Karen Alder United States

Tutela Industries is a Health IT startup developing patient-centric mHealth solutions to reduce readmissions and significantly enhance patient engagement. Tutela has developed a proprietary and breakthrough low cost, secure framework, TutelaConnect™, for hospital-based clinicians to communicate (voice, video, and data) securely to remote caregivers, both outside and inside the hospital environment. Even though a majority of hospitals have implemented electronic health records for identifiable patient data exchange within the hospital, the secure HIPAA compliant capture and exchange of unstructured patient information outside the hospital remains a challenge, impacting decision making, care coordination and informed consent.

In a recent benchmark data security report, over 90% report that their number one security risk is the unsecure exchange of patient information (phone, text. email) initiated from inside the hospital. 88% of hospitals attribute data breaches to employee negligence and the lack of mobile device security. The cost of these breaches exceeds $5.6 Billion per year, averaging $1M per year per hospital. Most hospitals are still struggling to create a unified communication strategy that meets stringent security, HIPAA compliance requirements while meeting clinical workflow and ease of use demands. Ubiquitous solutions are not cloud-based which makes the use case for patient engagement costly, complicated and difficult to scale. Ultimately, restricting the use to the few and not the many. The worldwide available market for interactive patient engagement solutions exceeds $2.3B and the initial target market, the high-risk Neonatal Intensive Care is estimated at $160 Million. The TutelaConnect™ Platform, can enter the market within current reimbursement and regulatory environments, and is ready to launch H2 2015 through sales to the first  pilot hospitals.

The competitive landscape includes large players in adjacent markets; Cisco/PolyCom for enterprise video solutions; Phillips, medical device manufacturer for remote monitoring, and electronic health record companies, Cerner and EPIC. Small niche players, Mommy’s Ear, Angels Eye and NICView offer limited pieces of a unified patient engagement communication tool.  None to date provide a cloud-based, platform agnostic, secure and HIPAA compliant method that eliminates costly licenses, expensive hardware and ongoing endpoint configuration and IT support requirements.

A strong competive position, highly differentiated use cases, a clear Freedom to Operate and patent potential, as well as, a highly experienced management team, early traction and favourable regulatory trends provide a great opportunity for success.

Website:
www.itutela.com
Year Founded
2010
Main Sector
Medtech Subsector
Indication
Biotech Phase of Development
Medtech Phase of Development
Technology Overview

In 2010, Tutela company founders observed that a great need existed in intensive care areas for clinicians to communicate with patient’s circle of care; family members, advocates and aids to streamline discharge processes, prevent readmissions and provide a better experience. After 1000+ technical, economic and user interviews, a minimally viable prototype was developed for use in high risk areas, such as the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Three of the more novel components of the system include a secure access distribution mechanism; role-based mechanism to authenticate all users (both inside and outside the hospital) and their relationship to a third-party(patient), a method in which the capture of all the information including users, 3rd party (patients), clinical notes, electronic health record information, and any voice, video or audio transmission is secured at rest and in transit fulfilling compliance regulations, and a method to capture, store, forward and assign all relevant data from each engagement session to a  3rd party (patient) eliminating licenses and user accounts. The TutelaConnect Platform provides the first multi-platformed, cloud-based interactive patient engagement system that securely connects remote care givers to the bedside of critically ill patients using a platform agnostic video conferencing technology.

Alliance & Collaborations
First three pilots and customers include; Johns Hopkins Hospital, University of Pennsylvania Children's Hospital, Georgetown University Hospital NICU. Discussions are underway with seed investors TEDCO(follow-on), Maryland Ventures and Gulf Ventures.
Supporting Metrics or Evidence

Strong evidentiary support that patient and family engagement plays a vital role in experience and outcomes exist including a direct correlation with patient satisfaction, discharge planning and reduced readmissions; Fairview, Cope and CMS studies. The ongoing clinical trial and the voice of customer data (1000+ technical, economic and user interviews) have shown a technical deployment in less than 15 hours at an academic medical center, an improvement in clinical efficiency in the record of unstructured communications, an increase in patient satisfaction that impacts reimbursement and a slight reduction in length of stay that saved the hospital, $13,000. Hard numbers will be available at the completion of the trial in Q1 2015. The system is considered a Class One Exempt device. The FDA requires only that the NICULink, mobile device and the TutelaConnect Platform be registered 30 days prior to commercialization.

Current Financing Needs

$800,000. Amount can be staged to support product development completion, headcount and pilot costs.

Current Timeline

6-9 months away from commercialization.

Current Investors

TEDCO($100k), Founders Capital ($300k) and Gulf Ventures(GVC)committed ($200k)

IP Status

Freedom to Operate Analysis and Provisional Patent was filed in December 2014.

