Connecticut Technology Council Honors Emerging Technology Companies for Accomplishments, Potential at Fifth Annual Innovation Pipeline Awards
70 "Companies to Watch" Showcase Innovative Technologies in Poster Fair
Nearly 400 entrepreneurs, investors and service providers gathered on October 27, 2011 at The Omni Hotel in New Haven for the Fifth Annual Innovation Pipeline Awards, a celebration of the most promising early stage and emerging technology companies in Connecticut identified by the Connecticut Technology Council (CTC) as having the best potential to be a successful enterprise.
The Pipeline Awards was part of a larger event being held that day called the: Cantor Colburn/CCAT/ First Niagara Innovation and Entrepreneurship Summit, which included the Northeast ACA Angel Summit sponsored by Connecticut's Angel Investor Forum. Nearly 100 angel investors from Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania attended to hear from five companies presented to fellow angels by one of the many participating angel groups for the sake of deal syndication. As that early day program came to an end, the crowd was joined by nearly another 300 attendees for the late afternoon/ evening program, the Pipeline Awards followed by the Technology Showcase. 70 "Companies to Watch" sharing their technology products and services with attendees in a poster fair. For the complete list of the 2011 Companies to Watch, click here.
Pictures from the Event
Video of the Event
Keynote Speaker, Watts Wacker: The keynote address was delivered by futurist Watts Wacker — a bestselling author, lecturer, political commentator and social critic. He gave A Wizards View of 21st Century Innovation.
Kip Bergstrom, DECD Deputy Commissioner, with a few words on the state of Connecticut's Innovation Ecosystem
The 2011 Innovation Pipeline Awards winners:
1. Most Promising Technology Product of the Year - a tie between Dark Field Technologies, Orange and Autotether, Inc., Chester
2. Most Promising Software Product of the Year – Occams Resources, New Haven
3. Most Promising New Internet/New Media Company of the Year – SeeClickFix, New Haven
4. Most Promising Life Sciences Company of the Year – Biorasis, Inc., Storrs
5. Most Promising New Green Tech Company of the Year – Centritec Seals, LLC, East Hartford
Elevator Pitch Competition:
View the submissions for our Video Elevator Pitch Competition, the top 3 pitches were chosen from these to compete for a $10,000 web design prize provided by Digital Surgeons - the companies presenting were: Small Talk, Sir Groovy and My Luck Club.
And the winner is…
Sir Groovy has asked that we pull the elevator pitch from this post – Sorry for any inconvenience or disappointment – CTC
Sponsors: Presenting sponsors of this year's event were: the law firm of Cantor Colburn, the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT) and First Niagara Bank. Supporting sponsors included: the Ambrose Group, CNA Insurance, the Dickstein Shapiro LLP law firm, Digital Surgeons, the Economic Development Corporation of New Haven, the accounting firm of Fiondella, Milone and LaSaracina, Open Solutions Inc., TriNet HR Corporation and Wellstone Insurance.
About Cantor Colburn Cantor Colburn LLP is one the largest intellectual property specialty law firms in the U.S., providing clients worldwide with the complete range of legal services that allow them to enjoy the greatest value from their intellectual property assets. Cantor Colburn is a leading firm in the preparation and prosecution of patent applications, and our patent professionals are adept in a great diversity of technologies. As well, the firm has extensive practice in other intellectual property areas, such as validity and infringement opinions, reexaminations, interferences, licensing, due diligence regarding acquisitions and divestitures, and technology transfer agreements. www.cantorcolburn.com
About CCAT The Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology, Inc. ( www.ccat.us ) helps private and public entities to apply innovative tools and practices to increase efficiencies, improve workforce development and boost competitiveness. CCAT functions as a unique economic development organization that combines expertise in cutting-edge technology with specialized centers of excellence in manufacturing, education, training, energy and entrepreneurialism. www.ccat.us
About First Niagara First Niagara, through its wholly owned subsidiary, First Niagara Bank, N.A., is a multi-state community-oriented bank that currently has $31 billion in assets, $19 billion in deposits, 346 branches and 5,000 employees providing financial services to individuals, families and businesses across Upstate New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Massachusetts.
For more information, visit www.fnfg.com .
About CTC The Connecticut Technology Council is a statewide association of technology oriented companies and institutions, providing leadership in areas of policy advocacy, community building and assistance for growing companies. Speaking for over 2,000 companies that employ some 200,000 residents, the Connecticut Technology Council seeks to provide a strong and urgent voice in support of the creation of a culture of innovation. This includes working to position Connecticut as a leader in idea creation, workforce preparation, entrepreneurial aptitude, early stage risk capital availability and providing on-going support and mentoring to high potential firms. Online at: www.CT.org