medical device and biotech startups applied to award pool.
LOWELL, Massachusetts – The University of Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) today announced the finalists in its 7th annual $200K Challenge.
The twenty finalists, all early-stage medical device, diagnostic, and biotech companies, will be eligible for a share of $200,000 in sponsor-provided, in-kind services. These services include use of facilities including lab and office space; and engineering, product development, legal, regulatory, clinical, and business services.
More than 100 startups from around the world entered the Challenge-a marked increase from last year.
M2D2 Founder and Director Stephen McCarthy, PhD, notes that this year’s Challenge drew a record number of application. “Thanks to the generosity of our sponsoring companies and organizations, we were able to double our total award offering to $200,000. As a result, more than 100 startups from around the world entered the Challenge-a marked increase from last year. The Challenge an outstanding opportunity for them to give their innovations more exposure and connect with resources that can help them get to the next level, toward commercialization.”
M2D2 assists entrepreneurs in the medical-device and biotech sector in moving new products from concept to commercialization. It is a joint venture of University of Massachusetts Medical School, which provides medical expertise and assistance with clinical trials, and the University of Massachusetts Lowell, which offers expertise in business and engineering. The M2D2 has three locations, two in Lowell and one on the campus of the UMass Medical School.
The 2018 $200K Challenge sponsors are Johnson & Johnson Innovation, the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, Amgen, Boston Scientific, Mintz Levin, MPR Product Development, and R&Q (Regulatory & Quality Solutions).
This year’s Challenge finalists are:
149 Medical: non-invasive real-time brain hemodynamics and metabolism monitor.
3D Tumor Targeting: 3D tumor targeting
Accelera: SRS wearable technology for joint injury, eldery balance and athletic performance markets.
Advanced Silicon Group: sensor to measure biomarkers in patients’ blood to give early indication of trial success.
AM Protection: antimicrobial therapeutic for medical devices.
Bitome: non-invasive monitoring of human hydration.
CamMed: novel bandage-like, ultra-thin, flexible patch pump for delivering injectable drugs.
Cocoon Biotech: silk-fibroin as a drug delivery and materials platform.
DFTx: universal neurostimulation dosing platform.
Fairbanks Pharmaceuticals: transformative diabetes therapy that attacks the root cause.
IMS: low cost diabetes management.
Leuko: First white blood cell analyzer that does not require a blood sample.
Magoptics: intra-corneal implant.
MedKairos: bioptic platform to intervene during thyroid biopsies to ensure collection of diagnostic sample.
NE Breath Technologies: diabetes detection and management.
NERv: implantable biochip platform for detecting anastomotic leakage.
Nolen Ortho: novel tissue repair materials.
Prapela: non-pharmacological products that improve infant sleep.
Sleep System: non-intrusive positional obstructive sleep apnea treatment device.
Versatope: versatile delivery platform derived from recombinant outer membrane vesicles (rOMV).
All twenty finalists will display and demonstrate their ideas at the M2D2 Challenge Finalist Pitch-Off on Wednesday, March 28 at 5:00 pm at UMass Lowell’s University Crossing. The Challenge winners will be announced on Tuesday, April 10 at 5:00 pm at an Awards & Networking event hosted by Mintz Levin in Boston. Tickets can be purchased for either or both events at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/m2d2-200k-challenge-finalist-pitch-off-awards-ceremony-tickets-43307428685.
Cambridge, MA — Amgen is the newest sponsor of the Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) and its annual $200K Challenge. M2D2 is a University of Massachusetts-affiliated incubator for early stage startups and their annual $200K Challenge is an international competition that showcases innovative ideas of early-stage medical device, diagnostic and biotech companies.
“Amgen is pleased to partner with M2D2 and participate in the 2018 $200K Challenge within the Massachusetts life sciences community,” said Aine Hanly, vice president, Process Development and site head, Amgen Massachusetts. “We are excited to work with M2D2 to identify and foster innovative companies to pursue their device research and commercialization strategy.”
As part of the sponsorship, Amgen will offer educational sessions and host office hours with the goal to provide mentoring and insight from Amgen scientists to M2D2 resident start-up companies.
