There was a Final Four for tech transfer and Maryland dominated

Published 3/20/17 in Technically Baltimore.

The basketball Terps got ousted but four Maryland-connected startups did not disappoint in the pitch competition of the Association of University Technology Managers.

Newsflash: The Association of University Technology Managers met in Hollywood, Fla., and had its own Final Four last week.

All of the finalists of the conference’s pitch competition had a common bond: They each had ties to Maryland universities such as Johns Hopkins and University of Maryland. All four also received funding from TEDCO’s Maryland Innovation Initiative.

Lifesprout was named the winner. The Johns Hopkins startup is developing a soft tissue filler that can be used in plastic surgery. The big check was for $10,000.

The other finalists included:

GripBoost, the University of Maryland-College Park spinout that makes a quick-drying gel for football gloves.

Mouthlab, a JHU spinout making a device that can monitor patients with chronic disease at home via vitals taken through the mouth.

Pathovax, a startup making an HPV vaccine that originated in Baltimore and licensed technology from Johns Hopkins. The company is currently in Buffalo’s 43North accelerator.

“With four MII companies in the finals, and one winner, this demonstrates that great things happen when the universities, faculty entrepreneurs and economic development work together,” said Jennifer Hammaker, Maryland Innovation Initiative Director at TEDCO.