Startups

UF Innovate | Tech Licensing has helped start nearly 300 biomedical and technology companies based on university research. Of 289 active startups founded on UF research, 64 percent (184 companies) are in Florida; 38 percent (111 companies) are in Alachua County. This is a testament to the quality of the research, the fact that they are unique, well-protected innovations, and that experienced, credible entrepreneurs are attracted by the possibilities to leverage this work for commercial success.

Startup News

Startup Companies

Here is a listing of startups based on university research that UF Innovate | Tech Licensing has helped launch. Here, you can view websites to learn more about these startups. The list is continually updated and categorized under toggle boxes.

Human Healthcare

Clinipace

A global full-service digital contract research organization (dCRO) that has pioneered an innovative service model to serve the unique needs of venture-backed, mid-tier, and strategic pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device firms.

Entrinsic Health Solutions

Commercializing a medical food that helps maintain hydration and restore normal GI function during chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

Gila Therapeutics, Inc.

Gila Therapeutics, Inc. is a biomedical technology company targeting a new pathway to treat obesity by increasing fullness, decreasing caloric intake and producing weight loss.

HyGreen

A medical-technology company commercializing the HyGreen Hand Hygiene Recording and Reminding System, the first and most comprehensive tool to definitively monitor adherence to hand hygiene protocol.

MYOLYN

Creates rehab technology for people with neurological disorders fighting to achieve ambitious health and athletic goals.

Prometheon Pharma

Eliminating needle injections. Shaping the future of drug delivery.

Saisijin Biotech

A biomaterials company engaging in the research, creation, and commercialization of biomaterial products for the scientific, academic and biotechnology communities.

Xhale

A medical-technology company developing and commercializing patient-centric monitoring solutions for the healthcare industry.

Therapeutic

Aavanti Bio

A biotechnology company developing gene therapy for the debilitating neuromuscular disease known as Friedreich’s Ataxia (FA).

AGTC

Developing gene-therapy cures for rare eye diseases.

AxoGen

A leading medical technology company dedicated to peripheral nerve repair.

BetaStem Therapeutics

Developing adult stem-cell therapy for diabetes and cancer.

Dialectic Therapeutics

Developing innovative, impactful anti-cancer drugs that effectively treat patients with few to no other options. Its lead candidate selectively induces cancer cells to degrade B-cell lymphoma extra large, or BCL-XL, stimulating the cells to commit suicide on their own, or become more susceptible to chemotherapy.

DNAtrix

A biotech company focusing on the development of oncolytic viruses for cancer.

GainPep, Inc.

Focuses on the powerful wound-healing drug candidate fibroblast growth factor-peptide (FGF-P) and its derivatives. This agent will allow for opportunities from biosecurity to basic research to bone marrow transplantation to tissue engineering.

Genascence Corporation

Gene therapy for arthritis and related conditions.

Gila Therapeutics, Inc.

Gila Therapeutics, Inc. is a biomedical technology company targeting a new pathway to treat obesity by increasing fullness, decreasing caloric intake and producing weight loss.

ImmunoMolecular Therapeutics

Building novel personalized medicines for autoimmune disease with first-of-its-kind targeted drug design and a patient-centered approach. It is building an HLA-directed platform for new therapies and has demonstrated early effectiveness in type 1 diabetes.

iOncologi, Inc.

Specializing in immuno-oncology. Launched as a “spin-out” cancer immunotherapy firm from the University of Florida, iOi’s founders have developed a novel stem cell therapy that overcomes resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors in multiple cancers.

Locana, Inc.

An RNA-targeting platform that provides gene therapy to treat a range of devastating illnesses while avoiding risk of off-target effects in DNA.

Morphogenesis Inc.

Harnessing the power of cells as tools, technologies and therapies.

NanoMedex Inc.

Nanotechnology to improve pharmaceuticals.

Nanotherapeutics

An integrated biopharmaceutical company with a focus on development and manufacturing.

NanoTherics

Provides superior-performance, magnetic-based tools to address global markets and to underpin the research and development of current and future nanoparticle, magnetic particle, cancer therapy, drug delivery, genetic screening and gene therapy programs.

Oceanyx

Drug discovery and development from marine biology-based research.

Oragenics

A biopharmaceutical company focused primarily on oral probiotics products and novel antibiotics for humans and companion pets.

Quick-Med Technologies, Inc.

A life sciences company focused on developing proprietary, broad-based technologies for infection prevention and control in the consumer and healthcare markets.

Sun BioPharma

A first-in-class therapy for pancreatic cancer.

XORTX Pharma Corp

A drug-development company primarily focused on orphan disease indications which have a uric acid imbalance as well as metabolic syndrome, diabetes and diabetic nephropathy.

Diagnostic

Banyan Biomarkers

A leader in developing in vitro diagnostic products to address unmet clinical needs for the detection of traumatic brain injury.

Breathtec Biomedical

Breath analysis: the future of disease detection

Covitect

A bioengineering company devoted to the development and commercialization of automated systems that accelerate life-science technology.

EnCor Biotechnology Inc.

Developing and commercializing unique, well-characterized antibody reagents and ELISA type assays for academic, biopharmaceutical and clinical research.

Medical Device

Airway Assistance

Commercializing a device for swallowing and coughing difficulties.

Encephalodynamics

Making detection of neurological disorders fast and easy.

Optima Neuroscience

A medical-device company developing innovative technologies for the diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders.

Sharklet

Sharklet Technologies is developing and bringing to market surface technologies that are designed to inhibit or enhance microorganism growth.

Structured Monitoring Products

Developing an off-the-shelf baby monitor that detects infants’ breathing patterns remotely; Remmo [1], the company’s first product, will be the first patented, noncontact, noninvasive infant vital sign monitor on the market. [1] https://https://www.remmobaby.com/

ViewRay Inc.

A medical-device company developing advanced radiation therapy technology for the treatment of cancer.

XDG Technologies

A biomedical technology company that has developed a compact, handheld instrument to eliminate skin tags in adults and remove digits in infants born with extra fingers or toes.

Agriculture

Agriculture Intelligence

A precision agriculture science company, offering cloud-based precision data solutions for specialty crops, utilizing machine vision, machine learning, and artificial intelligence to optimize practices and maximize crop yield and quality.

BioProdex

Research, development, sales and service of biological products for pest control and environmental protection, contract research and biopesticide consultant services.

Florida Insect Control Group

A mosquito-control technology company dedicated to the development of products that can be used worldwide in the fight against the leading infectious disease-carrying pest, the mosquito.

Integrated Plant Genetics Inc.

A development-stage biotechnology company developing, producing and licensing new technologies for crop improvement and pathogen control.

RAPiD Genomics

Offering DNA genotyping and data analysis solutions for applications in the agriculture, forestry and livestock industries.

Engineering

2E1B LAB

Environmental technology company making patented air filters that disinfect the bioaerosols that the filter collects. CASSIE comes equipped with remote sensors that tell the filter when to disinfect the bioaerosols collected on the filter.

Altavian, Inc.

An unmanned-aircraft solutions provider that integrates engineering and manufacturing with services that enable the technology for federal, state, local, and commercial clients.

ChaoLogix

Enabling semiconductor manufacturers to produce integrated circuits with maximum security, safe from malicious side-channel attacks at ultra-low levels of power.

IC2 Interdisciplinary Consulting Corp

A technology-development company commercializing miniaturized instrumentation that monitors health of aerospace propulsion systems and enables reduced aircraft noise and improved fuel efficiency.

Micro Nano Technologies

Offers industry-changing heating, cooling, dehumidification, and medical solutions based on high throughput functional membranes.

NanoPhotonica

Bringing innovative nanomaterials and production techniques to enable market-altering improvements to displays, solar panels, as well as other electronic device industries

Optym

Bringing efficiency to transportation networks through optimization, simulation and data analytics solutions.

Rechenraum e.U.

Efficient yet robust 3D software to process, analyze and model 3D data and create unique solutions for businesses.

ReliOx

Revolution in microbial contamination control.

Satlantis

A technology development company specializing in innovative technologies for use on constellations of microsatellites.

Sinmat Inc.

Develops products via planarization-enabled technologies used in semiconductor manufacturing for computer chips, solid state lighting, and power devices.

Cleantech

AzPure, LLC

Commercializing low-temperature surface plasma devices for removing biological and chemical contamination from our environments.

Innovative Space Technologies

A solar-energy company commercializing an adhesive polymer that can increase the power output of existing photovoltaic cells by up to 30 percent.

Integrated Solar Technologies

Has engineered and prototyped the most advanced Galnp/SI smart bonded multilayer-junction solar cell with >38% one-sun efficiency. It integrates and operates solar-powered systems boards and Chipsets for IoT devices, mini, hybrid, and smart distributed low-voltage networks.

Molekule

An environmental-technology company commercializing indoor air purification equipment that rapidly and safely destroys all airborne bacteria, viruses, mold, and volatile organic compounds.

Myriant

Manufacturing and selling high-value chemicals made from renewable, sustainable feedstocks.

Redox Power Systems, LLC

Affordable fuel-cell power generation systems for commercial, industrial, residential, military and mobile applications.

SensorComm Technologies

Real-time IoT-based NO_x emissions monitoring system called Wi-NO_xTM that is installed at the tailpipe of vehicles for the transportation and smart city segments.