Recent Milestones

To date, 90% of the first product platform has been developed. Technical and clinical workflow usability and feasability testing is complete. In December 2014, beta testing of a portable mobile device connected to the platform began in the NICU at Georgetown University Hospital. Over 500 clinician-to-family interactive video sessions have been completed with 97% "game changer" endorsement. A small reduction in length of stay, 3.9 days, equated to savings of $13,000 during a 3 week period. Additional pilots are lined up at Johns Hopkins and UPENN in the adult and pediatric service lines, which will lead to first sales A committment for $200k was received in December. A pipeline and contact with other interested hospitals including Loma Linda, Stanford, University of Tennessee has been initiated. Soft product launch is targeted for October 2015 at a national neonatal conference.  

Management Team Highlights

We have an experienced and well rounded team with 80+ years expereince in network security, medical device and software product development and clinical data support sales and marketing. Brad Pollard, CTO, has 15+ years in startup expereince. His last position prior to Cisco was with Source Fire, sold to Cisco for $2.3B. Karen Alder, CEO, has 20+ years in sales and accounting with health IT startups. Her last position was with TheraDoc, which was sold to Premier for $117M. Richard Smith, COO, 25+years experience in medical device product development. Led successful product launches at GE and Brainz. Brainz was successfuly exited in 2008. Clinical advisors are well recognized leaders in neonatology and the adult critical care space.

Tutela Industries, LLC.
Co-Founder/CEO 

John Alexander United States

Twin Cities Angels is an angel group that was founded in 2006 that is based in Minnesota. The group has raised two funds that are The Twin Cities Angels Fund I and II. The second fund is currently looking to invest in emerging companies. The group typically provides seed and venture capital ranging from $ 25.000 to $2 million to life science companies. The group plans to invest in 4 to 6 companies per year. Twin Cities Angels seeks to invest in companies based in the Twin Cities Area of Minneapolis/St. Paul, the state of Minnesota and within a reasonable distance, such as Western Wisconsin, Northern Iowa, and Eastern Dakotas.

Year Founded
2006
Investor Type
Biotech Phase of Development
Medtech Phase of Development
Capital Structure Preference
Investment Stage Preference
Twin Cities Angels Fund II, LLC
Chairman & Founder 

Monica Alfaro Welling

Atheln, Inc.

Ms Elaine Allison Canada

Novelogics Biotechnology Inc. has developed unique next generation antibody immunotherapies for treating multiple types of advanced cancers including colon and prostate cancers.  Immunotherapies for cancer are anticipated to be a $35B per year industry in the upcoming years.  

Cancer Drugs with Safety in Mind

From the beginning the novel and specific design of the therapeutic antibody drug minimizes the potential for autoimmune diseases or harming good cells with the bad.  We are dedicated to making cancer treatments that won't make you sick to get you better.

Unecumbered, Founder Owned

Novelogics has developed their assets in an unecumbered envriornment allowing investors to work directly with the team.  At this time the companyis 100% founder owned and undiluted.  Novelogics is anticipating an early exit and has begun discussions with pharmaceutical companies interested in this area.

In addition; a related Medical Device

In addition to the drug, Novelogics has a second PCT Patent pending for a related medical device with a readily available "go to" market in place. 

Year Founded
2013
Biotech Subsector
Medtech Subsector
Biotech Phase of Development
Medtech Phase of Development
Technology Overview
We have developed a panel of patent-protected monoclonal antibodies which bind members of the NKG2D ligand family for use as novel cancer immunotherapies. Studies have shown that cancer cells in part evade the immune system by releasing biologically active molecules, such as NKG2D ligands that interfere with immune cells ability to fight cancer. These ligands are capable of shutting down tumour killing immune effector cells by overwhelming the important activation-type NKG2D receptors, basically putting them to sleep, so tumors can continue to grow undetected. Using our specifically designed antibody drug, we now have the potential to clear out these ligands and restore the immune system in a more balanced way to destroy tumor cells without over-stimulating the immune system or causing adverse side effects.
Alliance & Collaborations
None
Supporting Metrics or Evidence
Proof of concept studies in progress
Current Financing Needs
$2M
Current Timeline
Within 2 years of IND
Current Investors
Founder Funded
IP Status
Two PCT patents pending
Recent Milestones
Have developed a panel of monoclonal antibodies,filed two PCT patents (pending), assembled management and scientific advisory team, completed preliminary invitro and invivo studies and will continue with further characterization before moving on to humanization of the Ab (antibody).
Management Team Highlights
Dr. Cheney, President & CSO has 26 years in R&D (10 years in oncology) including 16 years in drug discovery and has contributed to successful drugs that are either on the market or in late stage clinical trials. Co-Founder, Elaine Allison has 25+ years of corporate management experience.
Ms Elaine Allison
Novelogics Biotechnology Inc.
LinkedIn logo VP, Business Development 

Adah Almutairi

eLux Medical
Founder 

William Altman

CorInnova Inc.
President & CEO 

Neda Amidi United States

Plug and Play Ventures (a successor fund to Amidzad Partners) is a private/family investment vehicle based in Silicon Valley, CA. The fund is a structured organization for making angel investments in pre-seed or seed rounds. Investments are in the form of equity; in the next 6 months Plug and Play Ventures expects to make about 5-10 seed investments of $50,000-100,000 and an additional 40 pre-seed investments of $25,000, and is hoping to increase their allocations in the healthcare sector. Plug and Play also provides a three-month accelerator program. The firm will consider investing in companies worldwide.  

