Sci-Pitch

2025

• NuCompaction: Our startup aims to transform the pharmaceutical tablet formulation development process from a reactive to a predictive approach. Utilizing a novel powder compressibility characterization method (IP owned by UMN), robust mixture models, and optimization algorithms, our objective is to provide an intuitive digital interface for streamlined tablet formulation development. By reducing the time and materials required for development, especially costly active pharmaceutical ingredients, our goal is to help create more optimized tablet products and enable earlier formulation efforts, potentially accelerating the time to market for essential drugs.

• Omega Bugs / ZaNe Genetics: ZaNe Genetics is on a mission to sustainably provide the world's nutrients for improved human and animal health. We are pioneering the use of genetically enhanced Black Soldier Flies (BSF) to produce omega-3 fatty acids. Our patent-pending Omega Bugs transform food waste into high-value protein and omega-3 products, addressing the inefficiency of sourcing these nutrients from wild fish. Additionally, we are helping to promote a circular economy that reduces environmental waste and carbon emissions.

• BiliOnesie: Jaundice is one of the most common illnesses in newborn babies. It's diagnosed and treated (by exposing the baby's skin to blue light) in the few days following birth. Current solutions are very uncomfortable for the caregiver and the baby and often require hospital stays, so we have developed a soft, wearable version of the phototherapy device. It looks and feels like a regular onesie or sleeper, but can irradiate more of the infant's skin while allowing the caregiver to still hold and nurse the infant. It is also more conducive to treatment outside of the hospital setting. We have developed a preliminary prototype and are now refining it and preparing for comprehensive testing.

• Optimal Mobility: The Pediatric Manual Mobile Standing Wheelchair is a novel mobility device that an end user uses to move about their environment in either a seated or standing position. The ability to stand or sit in one device reduces the need for multiple pieces of equipment and decreases caregiver demands by eliminating the requirement to complete multiple daily transfers. The ability to manually move in both the seated and standing position is theorized to increase the utility of the wheelchair allowing for greater compliance with a therapeutic standing program and resulting in associated positive health outcomes. In addition, the ability to move in either the standing or seated position facilitates greater participation. The technology was developed via a collaboration between the University of Minnesota and the Minneapolis Veterans Medical Center. 

2024

• Magtection: Currently, most diagnostic tests are performed in centralized labs hosting a variety of analytical instruments. Access to these infrastructures, the cost for their maintenance, and the time taken for communicating results pose critical restrictions to developing effective control and prevention strategies for porcine diseases. Our Magtection technology addresses these predicaments through the development of portable, cost-effective (<$1 material cost), and rapid tests (5-minute assay) based on the principle of magnetic particle spectroscopy (MPS).

• Gopher Eye: We have developed a functional prototype of a mobile application called Gopher Eye for crop disease detection. Our mobile application has a main Homepage which shows different provided disease detection options. In each option page, we created a few functional interfaces which include (1) a frame interface showing the image status, it could be blank, selected, not selected, detected. (2) a typing interface responsible for inputting the name for the chosen image (3) an interface containing essential functional commands. In the future, we are planning to add one more interface that provides more detailed statistics after detection. Currently, the application prototype is developed on the Android platform. We are working on developing a trans-platform mobile application to expand its use. The IP of this product is protected by a patent application submitted by University of Minnesota, and we plan to launch it as a licensed online interactive tool.

• PhysiAroma: Harnessing olfaction to manage chronic pain. Our company is working to assist the millions of Americans suffering daily from chronic pain. By integrating best-practice pain management techniques with our novel scent delivery mechanism and machine learning algorithms, we are developing a scalable product to expand access to care while also providing people living with pain a new tool that enables them to better-control their pain experience.

• Chief Chemicals: The business seeks to implement a novel non-thermal plasma process utilizing the concentrated high intensity electric field (CHIEF) system for nitrogen fixation. This technology enables the fixation of nitrogen from air into water, yielding a nitrate liquid fertilizer at different concentrations that can be diluted or directly applicable to field crops or hydroponic systems. By harnessing renewable energy, such as solar and wind for the production, we aim to provide a completely sustainable alternative to traditional nitrogen fertilizer production, promoting increased agricultural productivity while ensuring precise control over nitrogen fertilizer application and minimizing nitrogen pollution of various water bodies. Our on-site production solution aims to reduce transportation costs for farmers while offering a competitive, high-quality, and cost-effective nitrogen fertilizer, revolutionizing the market and establishing itself as a leader in the sustainable agriculture sector.