Solar Fuel

Converting the sun’s heat to gasoline

Tri Alpha Energy

Developing fusion power to reduce the world’s reliance on fossil fuels and nuclear fission and to transform the energy landscape.

Software

Apollidon Learning

Connecting students and faculty to leading educational programs.

Ocoos

Affordable and complete online business solutions.

Paracosm

A cloud-based software company that leverages 3D mapping technology to unleash the digital world into reality.

Peerfit

A health-technology company developing a flexible wellness currency that increases access to the top wellness experiences, starting with the fitness market.

Red Lambda

A technology company that has developed a next-generation IT security and analytics solution for Big Data environments.

Shadow Health

An educational software developer of rich, interactive learning environments including the Digital Clinical Experience™ for nursing and allied health education programs.

SharpSpring

Powerful, affordable marketing automation for everyone.

TAO Connect

A telemedicine platform that delivers effective mental health therapy via college and university counseling centers, employee assistance programs, outpatient and inpatient medical and mental health centers, and private practitioners.

Resources & Funding Opportunities

Many organizations locally, statewide and nationally offer resources and funding to help innovators turn ideas into products. Explore funding opportunities and resources such as facilities, market-research databases and professional-development groups.

UF Resources

UF Innovate Startup Primer

UF Innovate Business Library Guide

A guide to business library information sources for UF’s technology community, including market research, company and industry profiles and more

UF Innovate | Accelerate @ The Hub

An incubator program providing an innovation ecosystem for connecting all the elements critical to creating and supporting high-tech companies

UF Innovate | Accelerate @ Sid Martin Biotech

A fully equipped bioscience incubation program located in Alachua, Florida

Local Investors

Harbert Venture Partners

Provides growth capital to early-stage information technology and healthcare companies primarily across the Southeastern U.S.

MPM Capital

Seeks out innovative, scientific breakthroughs addressing unmet medical needs, particularly in oncology. The MPM team is exceptionally skilled at working with world-class scientists to create companies with the potential to change the face of medicine. Excels in translating the breakthroughs into clinical results.

Sofinnova HealthQuest Capital

Invests in proprietary healthcare innovation. Target sectors include medical devices, diagnostics, consumer/OTC health, patient care products, mHealth and Health IT that directly impacts patient treatment or care. Especially interested in innovations that provide benefits that can be quantified in terms of both improvements in patient care and outcomes, as well as healthcare economics.

Synogen

A private-equity medical technology development company. Synogen’s consulting group provides services to medical and cleantech companies, and Synogen’s venture fund partners in the creation of selected medical technology companies.

Seed Capital Accelerator Program, Florida Institute for the Commercialization of Public Research

Repayable loans ranging from $50,000 to $300,000 to qualified Institute companies. In order to qualify for consideration for this program, companies must meet the criteria at https://www.florida-institute.com/.

Florida Investors

New World Angels

New World Angels (NWA) is a group of private investors dedicated to providing equity capital to early-stage entrepreneurial companies in Florida.

Florida Venture Capital Program

The Florida Venture Capital Program (FLVCP) provides direct investments to increase capital available to small businesses with an emphasis placed on investment opportunities within the State of Florida’s targeted industries. In connection with the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 and the State Small Business Credit Initiative, the FLVCP was funded with approximately $42 million. As of June 30, 2022, the FLVCP completed twenty-one investment commitments, and there are active investments in nine companies.

Emergent Growth Fund, Gainesville

Member-managed angel funds that focus on early stage companies that are developing leading-edge products, or proprietary technologies that possess the potential for rapid growth in significant markets.

Tamiami Angels

A family of angel funds organized to invest in early-stage, high-potential, accelerated-growth companies.

Go Beyond Network, Naples

A group of private accredited investors dedicated to providing early-stage capital to entrepreneur

MBF Healthcare Partners

A private-equity firm that invests in healthcare companies

Community Resources

Gainesville Connect

The enticement and welcome portal for Alachua County, Florida

Innovation Gainesville

A grassroots movement built on collaboration between scientific and academic research and a thriving tech and health economy

CareerSource North Central Florida

Connects employers and job seekers

Council for Economic Outreach

Alachua County’s designated economic-development entity

National Venture Capital Association (NVCA)

The venture capital industry’s source for advocacy, networking, professional development and information

Angel Capital Association

The trade association of leading angel investment groups in North America

Regional Resources

BioFlorida

Works to advance innovations in the healthcare, agriculture and energy sectors

The Center of Excellence for Regenerative Health Biotechnology’s Education and Training Center

The Center of Excellence for Regenerative Health Biotechnology (CERHB) stimulates promising research and facilitate commercialization of technologies that will provide treatments and cures for human diseases, as well as create new companies and high-wage jobs for Florida.