Syracuse, Ithaca firms among finalists in FuzeHub commercialization competition

Patty Rechberger (left), Innovation Fund manager for the Jeff Lawrence Innovation Fund at FuzeHub, and Eric Fasser, Solutions Program manager at FuzeHub, announcing the 12 finalists in the organization’s commercialization competition. The competition will conclude as part of the upcoming New York State Innovation Summit, set for late October in Syracuse. (Photo credit: FuzeHub website)

ALBANY, N.Y. — A Syracuse company and two firms with operations in Ithaca are among the 12 finalists in the annual FuzeHub commercialization competition. Triton Bio, Inc. of Syracuse, along with Anova Biomedical, Inc. and Parker Isaac Instruments d/b/a FormaPath, both with operations in Ithaca, are the regional finalists. Additional finalists are located in the […]

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ALBANY, N.Y. — A Syracuse company and two firms with operations in Ithaca are among the 12 finalists in the annual FuzeHub commercialization competition. Triton Bio, Inc. of Syracuse, along with Anova Biomedical, Inc. and Parker Isaac Instruments d/b/a FormaPath, both with operations in Ithaca, are the regional finalists. Additional finalists are located in the New York City, the Capital Region, Long Island, and Mid-Hudson regions. Albany–based FuzeHub is a nonprofit organization that supports small and medium-sized manufacturing companies in New York state. The eighth annual commercialization competition — which is part of the upcoming New York State Innovation Summit — is set for Oct. 28-29 at the Nicholas J. Pirro Convention Center at Oncenter in downtown Syracuse. It happens yearly as part of the Empire State Development (ESD)-supported FuzeHub Jeff Lawrence Innovation Fund. The finalists have the chance to win $50,000 by pitching their business plan before a panel of judges and a live audience. One firm will win the top funding award of $150,000. “I would like to take a moment to celebrate our twelve outstanding finalists” Patty Rechberger, Innovation Fund manager for the Jeff Lawrence Innovation Fund at FuzeHub, said in the announcement. “It is a significant accomplishment to reach this stage. These companies have proven that they have what it takes to break through the noise and the tenacity required to turn their innovative ideas into reality. I cannot wait to work with them to get ready for their live pitches at the Summit.” Regional finalists The finalists include Triton Bio, Inc., which is working on scalable manufacturing of a “smart” incubator for automating microbial analysis. The firm’s website lists an address of 841 E. Fayette St. in Syracuse, which is Upstate Medical University’s Central New York Biotech Accelerator. They also include Anova Biomedical, Inc. of Ithaca, which says it is working on the first self-transforming, fully biodegradable vascular grafts. Another finalist, Parker Isaac Instruments d/b/a FormaPath, has a manufacturing facility in Ithaca. It is working on nToto, automated tissue handling and visualization system to gross small biopsies. Its description on the FuzeHub announcement says, “FormaPath has proven their concept combining robotics and computer vision to automate small biopsy grossing. Labs are under significant pressure to meet turnaround time and limited resources; manual processes are inherently inconsistent. nToto quickly delivers high-confidence reports to guide appropriate treatment for all patients.” Besides its Ithaca manufacturing location, the firm’s website also lists locations in Brooklyn and Hood River, Oregon.  
Eric Reinhardt: