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The Newsletter of the MTTC for the Massachusetts

entrepreneur & tech transfer community 


October 8, 2014
Welcome

Dear All,


This edition of MATTO Matters has a focus on Clean Energy.

 

We are very pleased to announce that at their September Board Meeting, the MassCEC refunded the Catalyst Program which is managed by the MTTC.  This program gives early-stage researchers grant awards up to $40,000 to help demonstrate the commercial viability of their clean energy technology. Since the program's launch in 2010, Catalyst has awarded $1.69 million to 43 research teams. Past awardees have gone on to raise a combined total of over $35 million in follow-on financing. In addition, Catalyst awardees have formed 7 new companies, licensed 3 technologies, disclosed inventions and received patents for 42 new technologies, and issued 39 new research publications.  If you have a new invention in clean energy we encourage you to apply to us for a Catalyst Award.


From October 20 to 24, Massachusetts will hold the Global CleanTech Meetup with many events focused on clean energy we hope to see you at some of them!

 

 The MTTC Team - Abi, Julia, Michele and Barbara   Follow us on Twitter 
IN THIS ISSUE
Welcome
MTTC Update
MTTC Update
Spin-off and Start-up News
Events of Interest
Quick Links
MTTC Update
Abigail Barrow, director of MTTC, co-authored "Managing Student Intellectual Property Issues at Institutions of Higher Education: An AUTM Primer"

"Unlike faculty and graduate researchers whose contractual relationship with an institution tends be quite formalized, undergraduates and masters students are not generally regarded as being employed by their university in the traditional sense. Accordingly, student-generated IP lies outside of the clear-cut employment context and raises a unique set of issues concerning ownership and other IP-related rights..."

 

Ever wondered if your institution needs a policy for intellectual property developed by students? Or if the one you have is appropriate?  

If so, check out "Managing Student Intellectual Property Issues at Institutions of Higher Education" written by AUTM's Student IP Task Force including Abigail Barrow, PhD; Alex Breger, JD; Nathalie Duval-Couetil, PhD, MBA; Latanya Scott; Jeffrey Skinner, PhD, MBA, RTTP; Phyl Speser, JD, PhD, RTTP; and Phil Weilerstein.

Funding Opportunities

MTTC and MassCEC invite you to apply for MassCEC Catalyst Program Awards or Innovate Mass. These two programs have just been launched.  

Office Hours:


MTTC is offering office hours to answer any questions you may have regarding MassCEC Catalyst Program Awards and MassCEC Innovate Mass: 
Thursday, October 9th from 4-6 pm at Cambridge Innovation Center, Venture Cafe, One Broadway, Cambridge, MA.  

 

 

Catalyst Program Awards 

The Catalyst's primary intent is to stimulate the commercialization of clean energy technologies developed in the Commonwealth. Awarded funds (up to $40K) are used to demonstrate the feasibility of technologies in specific industry applications in order to obtain increased industry and investor interest. 

Please visit MTTC updated Grants section of our website http://www.mattcenter.org/events/grants-home.html. Applications are due on November 3, 2014 at 5PM.

  

Innovate Mass 

The Innovate Mass objective is to help clean energy companies that are scalable, have strong commercialization potential and can create local jobs and can accelerate toward their market objective by de-risking deployment of their technology.

Learn more and view the program application at: http://www.masscec.com/programs/innovatemass. Applications are due on November 26, 2014. 

 

If you have any questions, please email Michele Bernier at [email protected] 

Spin-off and Start-up News

Updates from prior Catalyst Awardees: 

 

SolidEnergy Systems, an MIT spin-out and Catalyst winner from the sixth round in Fall 2012. SolidEnergy Systems, is developing a safe and high-energy density polymer ionic liquid rechargeable lithium battery, recently closed a $4.5 million Series A financing and was named an R&D 100 Award Winner by R7D Magazine. Founder and CEO Qichao Hu stated: "The MassCEC Catalyst grant was a bridge that carried SolidEnergy over the "valley of death" between university business plan competitions and actually raising Series A. Without the $40K, we wouldn't have been able to build small prototypes at A123 and demonstrate technology feasibility to raise Series A.

 

Loci Controls, a Catalyst winner from the eighth round in Fall 2013. Loci Controls automates the monitoring and control of methane collection systems in landfills, optimizing gas production in real time. The system will increase electricity revenue, control odors, reduce emissions, and increase landfill compliance. The company was successful in raising a $765,000 seed round in March 2014 from Common Angels, Launch Capital, and other Boston-based angel investors.


 

Senscio Systems raises $2.15 Million

Senscio Systems, Inc., a healthcare technology startup, graduate of the MTTC's Platform program, has announced two financings: a $1.5 million Series Seed raise, led by members of eCoast Angels and Walnut Venture Associates with participation from members of Golden Seeds and Northeast Angels; and a $650,000 Emerging Technology Fund loan from MassDevelopment, the state's finance and development authority. Senscio is using the loan from MassDevelopment to make strategic hires and procure hardware for early deployments of IbisCare, the company's first product.

IbisCare integrates Senscio's unique artificial intelligence platform with remote patient monitoring for people living with multiple chronic conditions. The product increases patient engagement, helps caregivers assist with timely interventions and provides analytical insights for population health management. The company will use the $2.15 million in new funding to accelerate the product's deployment to the next 200 users.


Events of Interest
Ultralight Startups: Future Energy Pitch Competition

  

When: October 9, 2014 6:30-8:30pm
Where: Microsoft, 640 8th Ave., NYC, NY

 

Future Energy is a series of startup-investor pitch events that connects entrepreneurs, researchers, and private investors in the energy and clean-tech industries to develop and commercialize radical solutions to the world's energy challenges.

The Investor Panel includes: John Freer, Manager, External Technology Initiatives at GE Global Research; Dave Kirkpatrick, Managing Director of SJF Ventures; William Lese, Managing Director at Braemar Energy Ventures; and Willem Rensink, GameChanger at Shell.

  

For more information and to register please visit the Event website



The EntreTech Forum: Is Water the New Oil?

 

When: Tuesday, October 21, 2014 6:30 - 9:30 pm

Where: Constant Contact, Reservoir Place, 1601 Trapelo Road, Waltham, MA 02451

 

So, what do the experts have to say about Water being the New Oil? And what does that mean to you?? Attend this meeting to find out!

Willem Buiter, the chief economist at megabank Citigroup, says that water isn't just the new oil, it's more important than oil: "Water as an asset class will, in my view, become eventually the single most important physical-commodity based asset class, dwarfing oil, copper, agricultural commodities and precious metals." What does this mean to consumers? To academia? To business? Most importantly, what does this mean to you?

 

Panelists: Dr. Sarah Slaughter is President of the Built Environment Coalition and Earl Jones is a Member of Liberation Capital.

Moderator: Gates Ouimette, Co-Founder/Principal, ITconnecter, a CrossWaves Ventures LLC company

 

For more information and to register please visit the Event website



Cleantech Open Northeast 2014 Innovation Expo and Awards Gala

 

When: Tuesday, October 28, 2014 from 4:00 PM to 9:30 PM

Where:

BU School of Management, 595 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215   

 

Join for the culmination of the 2014 Cleantech Open Northeast accelerator program.

Meet the top cleantech startups in the region; network with cleantech investors, professionals, and mentors; listen to pitch presentations from our top 8 teams; vote for the audience favorite and be there when the Northeast Regional Winners are announced.

Agenda:

4:00 - 9:30pm - Innovation Showcase (on-going)

4:30-6:30pm - Live Pitches from Our Top Startups (Regional Final Judging Round)

7:00 - 9:30pm - Awards Ceremony & Networking Reception including leading cleantech speakers and announcement of winners     

For more information and to register please visit the Event website      



Forum 20/20: Innovation and the Future of Cleantech 

 

When: October 29-30, 2014
Where: Artists for Humanity-EpiCenter, 100 West 2nd. Street, South Boston, MA 02127 

 

Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and Greentech Media are bringing together leaders from the energy industry, policymakers, major corporates, investors and academia on October 29 for a one-day conference called Forum 20/20. Leveraging expertise in market intelligence and market development, we will be charting a clear path forward for the cleantech market to describe a vision of growth over the next decade.
Forum 20/20 will consist of dynamic panels discussions, thought-provoking keynote presentations and an interactive voting session, in which the audience will get to weigh-in on some of the industry's most controversial questions. Forum 20/20 will address topics including:
  

  • The Utility of the Future and Opportunities for Market Reinvention
  • Localized Energy Solutions, and the Decentralization of Energy Delivery
  • Accelerating Cleantech Deployments through Innovations in Finance
  • People and Energy
  • Clean Energy Policy - Transitioning Markets to a New Regulatory Framework
  • A Cleantech Future for Water
  • Lessons from International Markets

To receive an exclusive 20% discount - use promo code ACTION20 

 

For more information and to register please visit the Event website 



NECEC's 7th Annual Green Tie Gala

When: October 30, 2014 at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Fairmont Copley Hotel in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood. 

 

For seven years, NECEC's Green Tie Gala has been the premier clean energy-networking event in the region. Each year, NECEC brings together more than 400 stakeholders from New England's clean energy community to celebrate the New England clean energy industry's growth and accomplishments and recognize the region's outstanding clean energy companies with NECEC's Green Tie Gala Awards. Attendees include including CEOs, investors, public officials, clean energy service providers, businesses and law firms, representatives from academia, and more for a night of networking, celebration and fun. 

 

For more information and to register please visit the Event website



Energy Summit - National SBIR/STTR Summit

   

When: November 11-13, 2014

Where: Austin, TX

 

Join the stakeholders and working groups building the foundation for a new Defense Energy Center of Excellence. The summit's focus will center on this proposed initiative and how to accelerate clean energy and infrastructure solutions for the DOD.

The program includes: Defense Energy Center of Excellence; Defense Energy Business Matching; Defense Energy Solutions; Central Texas Defense Energy; Defense Energy Technology Showcase

 

National SBIR/STTR Fall Summit, held in parallel with the 2nd annual Defense Energy Summit. At this Conference, representatives from all 11 federal agencies with SBIR programs will attend, in addition to other SBIR/STTR experts and trainers. Conference highlights include: Presentations from all SBIR Agency Program Managers; Learn how to successfully submit competitive research proposals; Hear from government, industry and academic experts on successful commercialization strategies; Interact with SBIR Agency Program Managers, technology entrepreneurs, large company representatives, and researchers in Roundtable discussions, sessions and 1-on-1 meetings; Learn about cutting-edge opportunities in defense, agriculture, energy, and health/medicine; Optional pre conference workshops on SBIR Phase I, Phase II and licensing and commercialization.

  

For more information and to register please visit the Event website

Quick Links

MTTC is based at UMass and facilitates technology transfer from all research institutions, public and private, in the Commonwealth. The Center is financially supported by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and MTDC.  www.mattcenter.org 

  

MATTO is the Massachusetts Association of Technology Transfer Offices www.masstechtransfer.org