Innovation Pipeline

 
Accelerator

The support community includes funding sources, service providers, potential employees, and public agencies managers.

This is a free service to Companies in CT who have:

• under $10 million in sales,
• an innovative product or service,
• and the potential to grow quickly.
  
  

Learn more at www.ctipa.org

Innovation Pipeline Awards 2008

Companies to Watch

Winners will be selected by a panel of judges in each category and presented awards at the September 17, 2008 awards event at the Dolce Conference Center in Norwalk.

The awards ceremony will be combined with networking reception and a technology expo at which many of Connecticut’s emerging technology companies will be exhibiting.

Eligibility and Application

For consideration in the Connecticut Technology Council 2008 Innovation Awards,
a company must meet the following criteria:

1. Must be headquartered in Connecticut. Subsidiaries or company divisions are not eligible.
2. A company must have proprietary technology or propriety intellectual property, except those in the IT Services category. A company is also eligible if it devotes a significant portion of its revenue to the research and development of technology.
3. Have revenue that does not exceed $10M. The Innovation Awards are aimed at younger, emerging technology companies.

The Awards

Award for the most promising new technology product - This award is presented to the company whose newly launched technology-based product is delivering verifiable business value. The product must demonstrate a high level of technical innovation and a sustained ability to survive in the marketplace. The winning product of the year gives its customers an exceptional return on investment, cost savings or a migration path for future product enhancements. The product may be software or hardware and come from any number of industries such as, but not limited to: Internet applications, telecommunications, aerospace, biotechnology, enterprise software, information technology, sports and the arts. Product upgrades are eligible with the stipulation that it must be currently shipping and contain significant enhancements to features and functionality. Beta versions are not eligible.

Emerging Technology Company of the Year Award - This award is presented to a relatively new technology company that has bought a new or disruptive technology into the marketplace, has executed its business plan, has captured some market share, has exhibited revenue growth, has demonstrated an ability to attract resources (financing, awards, mentors), and has formed strategic alliances.

Deal of the Year Award - This award is presented to a company that either was purchased (the exit event of the year), or to the company that made a significant acquisition, or completed a buyout or secured a large round of financing in 2007-2008.

Software Company of the Year Award - This award is presented to producers of bundled and/or unbundled software applications for business or consumer use including software created for systems, graphics, communications and networking, security, inventory, home use, educational, or recreational. Also included in this category is software developed for specific industries such as banking, insurance, manufacturing, transportation, or healthcare.

IT Services Company of the Year Award - This award is presented to a company which provides computer and internet-related services to businesses and consumers including software consulting, disaster recovery, web design, data input and processing, internet security, e-commerce services, and web hosting and systems engineering.

New Media/Internet Company of the Year Award - New Media/Internet is a catch-all term for all forms of electronic communication. Eligible companies provide products or services as outlined in the examples below:

• Special audiovisual effects of any kind
• Streaming video and streaming audio
• 3-D and virtual reality environments and effects
• Highly interactive user interfaces
• Mobile presentation and computing capabilities
• Any kind of communication requiring high-bandwidth
• CD and DVD media
• Telephone and digital data integration
• Online communities
• Live Internet broadcasting
• Person-to-person visual communication

Life Sciences Company of the Year Award - Eligible companies in this category are biotech companies, defined as developers of technology promoting drug development, disease treatment, and a deeper understanding of living organisms. It includes human, animal, and industrial biotechnology products and services. Also included are biosensors, biotechnology equipment, and pharmaceuticals. Medical Devices companies are also eligible and are defined as manufacturer of medical instruments and devices including medical diagnostic equipment (X-ray, CAT scan, MRI), medical therapeutic devices (drug delivery, surgical instruments, pacemakers, artificial organs), and other health related products such as medical monitoring equipment and handicap aids.

Manufacturing Company of the Year Award – This includes companies engaged in the mechanical, physical, or chemical transformation of materials, substances, or components into new products. Examples include:

• Companies that design, develop or manufacture semiconductor chips/microprocessors or related equipment including diodes and transistors. Also includes companies that test or package integrated circuits.
• Companies that manufacture electronic parts that are components of larger products and specialized instrumentation, including scientific instruments, lasers, power supplies, electronic testing products, power supplies, and display panels.
• Companies that manufacturer PCs, mainframes, servers, PDAs, printers, storage devices, monitors, and memory cards. Also included are digital imaging and graphics services and equipment such as scanning hardware, graphics video cards and plotters. Integrated turnkey systems and solutions are also included in this category.
• Companies that manufacture consumer electronic devices such as photocopiers, calculators, and alarm systems.
Other manufacturing categories include the producer of chemicals, aerospace manufacturers, plastics, metal working, nanotechnology, steel production, and textile manufacturing.

Energy/Environmental Technology (including green technologies) and Telecom Company of the Year Award. Energy/Environmental Technology focuses on alternative energy companies to include those companies working in

• Renewable Energy (Solar, Wind, Hydro, Geothermal, Biomass)
• Fuel Cells & Hydrogen
• Energy Conservation and Enabling Technologies
• Non-toxic cleaning products, green building products or technology

Telecom is defined as those companies which focus on the transmission of voice and data including long distance providers, local exchange carriers, and wireless communications services and components. Also included are satellite and microwave communications services and equipment.

2008 Program Sponsors

Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge

State of Connecticut, Department of Economic & Community Development

Connecticut Innovations

Cantor Colburn LLP

Tyler Cooper LLP

Previous Years Winners

2007 Award Winner, Go Cross Campus GoCrossCampus is a massive multiplayer game that uses your social network and takes place both off- and online. Think of the game Risk but in the real world. Watch a video explanation here (very funny) .