R.I. [Brown University] — A smart wound-care platform that detects and responds to infection in real time. A buoy system that permanently removes polluting nutrients from lakes to help prevent toxic algae blooms. An antisense oligonucleotide technology designed to target BIN1, a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease
Those emerging technologies took center stage at the Brown Invents Startup Challenge, one of many showcases, workshops and panels highlighting entrepreneurship and innovation across the Ocean State during the eighth annual Rhode Island Startup Week organized by RIHub, which runs from Sept. 18-25.
The Brown Invents Startup Challenge pitch competition gave seven Brown-born startups five minutes each to present their product proposals for a chance to win a $10,000 prize supported by event sponsors.
“There are bold ideas coming out of all corners of campus at Brown, and many have the potential to be life changing,” said Greg Hirth, Brown’s vice president for research and a professor of Earth, environmental and planetary sciences. “But realizing that potential means moving discoveries beyond the lab and connecting researchers with the entrepreneurs, investors and industry partners who can help bring them into the world.”
After hearing pitches from all seven startups, judges awarded top prizes to three teams, evaluating each presentation based on market opportunity, value proposition and pitch delivery. Kallithea Biotherapeutics earned first place and an accompanying $10,000 prize, followed by Red Maple LifeSciences in second place and TEEM Therapeutics in third.
Kallithea Biotherapeutics co-founder Dr. Jonathan Kurtis, chair of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Brown’s Warren Alpert Medical School, said he was honored to participate in the pitch competition.
“What a great showcase of startups here in Rhode Island; we’re incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be among them,” Kurtis said. “It really highlights how Brown and our local partners are working together to strengthen innovation and entrepreneurship across the state.”