Plug and Play Ventures is interested in investing in medical technology, and invests in subsectors in which the firm can apply expertise; typically this means products that have a significant software component. Healthcare IT, biosensors, wearables and health monitoring devices are of interest. While the firm is open to investing in any indication, Plug and Play is particularly interested in diabetes & blood glucose monitoring, personal fitness, and mental/behavioral disorders. In the healthcare IT sector, Plug and Play Ventures is interested in both consumer applications and enterprise software, but is not interested in diagnostic software such as genomic, proteomic, or molecular diagnostic algorithms; however, optimization and data analysis software for hospitals and diagnostic laboratories is of interest.


Plug and Play Ventures
Investment Associate 

Vicki Anastasi

Website:
www.iconplc.com
ICON
Senior Vice President Medical Devices & Diagnostics Research 

Cliff Ansel Canada

Adjuvant Therapeutics Inc. is a clinical stage medical device company that is developing a system to improve the effectiveness of radiotherapy for cancer treatment. The system, called OncO2™, uses innovative technology to increase oxygen concentrations in tumours, making them more sensitive to radiation.


Poor tumour oxygen has long been known to make radiation less effective, particularly in cancers of the head and neck, where 5 year survival rates range from 17% to about 63%. The OncO2™ system allows for individual optimization of therapy to maximize the effectiveness of the radiation.


Adjuvant Therapeutics will initially focus on head and neck cancers, however the OncO2™ system can also address other types of resistant cancers such as those of the cervix and bladder.

Year Founded
2014
Main Sector
Biotech Phase of Development
Medtech Phase of Development
Adjuvant Therapuetics
CEO 

Nico Arnold United States

Deton is developing a novel non-invasive simple-to-use sample collection device for tuberculosis (TB) patients who are unable to provide a sample.

Proper diagnosis is essential to effectively treat the more than 9million new cases of TB every year. Typically, a sputum sample is collected to run the diagnostic test. However, in 22% of adults and in all children patients, sputum is impossible to collect. These patients have to rely on inadequate alternative collection methods that are invasive, high-cost, and resource-intensive. With our device, patients can now provide a sample even in low-resource setting and find out their TB status. Deton will enable 26M samples to be tested every year.

After promising clinical data, Deton is now raising $1.6M to build an ISO 13485 disposable product and to obtain pivotal clinical validation. Discussions with multiple potential diagnostic partners and first feedback from experts at World Health Organization show significant interest in adopting the device once effective validation has been completed. 

Year Founded
2011
Main Sector
Medtech Phase of Development
Technology Overview
Cough collection to diagnose respiratory infections
Alliance & Collaborations
Confidential
Supporting Metrics or Evidence
human clinical data supporting the diagnostic
Current Financing Needs
Deton is raising a $1.6 million seed round to support 15 months of operations.
Current Timeline
Milestones: (1) develop an ISO-13485 final design disposable device (t+10 months) and (2) obtain pivotal clinical data in 50 patients (t+15 months). Deton’s third major milestone during the seed stage is to obtain Series A financing.
Current Investors
non-dilutive government grants
IP Status
The Cough Collector is protected by 2 Patent Cooperation Treaty applications fully owned by Deton: PCT/US2011/042854 –“System for airborne bacterial sample collection and analysis” and PCT/US2014/024682 – “System for breath sample collection and analysis.”
Recent Milestones
With non-dilutive funding from government grants, the Cough Collector has been tested in a study on a limited number of patients at a high prevalence site with very encouraging results.
Management Team Highlights
Deton’s team brings together more than 20 years of experience in each of engineering, medicine, and commercial operations. Our team has successfully taken a product from idea to human clinical data. Founders: Patrick Sislian, (CEO, PhD Chemical Engineering UCLA, Member of UCLA VC Fund), Stephen Chapman (VP of R&D, PhD Chemical Engineering Caltech), and Ramzi Nasr (VP of Clinical, PhD Bioinformatics UCI). Part-time: Nico Arnold (previous EVP of commercial ops at Cepheid, previous SVP at Siemens), Dr. Antonio Catanzaro (clinical expert on TB, Professor of Medicine at UCSD), and Katrina Fiedler (previous Director of Regulatory affairs at Alere).
Deton Corp.
LinkedIn logo Business Development 
BIO

Nico Arnold, an IVD industry executive, is responsible for the commercial strategy. Nico was previous EVP of Commercial Operations at Cepheid and previous SVP at Siemens. Nico will be employed part-time and will be responsible in establishing and maintaining distribution relationships for successful product launch.