As a sponsor of M2D2’s annual $200K Challenge, Amgen will participate throughout the Challenge, including the call for applications, screening applicants and serving as a judge at the final showcase pitch event. Winning companies selected through the $200K Challenge competition will receive the use of M2D2 facilities including lab and office space, as well as engineering, product development, legal, regulatory, clinical and business services.
“We look forward to collaborating with M2D2 resident companies to build relationships and learn from each other about the latest engineering and technology of devices,” said Bill Rich, vice president, Device Technologies. “Most importantly, Amgen’s focus is to develop devices that offer a more comfortable, convenient experience and meet the needs of our patients.”
The Amgen Cambridge facility, located in Kendall Square, is a world-class research and development and process development organization with proficiency spanning biology, chemistry and engineering. A device technology innovation center is located at the facility and is responsible for understanding drug delivery industry trends and the capabilities within the biotechnology landscape. The team is involved in developing novel drug delivery technologies through feasibility and rapid prototyping of concepts that Amgen is interested in for potential patient use within its therapeutic areas.
“We are thrilled that Amgen will be joining the M2D2 community. We know our early-stage startups who are working so hard to move their inventions toward commercialization will gain a great deal by interacting with Amgen experts and business professionals,” said Stephen McCarthy, founder and director of M2D2.
The 2018 $200K Challenge call for applications is now open and the deadline to submit applications is February 19, 2018. To learn more, click here.
Mintz Levin Hosts M2D2 5th Annual Challenge
Boston, MA – Mintz Levin is pleased to announce the winners of M2D2’s 5th Annual $100K Challenge, a start-up competition focused on identifying and rewarding disruptive companies in the medical technology and biotechnology industries. The firm hosted the awards ceremony on April 6th in its Boston office.
Winners of the competition each received in-kind support from the competition’s sponsors equaling $100,000, including in-kind legal services from Mintz Levin, a Platinum Sponsor of the event. The winners of this year’s competition were:
Additional companies were recognized by and will receive support from Boston Scientific (Astraeus Technologies, Vital Sines and Embryyo) and Becton Dickinson (Fluid Screen and Clinitech).
“The competition in the program has grown from good to amazing in just 5 years. The quality and preparedness of the dozens of companies in this year’s challenge was remarkable and made the job of judging them very difficult,” said William Geary, a Member of Mintz Levin’s Intellectual Property Section and a long-time member of M2D2’s Advisory Board. “Mintz Levin is proud to support M2D2 and excited to have had the opportunity to coach most of the entrepreneurs behind the finalist companies.”
“The professionals at M2D2, including Steve McCarthy, Steve Tello, Nate Safer and MaryAnn Picard, are fantastic to work with. They are entrepreneurs in their own rights, having created M2D2 from the ground up, getting the support of the University system and the Commonwealth, as well as many local corporations. It’s a real pleasure to be working with them,” added John Condon, an attorney in the firm’s Corporate Section is also a member of the M2D2 Advisory Board
University of Massachusetts President Marty Meehan was on hand to kick-off the awards night and recognized the intensity of effort that lead to creating M2D2 at UMass Lowell and the pride he feels in seeing the collaboration with the Worcester campus which strengthens the venture and serves as a great example for the success which can be achieved through collaborative efforts among the University of Massachusetts campuses across the Commonwealth.
President Meehan introduced State Senator Eileen Donoghue, who represents the 1st Middlesex District of Massachusetts, which includes Lowell. A former Mayor and City Councilor of Lowell, Senator Donoghue is a tremendous supporter of UMass Lowell and M2D2. She spoke with pride of the business opportunity represented by M2D2 and the companies it fosters. Senator Donoghue highlighted M2D2’s economic impact, referencing the Donoghue Institute’s Innovation Effect report produced at the end of 2015 that M2D2 has contributed $75.5 million to the economy in 2014.
“We are extremely pleased with the success of the 5th Annual $100K Challenge. More than 70 companies applied from across the US and from as far away as India. The entrepreneurs brought amazing technology to the program and the competition was intense,” said Stephen P. McCarthy, Ph.D., a founding Director of M2D2 and a tenured Professor in U Mass Lowell’s Department of Plastics Engineering. “Our sponsors, including Mintz Levin, BD, Boston Scientific, MPR, Omni, R&Q, and the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center were totally engaged and incredibly supportive. Ultimately the awards went to companies which are going to have tremendous impact on the life sciences industry.”
