Memphis, Tennessee, USA downtown skyline at dusk.
Sean Pavone | Getty Images
"I do not think there is any thrill that can go through the human heart like that felt by the inventor as he sees some creation of the brain unfolding to success."
Risk comes with any business venture, but in the case of innovation, often the drive to create something entirely new overwhelms any fear that founders might face on starting down the entrepreneurial path.
Nikola Tesla's words get at the core of the "why" for innovators, who forge ahead with an idea, invention, or business despite the risk involved.
Innovation is rarely easy, after all.
Yet having connectors on the startup path, from experienced entrepreneurs to accelerator programs and, eventually, investors, can provide a measure of risk management any new venture needs.
The guide below includes startups, support organizations, individuals, and others who are deeply invested in the Memphis innovation ecosystem.
Kevin Graff, CFO of SweetBio, Kayla Rodriguez Graff and Isaac Rodriguez, co-founders of SweetBio.
Alyssa Crowe | MBJ
Notable companies/startups
- ArGentis Pharmaceuticals LLC | "Mid-stage orphan drug treatment (ARG201) for late-stage diffuse systemic scleroderma (dcSSc)"
- Azimuth Sleep Solutions | "Innovation in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea"
- CircumFix Solutions Inc. | "Developing a new standard in sternal closure technology"
- Communiride LLC | "Providing affordable, reliable and efficient freight transportation options to small- and medium-sized businesses"
- ConveyMD | "Podcast platform built specifically for physician education."
- Dextrous Robotics | "Building nimble robots for logistics"
- Diatech Diabetes | "Develop and implement innovative solutions which address the issues that patients experience when using diabetes care technology"
- Glanris | "Patented manufacturing process turns a common waste product — rice hulls — into a high-performance, low-cost water filtration media, reducing carbon impact from creation to landfill."
- Hera Health Solutions Inc. | "Specializing in the research, development, and commercialization of long-acting treatments through proprietary bioerodible drug delivery implants, including Eucontra, a contraceptive bioerodible drug delivery implant"
- Immuno Technologies Inc. | "Focus on applied research for infectious diseases (Lyme Disease, leptospirosis) to develop and license diagnostic assays and vaccines to help mitigate the impact of these diseases in human health"
- MakeScope | "Working on portable super-resolution fluorescence microscopes that better diagnose certain diseases"
- MedHaul | "Enables access to safe, quality, and inclusive transportation services for often overlooked populations, improving their quality of life and care"
- MiCare Path | "Transform specialty health by optimizing patient care through remote patient monitoring today and data tomorrow"
- NuttBio | "Developed TriSteris, a non-surgical, intratesticular injectable sterilant to better control animal numbers"
- Nuvelus | "Developing technology to combat the dermatological effects of inflammatory skin diseases and autoimmune disorders"
- otto | "Automating JavaScript security for small business and developers"
- PopCheck Technologies Inc. | "Developing a novel device that will more efficiently prevent venous clots and provide a means to predict the early development of clots using biomarker patterns of venous blood flow and thrombosis"
- RemediChain | "Leverages proprietary blockchain technology to create a legal and safe mechanism for individuals anywhere in the U.S. to donate unopened, unexpired medication to patients in low-resource settings who would not otherwise afford them."
- Revotek USA Inc. | "3D bioprinting company currently specializing in vascular structures for research and clinical applications, including 3D bioprinted blood vessels"
- ROVR Score | "Tool that evaluates and promotes the quality of Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity throughout an entire property"
- RxBio Inc. | "Focus on the discovery and development of novel and proprietary compounds for use in the mitigation of acute radiation syndrome (ARS), including gastrointestinal acute radiation syndrome (GI-ARS) as well as hematological radiation syndrome (HEM-ARS)"
- SecondKeys | "Scalable rental property management software"
- SOMAVAC Medical Solutions Inc. | "Fully automatic and super-compact SOMAVAC SVS Smart Suction Technology and surgical drain management platform that helps the recovery experience after mastectomy, breast reconstruction, abdominoplasty, hernia repair, and other surgeries"
- Soundways | "Revolutionize the supply chain of sound recordings, from the studio to the services and devices used for listening"
- Spesana | "Developed a molecular diagnostics-driven decision support and collaboration cancer treatment optimization platform to bring physicians, patients and insurance teams together around the best available therapies and pathways for patients."
- SweetBio Inc. | "Specializing in bioengineering honey-incorporated materials for wound care, with the APIS product for the management of chronic and acute wounds"
- Truckish | "Comprehensive fleet management platform that integrates the tools you need into a single, convenient, and affordable system"
- US Biologic | "Proprietary oral-delivery platform to allow safe, effective, and cost-efficient delivery of a variety of preventative therapeutics (vaccine and antimicrobial) to wildlife, companion animals, food animals, and humans."
