Ithaca startup receives Launch NY funding

Caretech Human received $175,000 in funding from venture-development organization Launch NY to ramp up production of its product that provides monitoring for urological diseases, shown here. (Photo credit: Caretech Human website)

ITHACA, N.Y. — An Ithaca–based startup is one of three companies that will receive a seed-fund investment from Launch NY through its InvestLocal financing programs to support scaled-up manufacturing for products that show potential. Caretech Human received $175,000 from Launch NY which includes $75,000 from its nonprofit seed fund and $100,000 from the Launch NY […]

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ITHACA, N.Y. — An Ithacabased startup is one of three companies that will receive a seed-fund investment from Launch NY through its InvestLocal financing programs to support scaled-up manufacturing for products that show potential.

Caretech Human received $175,000 from Launch NY which includes $75,000 from its nonprofit seed fund and $100,000 from the Launch NY Seed Fund II, a new for-profit limited partner fund that started making investments in 2023.

We are pleased to bring exciting new companies into the Launch NY portfolio, especially as they prepare to enter commercial manufacturing and begin to truly scale their innovative products, Launch NY CEO Marnie LaVigne said in a press release.Launch NY is nonprofit venture-development organization that operates in the 27westernmost counties of upstate New York, including Tompkins County, as well as Broome, Onondaga, and Oneida counties. These investments represent our regions belief and experience showing that putting seed stage capital into these upstate New York startup companies can create market-leading products competitive not only on a local, but national scale and beyond.

Based at Cornell Universitys Center for Life Science Ventures business incubator, Caretech Human has developed a small device that users can install above the waterline in their toilet to provide continuous health monitoring for urological diseases.

The non-invasive, passive monitoring system has the potential to create screening and early detection for diseases. The Launch NY funding will allow the company to enter commercial production in preparation for entering the market.

In some health domains, patients have tools for self-monitoring at home such as blood pressure devices, cardio holders, or glucometers, Caretech Human CEO Dan Matsui said. However, in urology there is no convenient way to assess the severity of symptoms and disease progression at home. Launch NY funding helped the company stay focused on its goals during this exciting time, and were excited to begin manufacturing and selling our device.

TelosAir in Rochester and Edenesque in Buffalo also received funding from Launch NY, which supports startup companies through mentorship and investment.

Traci DeLore: