Entrepreneurs’ Center Tech Start-ups Secure $1.2M in Grant Funding

Posted by Anne Kane on January 21, 2025

The startup ecosystem in Dayton and surrounding regions is gaining momentum, with six tech companies leading the way.

 

DAYTON, OH, January 21, 2024 – Entrepreneurs’ Center (EC) technology clients Checkmate AI, ComfortCatheter, Immobileyes, MetaMol, Parcell, and Ravee secured $1.2M in grant funding from the Ohio Third Frontier Commission. The six competitively awarded Technology Validation and Start-up Fund (TVSF) grants will help accelerate these Ohio-based companies in the development and commercialization of innovative products that hold the potential to transform industries and improve lives.

“We are grateful to the Ohio Third Frontier Commission and the Ohio Department of Development for awarding these grants to six remarkable companies,” said Scott Koorndyk, President of the EC. “There is no better place to build a business than the Dayton Region, and we are proud to support each of these companies on their path to success.”

Checkmate AI has secured $200,000 to advance its platform, using conversational AI to deliver timely medication reminders and appointment notifications to seniors via phone, text, and smart speakers. By interacting with electronic health record (EHR) data, Checkmate also aims to improve patient-provider communications and provide daily updates to families and caregivers. With the support of this grant, Checkmate will accelerate development, initiate beta testing with healthcare clients, and prepare for commercialization within the year.

“It’s refreshing to have the support of the Entrepreneurs’ Center and the Ohio Third Frontier in understanding this critical need for Ohio seniors and supporting us in our efforts to commercialize a product to solve it,” stated Don Hunter, CEO of Checkmate AI. “This grant will help us launch a valuable product at a critical time when seniors are aging and can leverage the support of technology to improve their quality of life and maintain independence.”

ComfortCatheter is revolutionizing the management of chronic urinary retention (CUR) in women with its innovative catheter design. Unlike traditional options, ComfortCath enables natural urination without the need for continuous drainage tubes or urine bags, significantly enhancing patient comfort, independence, and quality of life. This groundbreaking device minimizes the risk of infections and other complications, empowering women to lead more dignified and active lives. With the support of the Entrepreneurs’ Center and the Ohio Third Frontier TVSF funding, ComfortCath will finalize its product design, advance prototyping, and prepare for market entry, addressing a critical, unmet need in women’s healthcare.

“We are profoundly grateful for the Entrepreneurs’ Center and the Ohio Third Frontier’s unparalleled support. Their commitment to fostering innovation has been instrumental in advancing ComfortCath’s mission to transform the lives of women living with chronic urinary retention, said Mohamed Kamel, M.D., Founder & Chief Medical Officer, ComfortCath. “This funding empowers us to bring our novel solution closer to market, where it can deliver a significant and lasting impact on patients’ independence, dignity, and overall well-being.”

Immobileyes secured $200,000 to help develop Lumalert, a groundbreaking personal safety device that combines the company’s patented HALAR optical disruption technology with an innovative location tracking system. When activated, it enables users to alert emergency contacts or law enforcement. This advanced solution enhances personal safety through a combination of deterrence and effective communication features. Immobileyes was founded in 2020 with the mission of developing smart light technologies for security and defense applications. 

“The TVSF funding will accelerate the development of crucial safety products addressing critical gaps in personal safety technology, a success made possible in large part by the invaluable guidance and support of the EC team, particularly Paul Jackson, Mike McCann, and Emily Fehrman Cory, whose expertise was instrumental not only in navigating the TVSF process but also in helping us capture the full commercial value of this technology, said Atossa Alavi, Founder/CEO of Immobileyes. “We look forward to continue collaborating with EC to bring this important technology to market.”

MetaMol Theranostics secured $200,000 to advance its mission of personalized breast cancer risk assessment. When biopsies are taken consecutive to suspicious mammograms, assessing the breast cancer risk associated with identified lesions has been difficult. The novel prognostic marker, called hOPN-c, can provide a risk assessment for individual patients. It currently has a class 1 designation from the FDA. The TVSF funds will enable class 2 submission and market entry for expedited patient benefit.

“MetaMol is grateful for the help received from the Entrepreneurs’ Center, the ODOD Entrepreneurial Services Provider Program, and Ohio I-Corps,” said Dr. Georg F. Weber, Founder of MetaMol Theranostics and Professor at the University of Cincinnati. “We believe in the importance of our mission and greatly value the backing through a strong support network.”

Parcell secured $200,000 to advance its Smart Tool Control platform for Defense maintenance operations. The company’s innovative technology addresses operational efficiency challenges in the maintenance of aircraft and other equipment, where manual processes delay equipment availability and impact mission readiness. Parcell’s solution enables secure integration of automation technology with existing Department of Defense information systems, enhancing both efficiency and cybersecurity without requiring network connectivity. The technology will be integrated into Parcell’s Smart Tool Crib to automate tool checkout while maintaining compliance with required protocols.

“This TVSF award will enable Parcell to integrate a critical capability that addresses a key barrier to automation adoption in military maintenance operations,” said Erica Waite, CEO of Parcell. “By developing a secure way to connect smart devices with existing systems, we can help maintenance squadrons improve efficiency and increase mission capability rates. The guidance and support we received from the EC was instrumental in helping us shape our technical approach and value proposition. We look forward to continuing our work with the EC team as we advance this important technology.”

Ravee Optics secured $200,000 to develop advanced ultra-compact imaging sensor payloads for drone platforms that will serve the defense and commercial applications. Ravee Optics’ novel hybrid metaoptic technology dramatically reduces the size and weight of optical systems and eliminates reliance on exotic optical materials. By increasing the deployment of advanced sensing payloads, Ravee Optics will put new capabilities in the hands of first responders, industrial engineers, and warfighters at affordable mass and scale. 

 “We thank the Ohio Third Frontier Foundation for the opportunity to accelerate the development and commercialization of a technology we think will fundamentally reshape optical sensor/imaging systems and other applications,” said Piyush Shah, co-founder of Ravee Optics. “We are grateful for the EC’s guidance and preparation of the Ravee team to be successful in this process and helping launch our company in the Dayton region”

Checkmate AI, ComfortCatheter, Immobileyes, MetaMol, Parcell, and Ravee are engaged with the EC, which provides technology startups and early-stage companies with strategic guidance to accelerate growth, drive success, and stimulate the local economy.

“With these six awards, totaling $1.2M, we’re off to a strong start in 2025,” said Paul Jackson, EC’s VP of Strategic Programs. “Last year, we successfully helped 18 companies secure $3.6M in TVSF funding, and we’re optimistic that this year will bring even greater success in advancing lab-developed technologies into the marketplace.”

About Entrepreneurs’ Center

The Entrepreneurs’ Center (EC) is a modern venture development organization that powers progress and prosperity through entrepreneurship. Annually, the EC works with over 1,000 entrepreneurs to start and grow companies, create jobs, generate revenue, and attract investment. The EC empowers main street and technology businesses through complimentary professional services, including business planning, mentoring, training, networking, commercialization, and capital investment. The EC’s talented and experienced team of advisors, entrepreneurs-in-residence, and staff design and facilitate diverse, world-class business acceleration programs on behalf of corporations, higher education institutions, and government agencies, including the U.S. Department of Defense from their headquarters at The Hub Powered by PNC Bank in the historic Dayton Arcade. Learn more at EC Innovates.

About Ohio Third Frontier

Managed by the Ohio Department of Development, Ohio Third Frontier (OTF) is an internationally recognized $2.1 billion economic development initiative supporting technology entrepreneurship and growing jobs across the state of Ohio, positively changing the trajectory of its economy. Through a statewide robust network of resources, entrepreneurs with compelling business models for near-term market opportunities based on technology and tech-enabled products and services have access to the technology, business assistance, capital, and talent to turn great ideas into thriving companies. OTF is driving this expanding, vibrant community of high-growth technology companies and making Ohio a top destination for tech entrepreneurs. Learn more at Ohio Third Frontier.

About the Entrepreneurial Services Provider Program

The purpose of the Entrepreneurial Services Provider (ESP) Program is to fill gaps in the entrepreneurial system for high-potential Ohio concept, seed, and early-stage technology companies. Its goal is to significantly increase technology-based entrepreneurial commercialization outcomes in the State. Each ESP represents a coordinated network of high-value services and assistance providers that is visible and easily accessible to technology-based entrepreneurs and small tech-based companies. The ESP providers take an approach that tightly integrates sources of deal flow, entrepreneurial support, and capital to effectively grow each region’s startup ecosystem. Reaching out to minorities, women, veterans, and rural entrepreneurs, the program seeks to position Ohio as a leader in inclusive technology and entrepreneurship. Learn more at ESP Program.


For More Information, Contact:
Leslie Klenke, Director of Marketing
Entrepreneurs’ Center
[email protected]


 

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