- Visalaw.AI | "Content company that utilizes technology to better equip immigration lawyers to practice law and better communicate immigration processes, procedures, and changes with the world"
- Youdle | "Help shoppers quickly find products they need in nearby stores"
Conference host, Gary Stevenson kicks off the 2019 edition of the Musculoskeletal New Ventures Conference in Memphis
Brody Kuhar | Forever Ready Productions
Ecosystem organizations, accelerators, support programs
Ecosystem organizations
- AgLaunch | "Focus on attracting, starting, growing, and supporting new agriculture companies and initiatives to revitalize our rural and urban communities and create new pathways for diversity."
- Crews Center for Entrepreneurship | "Exists to inspire, educate, develop, and support both aspiring and active student entrepreneurs at the University of Memphis."
- Epicenter | "Collaborates with a network of partners to ensure that entrepreneurs have equitable access to the networks, ideas, people, capital and customers they need to launch and thrive".
- Start Co. | "Venture architect firm that supports clients and partners with design processes for launching early stage technologies, business innovations, and economic solutions."
Accelerators
- AgLaunch365 | "Open to startup companies focused on innovations in row crop agriculture at all stages whether early-stage help is needed or access to progressive farmers who can help ground-truth innovative technology."
- City of Memphis Propel Accelerator | "Designed to build capacity with existing minority companies through enhancement of business models through offering a series of hands-on programming, mentor opportunities, technical resources and more."
- Crews Center for Entrepreneurship | "Exists to inspire, educate, develop, and support both aspiring and active student entrepreneurs."
- NAWBO Memphis Women's Business Accelerator | "Intensive, growth-focused program that includes valuable workshops, seminars, networking opportunities, and ongoing coaching sessions."
- ZeroTo510 Medical Device Accelerator | "Enables entrepreneurs with ideas for innovative medical devices to harness the robust resouces and experts present in the Memphis medical device ecosystem."
Pre-accelerators/business formation assistance/startup networking
- CO.STARTERS program | "Prepares aspiring entrepreneurs with insights, relationships, and tools needed to turn their business ideas into action."
- The Innovation Lab | "Designed to operate at a fast pace with the end goal of accelerating the timeline needed for early-stage businesses to become ready for capital investment."
- Patents2Products | "Prepares aspiring entrepreneurs* with insights, relationships, and tools needed to turn their business ideas into action."
- Startup Grind Memphis | "Breaking down the walls of entrepreneurship one connection at a time."
*Fellows hired in a university position with the University of Memphis.
Joann Massey, Jim Strickland and Andre Fowlkes during announcement of new initiatives to strengthen minority-owned businesses
Michael Sheffield
Innovation community builders
- Andre Fowlkes, President, Start Co.
- Bryan Eagle III, President, Memphis Ventures
- Danielle Gore, Senior manager, innovation programs, Epicenter
- Dean Didato, Partner, Innova Memphis
- Eric Mathews, Founder and CEO, Start Co.
- Gary Stevenson, Cofounder and managing partner, MB Venture Partners LLC
- Jan Bouten, Partner, Innova Memphis
- Jasbir Dhaliwal, Ph.D., Executive VP for research and innovation, University of Memphis
- Jessica Taveau, President and CEO, Epicenter
- Ken Woody, President, Innova Memphis
- Pete Nelson, Executive director, AgLaunch
- Regina Whitley, Executive director, Greater Memphis IT Council
- Richard Magid, Ph.D., VP at University of Tennessee Research Foundation
- Ryan Ramkhelawan, VP of venture development, Start Co.
- Steve Bares, Ph.D., Associate vice chancellor, entrepreneurship, University of Tennessee Health Science Center
- Whitney Hardy, Chief capacity officer, Epicenter
The University of Memphis
Alyssa Crowe | MBJ
Higher education institutions
- The University of Memphis
- Southwest Tennessee Community College
- Northwest Mississippi Community College
- University of Tennessee Health Science Center
- Rhodes College
- Christian Brothers University
- Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Memphis
- Arkansas State University Mid-South
- Baptist Health Sciences University
- LeMoyne-Owen College
- Rust College
- Union University, Germantown Campus
- The College at Mid-America
- Southern College of Optometry
- University of Mississippi-DeSoto
- Moore Tech
- Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Covington
- Freed-Hardeman University
Editor's note: This resource guide will be updated as the Memphis-area innovation ecosystem grows. Miss a key person, organizations, or company? Email suggestions to jbolton@bizjournals.com