About the M2D2 $100K Challenge
The M2D2 $100K challenge is a start-up competition focused on identifying and rewarding disruptive companies in the medical technology and biotechnology industries. In its 5th year, the competition saw more applicants and finalists than in 2016 than in any prior year. The level of company applying to compete has increased each year and included multiple past MassChallenge winners this year and recipients of funding from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center.
About M2D2
The Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) is a lifeline for the state’s smaller medical device companies, offering inventors and executives easy, affordable, and coordinated access to world-class researchers and resources at the Lowell and Worcester campuses of the University of Massachusetts. M2D2 leverages the engineering, business and clinical strengths of the UMass campuses in Lowell and Worcester to provide fee-based services in the areas of business planning, product prototype development and clinical pathway assistance.
About Mintz Levin
Mintz Levin is a firm of approximately 550 attorneys and senior professionals with offices across the country and in London, UK. We are passionate about the life sciences industry and about helping start-ups achieve success. Advising entrepreneurs on the formation and growth of new businesses is a cornerstone of our practice. We help them build networks, structure their business, develop strategic plans, protect their ideas, secure financing, and put together the requisite employment and benefits programs. We thrive when our clients thrive and we are committed to supporting the start-up community, writ large and in the cites in which we work and live – Boston, New York, San Diego, San Francisco, and Washington DC.
Contact: Gina Addis – (617) 348- 4413 – gaddis@mintz.com
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M2D2 at UMASS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THEIR 5th ANNUAL COMPETITION, THE $100K CHALLENGE
Admetsys, a start-up company developing an artificial pancreas and a prior year M2D2 winner, shares their experience and the advances and connections they were able to make as a result of the M2D2 competition.
Brian of Mass Device interviews Jeff Valk, CEO of Admetsys here: http://www.massdevice.com/an-artificial-pancreas-for-hospital-and-surgical-care-the-admetsys-story/
We invite you to apply to this funding opportunity. The extended deadline is February 7, 2016. Complete information and application is here: http://bit.ly/100KChallengeM2D2
Any questions, contact Mary Ann at maryann_picard@uml.edu or (978)934-3403
M2D2 is pleased to announce that Regulatory & Quality Solutions (R&Q), a team of regulatory and quality experts with global headquarters in Pennsylvania and local offices in Boston and Cleveland, is the newest platinum corporate sponsor.
M2D2 @ Canal Street
Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2)
110 Canal Street, 4th Floor, Lowell MA 01852
Presented and Sponsored by Sheehan Phinney Bass & Green PA
The use of consultants
by start-up companies is widespread. This seminar will discuss when using
an independent contractor or consultant is appropriate, considerations when
using consultants, and potential pitfalls that can arise. This dynamic
presentation will have ample time for questions, and we encourage an
interactive dialogue.
Registration Fees
Registration Fee 09/30/2015: $30.00
For More information including descriptions of these talks, Agenda and Registration please follow the link below!
M2D2 has expanded and is having an Open House along with a Family Feud Business Networking event to show off our new light and bright, fully equipped shared lab facility, at 110 Canal Street in Lowell MA, we are ready to welcome many more medical device and biotech start-up entrepreneurs!
In addition to our open house two teams will compete in a Family Feud Style event to name the most popular responses to survey questions about start up companies!
So come network with Industry Partners, IP Experts, Product Development Experts, Investors and more and help us celebrate this exciting time with networking opportunities, pizza & light refreshments (including beer & wine), as well as lab tours, poster previews of Medical Devices, biotech and technology of several Medical Device start-up companies that have and are being helped by M2D2.
Please join M2D2 at 110 Canal Street, Lowell MA along with our event sponsors Duane Morris LLP and MPR on September 10 from 5-8pm for a Family Feud Style Business Networking Event and Open House!
M2D2 at 110 Canal Street is an 11,000 square foot center is made up of a fully-equipped, shared lab facility that can house 50 researchers and also includes plenty of co-working and meeting spaces. Add in parking and its close (3-block, 7-minute walk) proximity to the MBTA commuter rail, and you have the perfect new home for Boston start-ups!
Your registration fee includes Pizza, Beer & Wine
Registration Fee until August 28: $10.00
Registration Fee until September 1: $20.00
Registration Fee September 10: $30.00