• Hullmond Foods: This business aims to offer a brand new all-natural food ingredients, serving as versatile components for the food industry and a cleaner alternative to synthetic additives. It acts as an emulsifier, suspending agent, clouding agent, weighting agent, antioxidant and fiber additive, as well as coffee replacement and other applications. Hullmond significance extends to the creation of bottled beverages, aligning with the growing demand for healthier options among consumers. This initiative empowers individuals to enhance their daily antioxidant intake while minimizing exposure to synthetic additives and preservatives, ultimately elevating overall human well-being. Our commitment to sustainable circular economy development is evident through our patented technology, ensuring that health benefits are maximized while eliminating wastes and maintaining minimal ecological footprints. Hullmond sets itself apart with its abundant source of antioxidants, positioning it as a premium choice in the market. The project's benefits extend beyond consumer well-being to the entire supply chain of the California almond industry, a top global player.

2023

• Bright Light Solutions: Hand held, quick, easy to read, plastics aging device. We've developed a technique that permits on-site, rapid assessment of cable degradation due to plastic aging of power cables. This technique eliminates the necessity of extracting cables for testing, a time consuming and unsafe method that requires technicians to cut out large sections of cable for off-site laboratory testing. This technique takes minutes and in accurate to the micron. Current techniques take days, cost several man hours, are unable to detect early stage degradation and pinpoint to the centimeter.

• Emergence: Unlock your scope. We have developed a patent pending computational algorithm that unveils the behavior of every gene in cancer. Currently, the lives of patients are being decided by genomic reports that use only 0.005% of the data being collected. Our algorithm can be easily integrated into current pipelines to leverage 100% of this untouched data. Our transformative approach distills information into actionable strategies for clinicians, pharmaceutical companies, and diagnostic companies.

2022

• Robotic Microinjection is an automated microinjection platform can microinject any model organism embryos like Zebrafish or Fruit flies at their embryonic stage, for various applications like Transgenesis, Cryopreservation, mutagenesis, etc. 

• One Way Light on Silicon Chips: Data centers and communications need to merge electronic logic with optical data transmission. To increase speeds but reduce power, the electronic and optic components are placed ever closer together with the future looking to everything integrated onto one silicon chip. However, integrated lasers need protection from reflections and no solution exists due to materials incompatibilities. We have discovered how to integrate the necessary materials.

• FREEPhase is a low-cost compact MRI. Due to its cost, MRI is NOT widely available. With our technology, we believe that we can successfully address the problems of accessibility and cost. With our technology, MRI can be made cheaper, silent, and therefore more accessible. 

• WristBot provides a robotic exoskeleton for physical rehabilitation of the wrist/hand. This device can help therapists improve care efficiency and help stroke patients engage in physical therapy for extended periods of time. 

• XanthosHealth is a digital health technology platform to revolutionize the social care referral and coordination process. Our platform is unique, because it provides 3 interfaces support our 3 users: patients, providers, and CBOs. We allow patients to self-screen and refer to CBOs in real-time, who have capacity to meet their needs. We harness the crowd through our community dashboard to ensure that services are updated and accurate. We ensure the loop is completed, by engaging all stakeholders throughout the entire process.

• Limnolytics: Our Remote Water Quality Sensing System delivers up-to-date water quality information  to allow government and commercial entities meet customer needs or reporting requirements that is not available today.

2021

• BlueCube Bio is an emerging biotech company that creates non-toxic cryopreservation solutions inspired by nature. The products enable the freezing of human cells at sub-zero temperatures that exhibit high viability and normal cellular function after thawing. BlueCube Bio products provide a solution to a long term pain point in the supply chain for cell therapy manufacturers. 

• Venn/Childrens Cancer Reserach Fund Diagnostic Development: Developing a companion diagnostic for treatment of bone cancer in children. 

• Particle4X aims to provide imaging-base airborne microorganism analysis tools that can help health and safety specialists assess airborne bacteria and fungi particles in operating rooms in minutes, thus reducing unnecessary waiting time in surgery operations, while minimizing the likelihood of surgical site infection due to the contamination caused by these airborne particles.

• HairsquadMD: Hair experts providing accurate hair and scalp information, as well as science-based hair loss treatment products

NuCompaction

Our startup aims to transform the pharmaceutical tablet formulation development process from a reactive to a predictive approach. Utilizing a novel powder compressibility characterization method (IP owned by UMN), robust mixture models, and optimization algorithms, our objective is to provide an intuitive digital interface for streamlined tablet formulation development. By reducing the time and materials required for development, especially costly active pharmaceutical ingredients, our goal is to help create more optimized tablet products and enable earlier formulation efforts, potentially accelerating the time to market for essential drugs.

Project team members: Gerrit Vreeman, Founder (postdoc) and Calvin Sun (faculty)